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Ray Thomas: To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected

“The phrase ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’ is more than a cliché to me. It’s a core value of mine,” says Ray Thomas, founder of Ray Thomas Law Group.

That philosophy guided Thomas from a life in the small town of Presidio to professional fame and national recognition in the legal field. He was raised by a single mom who put her kids through school by working three jobs and still found time for community service. He says Presidio was so remote at that time the nearest McDonalds was 157 miles away. Yet, the small-town border culture created a commitment to family and community, a strong work ethic and a sense of duty.

“My early life taught me resilience, persistence, an appreciation for nature, and of a responsibility to others,” he says.

His parents divorced when he was 6 years old and his mom moved to Presidio, Texas, where Thomas and his two sisters were raised. The small community was just across the border from Ojinaga, Mexico, his mother’s original home. With family in each community, he says crossing the international border for him was more like crossing the street.

“We shared the same culture, the same traditions, the same languages,” Thomas says. True to his western roots, he had a couple of horses, so he was able to ride into town, tie off the horse and go to class.

A Job With Air Conditioning

Thomas led a simple, yet hard life. He worked in the west Texas heat in cantaloupe and onion fields and in laying out cables for a seismic exploration company. While working at the seismic exploration company, a co-worker in his 50s asked Thomas if he wanted to do hard, manual labor in the heat of the sun for the rest of his life. Thomas says he learned valuable lessons in those years about the dignity of work, respecting laborers, and treating people with respect regardless of their social station. “The co-worker made his point. I knew I needed to go to college to do better and to reach higher,” he says.

He attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and then the University of Texas School of Law. “One of the proudest moments in my mom’s life was seeing her son graduate from law school.”

The Real Power of a Law License

During his third year at law school, Thomas worked at the Attorney General’s Office where he had the opportunity to work on landmark cases under Allene Evans, the chief of the antitrust division who was responsible for high stakes litigation. Upon graduating in 1988, he received a number of job offers including one to remain with the Attorney General’s Office in the antitrust division.

A more attractive offer came from a law firm in McAllen, a border town on the verge of an economic boom and promising great opportunity. He accepted the job, moved south and never looked back. He started with Jarvis, Schwarz and Kittleman, at that time a small firm representing the business community, a place where he cut his teeth in litigation.

For Thomas, McAllen was like Manhattan compared to Presidio. Thomas immediately took to his new home in South Texas. “I fell in love with the people, the culture, the traditions, the cuisine, the music. It’s just very family-oriented. McAllen is open to everybody. If you weren’t born and raised there, you can get to McAllen and still succeed and be a community leader.”

One of his cases that exemplifies his approach to client service, the law and his community involved a woman from Zacatecas, Mexico. Her migrant husband was injured on the job in the United States. The husband called his wife asking for her to send their two oldest sons to him because he needed care just getting through daily life. The boys were ages 8 and 15 and soon moved in with the father.

Matters were complicated because the husband developed a relationship with a U.S. woman. After the father died from work-related injuries, the girlfriend refused to give the children back. The Mexican Consulate asked Thomas to see if he could help recover the children. Thomas was immediately suspicious. He suspected the girlfriend was acting as the common law wife of the deceased and was pursing a claim for wrongful death as the surviving spouse and as next friend of the children.

After doing a little digging, his hunch proved right. Thomas found the petition, which was indeed filed with the girlfriend claiming to be the surviving spouse and next friend of the children. Thomas reached out to the lawyer representing the girlfriend and discovered that they had just settled the case, at mediation, for several million dollars. Fortunately, the case had not yet funded as formal settlement documents and a prove up hearing had to be completed.

Thomas paid a visit to the girlfriend’s lawyer and showed him proof of the marriage to the woman in Mexico. The girlfriend could not claim to be common law married when the prior marriage was never dissolved.  After the lawyer did his own due diligence, he arranged to have the children returned to their mother. Thomas and his paralegal met the girlfriend at a truck stop between McAllen and Houston for the hand-off of the boys. When Thomas returned the boys to their mother, the emotional reunion left an indelible mark on Thomas’ soul.

“The case wasn’t about the fee. It was about making things right. The correct family members got the settlement proceeds for the wrongful death. The girlfriend’s lawyer got paid his contingent fee. He earned it,” Thomas says.

There was a personal and emotional bonus from the case. The oldest boy was deaf and mute. Thomas set up an appointment with a McAllen friend and client, an Eye/Nose/Throat specialist. The specialist was able to intervene and restore the teenager’s hearing. The teen began intensive therapy. After a year, the boy learned to speak and is now living a normal and productive life. Thomas stays in touch with the family.

“That’s the real power of a law license. That’s how a law license can and should be used – to help people, especially the most vulnerable,” Thomas says.

Losing Wins

Thomas found McAllen to be a great place to practice law. His success led to other lawyers calling on him to co-counsel cases throughout Texas. After his firm grew to 18 attorneys, Thomas wanted a change. He felt a need for greater freedom and a strong urge to grow and to serve the community in a higher capacity. He left the firm to run for chief justice of the Court of Appeals.

He lost the race.

“I’m one of those ‘glass is half full’ guys. I got my freedom from the restraints of a law firm with multiple partners. I became a sole practitioner January 1, 2017. And having lost that judicial race turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to my career,” he says.

Within two years of losing the election, Thomas won several jury verdicts and settlements that enabled him to pursue his other passions, including ranching and raising Wagyu cattle.

I’m one of those ‘glass is half full’ guys. ... And having lost that judicial race turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to my career.”

The Thrill of It All

Thomas with his record-setting Wagyu bull, Mr. Universe.

Out of the office, Thomas lives a well-rounded and family-focused life. He and his wife of 37 years, Sandra, were married on April Fools Day. “I never have to worry about forgetting our anniversary,” he says. They have, as he says, two children here and two in heaven.

Thomas is a cattleman and pecan farmer with a historic ranch just outside of Sequin, which is also a resort destination for corporate events and family retreats. He and Sandra own, and their son operates, Santos Patronos Ranch where they breed fullblood Japanese Black Wagyu cattle. They also own a beef store, aptly named High Steaks Legal Beef, LLC to reflect the nature of Thomas’ law practice, which retails their award-winning Wagyu jerky and high-end Wagyu beef. Most recently, Thomas and his son have launched a podcast called Legal Beef.

He enjoys reading novels, particularly those by Scott Turow and Tom Clancy. His musical tastes are eclectic, ranging from country and classic rock to mariachi and calypso. His firm represents a number of famous music artists and record labels.

Thomas has served his community through various civic organizations, such as the Vannie Cook Children’s Cancer Foundation and the board of governors for the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen. He’s a former president of the Club and the chair of a Capital Campaign, which raised more than $5 million to build a new, state-of-the-art club house for underprivileged youth.

Friends and associates are inevitably surprised to discover his perceived calm and serious exterior hides an adventurous spirit. Thomas says, “I have a high tolerance for risk and I’m an adrenaline junkie. I like high speed, high altitude, high risk challenges.”

Thomas With Instructor Pilot After Another Thrilling Flight

He has skydived, Class 5 white water rafting, spear-fished, water skied, snow skied, bungee jumped, rappelled, spelunked, raced cars on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and enjoyed off-road adventures in a Baja Challenge race car. But his great thrill has been strapping into an Extra 330, one of the world’s most elite aerobatic aircraft where he learned to fly aerobatic maneuvers and engage in air-to-air dogfighting.

“I’ve done it four times now, and it is the absolute thrill of a lifetime.”

Following the example of his mother, Thomas is grounded in his faith. “Although mom did not have much money or material things, we were rich in love and in faith and in family. And that’s a much more important legacy than money.”

In December of 2010, he was ordained as a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church. He now serves at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Seguin, where he preaches nearly every weekend in English and Spanish, and teaches adult religious education. He owns a Christian recording studio dedicated to helping young artists spread the Gospel through inspiring music.

Thomas says, “To me, the most important word in human existence is relationship. When our relationships are good, life is good. When our relationships are bad, life is bad. But relationships that are broken can be healed, restored, and renewed. God’s grace gives us the capacity to forgive that which is unforgivable, and to love those who are unlovable. I don’t hold grudges. I look for the best in others. We have to work on maintaining good relationships with our Creator, with our family and with each other because a rising tide lifts all ships.”

Thomas with grandchildren at the family ranch.
Thomas with his family.

At a Glance

Ray Thomas, PC
4900-B N 10th St
McAllen, Texas, 78504
(956) 632-5033
raythomaspc.com

Seguin Office
2090 W. Kingsbury
Seguin, TX 78155 

EDUCATION

  • Juris Doctor, University of Texas School of Law, 1988
  • Bachelor of Arts, St. Mary’s University, 1985

Professional

  • Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • More Than 100 Cases Tried

Professional Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas, Litigation Section, Chair, 2025-2026
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Presidential Appointee to National Board, 2025
  • Trial Academy Litigation Section, Faculty Member, 2025
  • TTLA Trial Advocacy College of Texas, Faculty Member, 2024
  • ABOTA National Trial Academy Chicago, Faculty Member, 2023
  • Access to Justice Commission, 2001-2002
  • State Bar of Texas, Executive, Budge, Sunset Committees, Boards of Directors, 1998-2001
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association, President, 1999-2000
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • International Society of Barristers, Fellow
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow

Personal

  • Wagyu Cattle Rancher
  • Co-Owner of Santos Patronos Ranch & High Steaks Legal Beef, LLC
  • Ordained Permanent Deacon of the Roman Catholic Church
  • Candidate for President Elect, State Bar of Texas

Family

  • Married 37 Years to Sandra Thomas
  • Two Children and Three Grandchildren

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