‘Bigger than life.’ Former state Rep. Toby Goodman of Arlington dies at 72
In both his professional work and personal life, former state Rep. Toby Goodman prioritized family, those close to him recalled.
During his time as House District 93 representative between 1991 and 2007, Goodman helped reform state juvenile justice and rewrite Texas Family Code, two of his hallmark accomplishments in public office. Outside the House floor, Goodman was a caring father, grandfather and friend, with a contagious smile and love for going to TCU games with family, fine dining, traveling and history.
“He enjoyed absorbing knowledge and spending time with his family,” his daughter, Christie Goodman, said. “Those were his favorite things.”
Toby Goodman died Sunday at 72 in Mansfield. Gloria Goodman, his wife, said he had a heart attack.
Goodman is survived by Gloria Goodman, his wife of 38 years, and his children: Brian, Lauri and Christie.
Christie Goodman, who previously served as her father’s chief of staff and lobbied with his law firm, described him as an “iconic, bigger-than-life person.
“I was always in awe of his intellectual ability and his ability to find solutions, problem solve and make the state a better place,” Goodman told the Star-Telegram.
Toby Goodman, most recently a civil and family law attorney at Arlington-based Goodman and Clark, represented Tarrant County in the Texas House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007. During his tenure, his district covered parts of Arlington, Mansfield and Grand Prairie. He was also an attorney for the city of Arlington from 1974 to 1977, a past director of the Arlington Bar Association and a former UT Arlington adjunct professor.
John Clark, Goodman’s law partner, said he considered Goodman a mentor and friend, having worked with him since 1989. Goodman impressed Clark early on in their partnership, when Goodman made multiple trips between Austin and North Texas during legislative sessions to work on cases.
“I would say that Toby’s goal was to take care of everyone in what he did,” Clark said.
‘No difference’ between Toby Goodman’s statesman, family persona
It didn’t take long for Goodman to busy himself in his legal career or in Austin, his wife said.
Former state Sen. Chris Harris of Arlington urged Goodman to run for the House as Harris ran for the Senate, Rep. David Cook told the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Goodman and Harris effectively rewrote the Texas Family Code during legislative sessions in 1993 and 1995 and continued to advocate on behalf of children and families.
During his time as a state representative, Goodman chaired the county’s civil justice task force, the House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues, Governor’s Juvenile Justice Taskforce and Attorney General’s School Violence Task Force, according to his law firm’s website. His work garnered recommendations from state and national groups including the family and juvenile law sections of the State Bar of Texas, Court Appointed Special Advocates and the National Child Support Enforcement Association.
His work earned accolades from myriad state and national groups.
Gloria Goodman often attended sessions with her husband in Austin.
“I did my best just to be with him and share everything with him, and I’m so glad I did,” Goodman said. “I have all those memories that I wouldn’t give up.”
People knew to call Goodman for advice or help, Gloria Goodman said. Her husband would often field requests from people looking for assistance with job prospects or favors. Goodman said he lent a hand to callers in the weeks up to his death.
Craig Ownby, a political consultant who knew Toby Goodman for decades, said he could count on his friend for legal or political advice. “I’ve worked with hundreds of people in my lifetime and I can’t tell you that I’ve worked with anyone better than Toby,” Ownby said. “He was kind of like a big brother to a lot of folks, or maybe a second dad. He was there and always smiling, always gentle, always generous.”
Goodman’s work, both at the city and state level, inspired his law partner, John Clark, to run for local office. Clark sat on Kennedale City Council from 1998 to 2011 and served as mayor between May 2011 and 2013. Clark is the Kennedale ISD board president.
“I blame Toby for getting involved in local politics,” Clark said with a laugh.
Services for Goodman are set for 2 p.m. July 23 at Texas State Cemetery, at 909 Navasota St. in Austin. The family asks those interested to consider donating in his memory to the Baylor Scott and White Dallas Foundation benefiting the Advanced Lung Disease Fund or the Humane Society of North Texas.
This story was originally published July 20, 2021 at 1:17 PM.
