Judge Robert George Dohoney

Robert George Dohoney was born 1929 in Italy, Texas, only child of Robert Gilmer Dohoney and Kathleen George Dohoney, and died December 9, 2020, in Dallas, Texas. The family moved to Hillsboro in 1934. He married Betty Ray Smith in 1951, and she survives him. Their marriage lasted over almost 70 years. They had three children, Kathleen Dohoney Liebendorfer (Craig), Beth Dohoney Kennard (Rusty), and Patrick Smith Dohoney (Karen); together with seven grandchildren.

Judge Dohoney graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1947, then attended Hillsboro Junior College, graduated from Texas A & M in 1951 and Baylor Law School in 1969. He was an officer in USAF from 1951 to 1953, serving in Korea and Japan. He was involved in Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle and later serving as Scoutmaster.

Following his military service, he returned to Hillsboro in 1953 and entered into his father’s Oldsmobile-Cadillac dealership, serving as Vice-President until 1971.

He served as Hill County District Attorney 1971-1972, was Partner in the law firm of Sims, Moore, and Dohoney 1973-1982, and District Judge 66th District Court Hill County 1983-1993, and Senior Judge from 1993-2018, altogether 35 years in the Texas Judiciary presiding in many courts around Texas.

Judge Dohoney was a member, teacher, Deacon, Elder and Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro from 1936-2016, and a member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church of Dallas 2016 until his death.

Judge Dohoney was active in many Hillsboro and Hill County civic activities, which included President: Hillsboro Lions Club, Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, Hillsboro Country Club, and Aquilla Water Supply District. He founded the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame program, presided over its initial ceremony (1987) and later functions, and together with his wife, each received that honor in 2009.  He was named Distinguished Alumnus of Hill College 1991. He was very active in the campaign that led to the re-establishment of Hillsboro Junior College, now Hill College.

Due to the pandemic, a private service will be held with family only.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the George G. and Alva Hudson Smith Foundation, P. O. Box 1245, Hillsboro, TX 76645.