By Rebecca Maitland

Searching the World Wide Web for Richard “Racehorse” Haynes produces literally thousands of news articles, book titles, tall tales, facts, movies, Broadway plays and songs, all in his honor. There are also lists of cases he ’s won and eyewitness accounts of his courtroom theatrics, for which he is known across the nation and that have contributed to his legend. Yet, the reality of the legend status stems from his brilliance as an attorney who has been extraordinarily successful.

Of course, there is probably some truth to some of those tall tales. During a case involving a Hell ’s Angel who was accused of nailing a woman to tree, he was reported to have driven a nail through his hand in court to show the jury it was not that painful.  

The truth is, he did talk to a physician about it the day before trial, but  decided against the gory exhibition in court. All the same, the jury got the message and found the client not guilty.

In another court case, Haynes questioned an empty witness chair, representing a witness the prosecution refused to call, out of fear the top attorney would shred their testimony. The questions Haynes asked —which remained unanswered— were so relevant to the case that the jurors acquitted his client.

Most Texans remember Haynes as the attorney who successfully represeted John Hill, a Houston plastic surgeon accused of murdering his socialite wife, a case that is the basis of the bestseller and movie, Blood and Money.

Haynes’ reputation was boosted again with the successful representation of Fort Worth oil man T. Cullen Davis, who was considered the richest man ever brought to trial for murder, twice.

The Wall Street Journal once noted Haynes was deliberately daring outside the courtroom, mentioning he drives too fast, flies his own plane, sky dives, dirt-races motorcycles and sails in the Gulf of Mexico on a sleek 40-foot yacht.

Haynes Now

Today, at age 82, Haynes is still as handsome and charming as ever. He’s also still going strong and his law firm continues to bustle. His office remains packed with boxes and files for the exceedingly large number of cases he takes, and there is no sign this celebrity has any plans to slow down.

Some things have changed, however, in recent years in his personal and professional life. For one, Hurricane Ike took his beach home, and now, he and his bride of 59 years retreat to a lake house. When it comes to activities and dare-devil stunts as the Journal mentioned, golf is now his main passion, and he says if he’s lucky he shoots his age.

Haynes also is a grandfather of seven and great grandfather of three.

But his sense of humor remains in tact. When all of the grandkids are at the house and acting up, he simply reminds them that he can change his will, and if they don ’t behave they won’t get a dime. He says that pretty much settles them

“We went to my granddaughter’s high school graduation recently; she was number three in her class. She’ll be going to the University of Houston, which is a great school,” Haynes said.

University of Houston College of Law is Haynes’ alma mater, and he highly compliments the new UH chancellor and president Dr. Renu Khator.

Haynes’ Early Years

Before Haynes went to college, he worked a couple of summers at the Texas Medical Center, since his high school teachers were encouraging him to become a doctor and attend medical school. But Haynes said he saw too much agony and didn ’t like the smell, and he needed a career where he could appeal.

“In the medical field if you make a mistake someone dies, and I knew I needed a career that offered an appeal, so I chose law, ” Haynes said.

Plus, he adds, today everything in the medical industry is so specialized—they have a right eye specialist, a left eye specialist—that it has gotten a little out of
control.

Haynes, the son of a San Antonio plasterer, also worked in the oil fields prior to winning a scholarship to the University of Houston. He served twice in the armed forces and was decorated for heroism at Iwo Jima while in the Navy. He was also an Army paratrooper.

A few years back, Haynes recalled a day in his military service that changed his life. “I was lying on a beach, shells and bombs were going off around me. People were dying, dead men were around me and shells kept falling. I looked up and asked God to save me and I think I knew at that moment everything was going to be all right. ”  

Following graduation from law school, he set up his own private practice, handling a wide range of cases on both sides of the aisle.

Legend has it that in 1956 Haynes graduated from law school on Friday, and the following Monday morning he was in court trying a case —a tale that Haynes says sounds good to him.

Changes Today

When it comes to societal changes though, Haynes is not thrilled about many of them, not only in the courts but also in the nation.  

“One of the biggest changes in the past years is the intrusion into the law of the computer and all the high tech that goes along with the computer. When computers first came out I thought wow, this is the next giant step for mankind, like the printing press. We can interface all over the world in a heart beat, find answers to medical questions instantly, all through the computer. Yet, this has become the biggest trespasser into our privacy and there is nothing someone cannot find out about another, ” Haynes says.

He does not have a computer on his desk and he doesn’t believe in e-mail. E, as in e-mail, stands for evidence he says. However, the majority of his staff and other attorneys in the N. Post Oak Lane law firm, which carries his name, use

computers.

“One of the drawbacks regarding computers is young people are spending all their time on them and they are not learning the three Rs, (reading, writing and arithmetic) that we had to learn, so I ’m not so sure how much of an advantage computers really are. But as long as the world stays high tech, people can function, ” Haynes says.

Moreover, he notes television has changed, and he isn’t sure if the programs on today send the right message on how to be a decent human being by providing good role models for people of all ages.

“Once we had wholesome shows, but today most shows are about cheating spouses, cheating bosses, getting intoxicated, broken families and pregnant teens, which is not the best for impressionable kids, ” Haynes says.

Other changes that do not sit well are the changing laws, overloaded court dockets, shortened trials and packed courtrooms.

“The law changes every afternoon, or legislation is being passed, so you have to spend

Haynes tries cases all over the country, and sees first hand in most places that it takes two hours or more just to call the docket, and there is not enough room for everyone to be in the courtroom. People are standing in the lobby and outside.

“The docket call being so long doesn’t allow much time to try a case,” he says.

Home is Where the Heart Is

But wherever he goes, he is always anxious to return home to his wife,  a card-carrying, money-giving Republican. Haynes is a die-hard Democrat.

“So, we cannot discuss politics,” he says with a grin.

When Hillary Clinton was running for the Senate, Haynes sent her a check in his wife ’s name. Hillary responded by sending a small basket of flowers to their house, with a note that said she ’d call when she returned to Houston.

“My wife said I had embarrassed her in front of the whole Republican party,” he says, still grinning.l