John Erle Stephen

Background

Stephen, John Erle was born on September 24, 1918 in Eagle Lake, Texas, United States. Son of John Earnest and Vida Thrall (Klein) Stephen.

Education

Bachelor of Laws, Juris Doctor, University Texas, 1941. Postdoctoral, Northwestern University, 1942. Postdoctoral, United States Naval Academy Postgraduate School, Annapolis, 1944.

Certified in international law, United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, 1945. Certified in advanced international law, United States Naval War College, 1967.

Career

News editor Texas Broadcasting Systems, 1937. Graduate assistant, instructor radio-television broadcasting, co-founder Radio Hall University Texas, 1938—1941. Director news and special events Capital Broadcasting Company, Inc.

Station KTBC, Austin, 1941. General manager, Corporate Counsel Station KOPY, Houston, 1946. General attorney, executive assistant to president Texas Star Broadcasting Company and affiliated companies, 1947-1950.

Law partner Hofheinz & Stephen, 1950—1956. Senior vice president, general counsel television Broadcasting Company of Houston, Texas Radio Corporation, Gulf Coast Network, 1953—1956. Special counsel, executive assistant Mayor, City of Houston, 1953—1957.

Special counsel Houston Chamber of Commerce C., 1953—1957. Senior vice president, general counsel Air Transportation Association American, Washington, 1958-1970. Vice president, general counsel Amway Corporation and affiliated companies (now Alticor, Inc.), Ada, Michigan, 1971-1982.

Counsellor, consultant Austin, Texas, since 1983. Radio, television advisory Jack Wrather Productions Inc., Dallas, 1946—1950, Beverly Hills, 1948—1954, Mercury Films, Hollywood, California, 1948—1952. Chief protocol City of Houston, 1953—1956.

Advisor Chancellors and Consulates General of Mexico, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Washington, 1956—1966, Aeronautical Radio, Inc., 1956—1966, Zenith Pictures, Santurce, Puerto Rico, 1967—1969, Mobil International Oil Corporation, South American, 1971—1972, United States Economic Stabilization Agency, 1972—1975, co-chairman industry task-force on term-limit pricing, 1972—1975. Chair, counsel aerospace industries joint committee navigable airspace worldwide International Air Transport Association, Montreal, London, 1961—1972. Appointed legal advisor United States Interagy.

Group on International Aviation, Washington, 1958—1969. Executive committee global airlines supersonic/high-capacity jets insurer Society Préparatoire pour Air Transport Insurance, S.A., Zurich, 1967—1970. Attorney General Creighton W. Abrams Junior, Commander United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Saigon/Washington, 1970—1971.

Advisory board Journal Air Law and Commerce, 1966—1972. Visiting lecturer Harvard Business School, Pacific Agribusiness Conference, Southwestern Legal Foundation, Inter-American Aviation Law Conference, Institute Aerospace Law, Industrial College of Armed Forces, Association of Bar City of New York, Chicago Bar. Association, International Association Insurance Council, American Women in Radio & television, Radcliffe College, University Houston.

Appointed by President of United States legal advisor, delegate United States Diplomatic Delegates to International Treaty Conferences, Paris, London, Rome, Tokyo, Madrid, Bermuda, Guadalajara, Dakar, 1958—1969, International Air-Rte. Delegates to United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, The Netherlands, Japan, Republican of Korea, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, Soviet Union, and Brazil, 1958—1969. Legal advisor, delegate United States delegations to United Nations Specialized Organizations Montreal, Geneva, Paris, Rome, 1964—1971.

United States representative International Conference on Aircraft Disturbance and Sonic Boom, London, 1966. Honorary faculty, visiting lecturer school of law, school of business University Miami, 1968—1972. Accredited correspondent United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

Executive officer United States Naval Reserve Public Affairs Company 8-7, 1950—1957. Consultant Edison Electric Institute Task Force Nuclear Property Insurance, 1972.

Achievements

• John Erle Stephen has been listed as a reputable lawyer, consultant by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

• Other Work

  • Associate editor Air Laws and Treaties of the World (3 vols. ), United States editor Yearbook of Air and Space Law.

Membership

Chief communications and transportation group Harris County/Houston Civil Defense, 1952-1956. Chairman legal committee National Aircraft Noise Abatement Council, Washington. Member advisory board Museum Fine Arts Houston, 1953-1957, Battelle Memorial Institute, 1962-1966.

Board directors Contemporary Arts Association and Museum, Houston, 1952-1957. Member executive committee Texas Transportation Institute, 1964-1972. Appointed conferee Global Strategy Conference, United States Naval War College, 1958.

Commander United States Naval Reserve, retired PTO and Southeast Asia, 1941-1946, member staff Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 1954. Member of American Red Cross (lifeguards-water safety examiner), American Bar Association (chairman council section public utility, communications and transportation law, standing committee on aeronautical law, chairman section administrative law aviation committee), Federal Bar Association (District of Columbia chapter, executive committee transportation council, communications council), State Bar Texas, Avatar Literature Society (president), State Bar Michigan (emeritus), District of Columbia Bar, Houston Bar Association, American Law Institute (advisor Restatement (2d) of Torts), World Peace Through Law Center Geneva (chairman international aviation law committee, advisor world air piracy and hijacking treaties), Federal Communications Bar Association (frequency modulation broadcasting committee, tall-television towers committee), Association Interstate Commerce Commission Practitioners, American Judicature Society, Washington Foreign Law Society (visiting lecturer 1967-1968), Naval Submarine League, Naval War College Foundation, Japanese Air Law Society (honorary), Venezuelan Air and Space Law Society (honorary), United States Ship St. Paul (California-73) Association (life), United States Ship President Adams APA-19 Association (honorary), Texas Navy (Admiral), Flying Colonel, International Club (Washington), Houston Polo Club, National Aviation Club, Del Coronado Beach and Tennis Club (California), Executives Club (Houston), Lago Vista Polo Club (honorary), Boca Raton Beach and Tennis Club (Florida), Breakfast Club (Houston), Saddle and Cycle Club (Chicago), Lake Shore Club, Order Kentucky Colonels, Phi Eta Sigma, Delta Sigma Rho (president Texas chapter 1940).

Connections

Married Gloria Yzaguirre, May 16, 1942. Children: Vida Leslie Stephen Renzi, John Lauro Kurt.