City of Arlington Remembers Long-Time Attorney, Former State Rep. Toby Goodman
By Office of Communication
Posted on July 20, 2021, July 20, 2021

Toby Goodman

The City of Arlington has lowered its flags half-staff in memory of long-time Arlington attorney and former State Rep. Toby Goodman, whose legislative accomplishments include pioneering juvenile justice reform and rewriting Texas Family Code.

Mr. Goodman, who represented Arlington and Tarrant County in the Texas House from 1991 to 2007, died on Sunday, July 18, 2021. He was 72. Services will be held as the Texas State Cemetery on Friday, July 23, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

Most recently, Mr. Goodman worked as a family law and civil attorney at Goodman & Clark in Arlington. He also served as past director for both the Tarrant County Family Bar Association and the Arlington Bar Association, according to the biography on his law firm’s website. Mr. Goodman also served as an adjunct professor at The University of Texas at Arlington from 1974 to 1982 and as an attorney for the City of Arlington from 1974 to 1977.

During his tenure as state representative, Mr. Goodman served on numerous committees and taskforces. These include serving as Tarrant County Civil Justice Task Force chairman, House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues chairman and vice chairman, Governor’s Juvenile Justice Taskforce chairman and Attorney General’s School Violence Task Force chairman.

Mr. Goodman’s numerous honors include being named among the Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly, Ten Best Legislators in the Family Law Section from the State Bar of Texas, Legislator of the Year by the National Child Support Enforcement Association, Legislator of the Year by the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards and a Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Certificate of Distinction. His substantial legislative accomplishments reflect his intellect and work ethic, as well as the respect he enjoyed among his colleagues. He was loved for his sense of fairness and world class sense of humor.

Mr. Goodman was a faithful and dedicated public servant that fought tirelessly for Arlington while serving in the Texas Legislature for eight legislative sessions from 1991 through 2007. While in the Texas Capitol, Toby fought for more support for UTA from UT System to become a Tier 1 institution, increased support for development and research, secured funding for the ERB building, and in 2004 was named a UTA Honorary Distinguished Alumni.

In addition to earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Christian University, Mr. Goodman earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Baylor University School of Law.

Mr. Goodman had immense love for his family. He was a devoted father and friend.

Mr. Goodman is survived by his wife of 38 years, Gloria Goodman; son, Brian Goodman; and daughters, Lauri Goodman and Christie Goodman.

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