Willis Family Celebration

We are planning a family dinner to celebrate the entire Anderson Willis family. The date of this family dinner will be February 23, 2008 same day as the family meeting. The time is scheduled for 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Singing Hills Recreation Center located at 1909 Crouch, Dallas TX. 75241 and the phone number to Singing Hills Rec. Center is 214-670-7550. We are asking that everyone who will be attending to R.S.V.P. so we can have a fairly accurate head count, this will be a catered event and the cost to each family member will be a $12.00 donation per person. We would like to have a complete head count by Friday, February 15, 2008 so we can get this to the caterers. This is an opportunity for our family to meet each other and all of Anderson’s family to come and get to know each other.

Please R.S.V.P with the number and names of family members that will be attending to Beverly Hall e-mail bahall_47@yahoo.com or your local contact person. Please mail your payment in the form of money order to 2628 Bishop Allen Lane. Dallas, TX 75237. Make payable to Eskray Tippens.

Things will be great in 2008!

Hello Family,

Happy New Year! Things are looking up and we are hearing good things from different family members from our efforts and also the individual efforts of others. Although things weren't moving as fast as we would have liked, we are yet still making progress. We appreciate the kind words and encouragement from many of you. We look to have this year bear a lot more fruit and we are confident that a lot of you will be more than satisfied at the results. Keep the faith, keep the prayers coming and stay patient. let's make this year a good one.

What's taking so long?

Many of you are wondering why it's taking so long to get results. From emails received over the past few months, it's clear that many family members are under the impression that the genealogy report will get things rolling. Well the truth is that the genealogy report is just a very small part of a much larger set of tasks. Since most of you don't know what's all involved then here's a very brief summary of what we have to sort through:

1. Nearly 300 mineral companies (oil, lignite, gas, coal) and their particular sets of paperwork
2. Several hundred CD-ROMs worth of data
3. over 200 2-inch binders completely filled up
4. Several governments agencies
5. Court documents
and more!

So hopefully this helps to put a perspective on things and allow you to see what sort of patience is required to see this through.

Important Correction

Many of you may have already started calling the law firm mentioned in the email and the blog. Well you were calling the incorrect firm. The correct law firm and their contact info is below:

Anthony & Middlebrook, P.C.
5201 N. O'Connor Blvd
Suite 500
Irving, Texas 75039-3768

Office: (972) 444-0558
Fax: (972) 870-9053

Web: http://www.amlawteam.com/

Still ask for Judge Faith Johnson when you call.

Both law firms have a history with each other to some degree and and they both are housed in the same building. Apologies to all who were misdirected.

Law Firm

Hello Direct Heirs,

I guess many of you have now heard about a law firm that's offering to work with some of the family members. While sticking by our policy of not endorsing any particular attorney or law firm, we do feel that this law firm is of merit and is doing a decent effort at trying to offer their skills where possible. However, they are still a 3rd party and like all 3rd parties, their own business interest will come first so make sure that you are all business and focus on what they have to offer and what your needs are. Remember that they aren't the only attorneys in the world. Keep that in mind when talking with them no matter how attractive their pitch is.


One thing we must caution everyone on when dealing with any attorney's or 3rd parties in general: READ AND GET UNDERSTANDING BEFORE YOU SIGN ANY CONTRACT!!!
If anyone is trying to rush you into signing anything then that's all the more reason to be careful and ask more questions.

If you want to talk to representatives from this law firm then here's the contact info:

Brewer Law Group
5201 N. O'Connor Blvd
Fifth Floor
Irving, Texas 75039-3768

Office: (972) 870-9898
Fax: (972) 870-9053

website: http://www.brewerlawgroup.com/index.html

Judge Faith Johnson is the representative who is mainly speaking with the family. Here's a link about her background: http://www.dallasbar.org/judiciary/profiles.asp?item=54

A meeting is supposed to be held with Faith Johnson on Thursday of this week, 8-30-07. Now this meeting is ONLY for direct heirs or other family members authorized by direct heirs to attend. The only ones that are allowed to contractually agree with this law firm are direct heirs.

Weed and Seed completed

Hello all,

We have completed the weed and seed work. At this time, we are sorting through a lot of information and putting things in order. As was mentioned before, the weed and seed is but on small (but important) aspect of this entire journey. We appreciate the patience and kindness from most of you. Unfortunately there are a couple of people who have been very rude, ugly and downright immature but most of you have been very respectable.
In addition to working on this, our team has also been dealing with our own individual personal priorities as well so everyone needs to take this into account as well. We aren't getting any type of payment from this at all. So, like most of you, we have to work and take care of our families and balance everything else around that. In the meantime, we are staying the course and are determined to get this done in one way or another. We will be getting in contact with family members in the coming days ahead about what's next. Until then, just keep us in your thought and prayers. Goodbye for now and thanks in advance for being available when needed.

Updates...

Hello Family,

We are just about finish with the necessary work on the weed-and-seed. We will be updating you soon on the next steps in our journey so please remain patient and keep coming back here at least once a week for updates. Remember that we reserve the right to only assist those family members who have been cooperative with out efforts thus far. So if you have done your part in accordance with what we requested then expect to be kept up to date via your personal email on things that would be beneficial to you. Because of the public nature of the Internet, some things will only be sent via email if it's of a sensitive nature. Thanks.