A History of Webb, Stokes & Sparks
San Angelo, Texas
The law firm now known as Webb, Stokes & Sparks traces its roots to a friendship forged through shared service, education, and values. Founding partners Tom Webb and Aubrey Stokes met as students at Baylor Law School in the years following World War II. Both men were able to attend law school through the GI Bill of Rights after serving honorably in the United States Navy—Aubrey as a fighter pilot flying missions from aircraft carriers, and Tom as a radar operator. Their wartime experiences instilled in them a lifelong commitment to discipline, service, and justice.
United by a deep belief in advocating for injured individuals and holding wrongdoers accountable, Webb and Stokes formed a strong West Texas legal partnership in 1960. That partnership not only endured, but grew steadily, becoming one of the most respected personal injury law firms in the region for more than 65 years.
Early Years and Office Locations
From 1960 to 1964, the firm operated on the ground floor of the historic St. Angelus Hotel in downtown San Angelo.
St.Anglelus Hotel
When the hotel was razed in 1964 to make way for the construction of Central National Bank, the firm relocated to the Continental Fidelity Building at 17 South Chadbourne Street, where it leased offices for the next fifteen years.
Continental Fidelity Building
In 1979, Webb, Stokes & Sparks acquired property at 314 West Harris Avenue. After extensive renovations and new construction, the firm moved into its new headquarters—a location that has remained the firm’s home ever since and stands as a lasting symbol of its permanence and commitment to San Angelo.
Present Location
Founding Partners
Tom Webb (1926–1996) Founding Partner
A founding partner, Tom Webb was a highly respected trial lawyer who devoted his career to personal injury law. He graduated from Hardin-Simmons University, where he was a champion debater and competed in the National Debate Championships at West Point, New York. A cum laude graduate of Baylor Law School in 1949, Tom achieved the highest score in the state of Texas on the bar examination.
After beginning his legal career in Abilene—where he also served as an Abilene City Councilman—Tom moved to San Angelo around 1960 to join forces with Aubrey Stokes. Over the course of his career, Tom served as President of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and was among the first attorneys in Texas to become board-certified in personal injury law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He was a member of the International Academy of Trial Attorneya.
Aubrey Stokes (1921–1990) Founding Partner
Aubrey Stokes was known for his tenacity, integrity, and unwavering dedication to justice. He graduated from Texas Wesleyan College before attending Baylor Law School, where he met Tom Webb—beginning a friendship and professional relationship that would last a lifetime.
After earning his law degree in 1950, Aubrey moved to San Angelo and served as Tom Green County District Attorney for the 51st Judicial District from 1953 to 1957. As district attorney, he prosecuted one of the most infamous murder cases in Texas history, State of Texas v. Harry L. Washburn. Washburn was convicted of planting a bomb that killed his aunt, and the trial became the first televised trial in Texas, and likely the world.
When Aubrey left public service, he and Tom Webb formed the firm of Webb & Stokes, focusing their practice on personal injury law and the representation of injured Texans.
Growth and Expansion
In 1973, Sam D. Sparks joined the firm, bringing new energy and leadership. Shortly thereafter, he became a partner, and the firm was renamed Webb, Stokes & Sparks, a name that has endured for decades.
Sam. D. Sparks (1944-2020)
Raised in Van Horn, Texas, Sam Sparks was a standout athlete who went on to play football at Sul Ross University, where he was a three-year starter and letterman. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1967 and his law degree from the University of Texas in 1970. After briefly practicing personal injury law in Jasper, Texas, Sam returned to West Texas to join Webb and Stokes.
Sam was deeply involved in both the legal profession and the community. He served for several years as a Director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, was a San Angelo Independent School District Board Member for six years and received numerous honors from Sul Ross University. In 2006, he was named a Sul Ross Distinguished Alumnus, and in 2011 he was inducted into the Sul Ross Athletic Hall of Honor—the only alumnus to receive both distinctions.
Additional Partners and Continued Legacy
The firm continued to grow with the addition of dedicated attorneys who would become partners and leaders within Webb, Stokes & Sparks:
- Max Parker began working with the firm in 1977 and was named a partner in 1981.
- Guy Choate joined the firm in 1982 and became a partner in 1984.
- Mary Noel Golder joined the firm in 1985 and was named a partner in 1988.
- Carlos Rodriguez was hired in 2003 and became a partner in 2008.
- In 2025, Jason Sosa was named a partner after joining Webb, Stokes & Sparks in 2023.
Today
From its beginnings as a two-lawyer partnership founded by World War II veterans to its current form as a multi-generational law firm, Webb, Stokes & Sparks has remained steadfast in its mission: to fight for the rights of injured people across West Texas. Rooted in service, strengthened by experience, and guided by integrity, the firm continues to build on a legacy that began more than six decades ago in San Angelo, Texas.
