William "Bill" Preston Crews, Jr.

Funeral services for William P. “Bill" Crews, Jr. will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 8, 2011 at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches, Second Street with Rev. Tommy Rush, Dr. Perry Webb and U.S. Army Chaplain Col. Lee Dickson (Retired) officiating, and friendly remembrances by Daniel T. Murchison, Sr. Burial will follow at the American Cemetery in Natchitoches. Visitation will be Sunday, August 7, 2011 at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home chapel from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mr. Crews, age 80, of Natchitoches, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at Willis Knighton North, Shreveport, Louisiana. Mr. Crews was a prominent North Louisiana attorney, recognized for his expertise as one of the best trial lawyers in the State of Louisiana having been included in Martindale-Hubbell's Who's Who. Mr. Crews was offered an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York which he respectfully declined in order to attend basic training and leadership school at Fort Riley, Kansas, followed by Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning Georgia, at the onset of the Korean Conflict. His military distinctions included being the youngest Infantry Second Lieutenant serving in Korea at that time. After serving in several leadership positions in the 2nd Div., 9th Infantry Regiment in Korea from 1952 to 1953, he transferred to the Armored Division in late 1953. He returned to the United States to the 37th Infantry Division as Company Commander, 37th Recon Company at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Mr. Crews went on to serve as Commander, 10th Recon Company, 10th Div. at Fort Riley, Kansas. The entire Division moved to Germany as part of Operation Gyroscope in 1955. He served in multiple roles including the executive officer of the 3rd Recon Sq., 7th Calvary Armored in 1957. He resigned from the Army on December 5, 1957 and returned to Natchitoches. On March 19, 1958, he became Company Commander IH Company 199th Infantry with the Louisiana National Guard in Natchitoches. The unit was reorganized on July 1, 1959, and he became Company Commander, Company C, 3rd Brigade 156th Infantry Natchitoches, Louisiana. Mr. Crews became inactive on April 30, 1963 and was transferred to USAR - Ready. Mr. Crew's military decorations include the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant, Korean War Medal with three Campaign Stars, Expert Rifleman in 30 Caliber M1. Mr. Crews graduated Leesville High School in 1950. He received his B.S. degree from Northwestern State University in 1960 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola School of Law in 1970. Mr. Crews was a Multiple Lines Insurance Adjuster prior to earning his law degree, having founded Central Louisiana Claims Service, with its principal office in Natchitoches, Louisiana and satellite offices in Winnfield, Alexandria and New Orleans. He began his practice of law in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1970 with the law office of Watson & Murchison, eventually becoming the law office of Watson, Murchison, Crews, Arthur & Corkern. In 1998, he opened the Law Office of William P. Crews, Jr., and practiced there until his death. He was admitted to practice in all of Louisiana, federal and state courts, as well as administrative courts; U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal; U.S. Supreme Court; Federal Circuit Court, Washington, D.C.; Federal Circuit Court of Appeal, Washington, D.C.; Assistant City Attorney, City of Natchitoches, 1970-present, with an emphasis on representing the Police Department, Fire Department and personnel matters. He was selected "Outstanding Professional" in Who’s Who of the South. Mr. Crews was predeceased by his parents, Rev. W P. Crews, Sr. and Bertha Mae Richey Crews, and his son, William P. Crews, III. He is survived by his loving wife, Susanne Wimberly Crews; his children, Steven David Crews and wife, Renee', Kimberly Ann Stafford and husband, John, Richard T. Johnson, Jr. and wife, Christy, Joseph Hammond Perot, and wife, Trista; four grandchildren, Victoria Crews, Hannah Crews, Skylar Stafford and Teagan Perot; brother Tom Crews and wife Jacquie; and sister Jackie McRae, and husband, Morris; numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Honoring Bill as pallbearers are Ronald E. Corkern, Jr., Gerald Crews, Dan Daily, Shawn Daily, Hon. Fred C. Gahagan and James L. Durham. Honorary pallbearers are Daniel T. Murchison, Sr., Hon. W. Peyton Cunningham, former Mayor Joe Sampite and members of the Natchitoches Bar Association. Bill Crews was a great man and a real character. He was a highly decorated war hero who demonstrated great courage and valor on the battlefield. Bill was a tremendously successful attorney who was one of the best trial lawyers in the State of Louisiana. Bill loved his family and his many friends, and his many friends were blessed to have the friendship of a man who truly cared about people, and who put the interests of others ahead of his own. He will continue to be an inspiration to all he knew. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home at P. O. Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211 or to The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Attn: Multiple Myeloma Research, P. O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486.