Bill Zook graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. He entered the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant, eventually gaining the rank of Captain by the time of his honorable discharge from the Army in 1974. While in the Army, Bill attended Air Defense Artillery School and was assigned as a missile control platoon leader at Nike Hercules Missile Companies in Buffalo, New York and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bill attended and graduated from helicopter flight school, and was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam. A helicopter platoon leader, Bill's helicopter was shot down in Cambodia, 30 miles behind enemy lines. Eighteen of the twenty-two soldiers on board perished. Although wounded, Bill rounded up the survivors, and escaped and evaded a pursuing enemy company for three days, before being rescued by American forces, still behind enemy lines. For heroism, Bill was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star, the Nation's third highest medal for heroism. He completed his tour in Vietnam with 13 Air Medals and the Bronze Star, and served the remainder of his commitment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

After serving his country, Bill came to Texas and worked for a year as a field engineer for a construction company building the Sammons Cancer Center at Baylor Medical Center of Dallas. Accepted to the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Bill completed his studies in 1976 and was licensed by the Texas Supreme Court in 1977.

Bill has spent his entire legal career representing people injured and killed by the negligence of others or unreasonably dangerous products or premises. Bill has tried over 100 jury trials involving negligence, products liability, construction accidents and medical malpractice, with tremendous success. Through trials and settlements, Bill has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for the clients of Ted B. Lyon & Associates.

Through his dedication to the causes of our clients, exceptional organizational skills, legal and procedural knowledge and trial presence, Bill has succeeded against some of the most renowned defense lawyers in the State. Bill has been Board Certified in the Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board for Legal Specialization for the past ten years and is an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates, a National organization of highly experienced and skilled Plaintiffs and defense lawyers in the United States. Bill is also a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and several local and state bar associations.

Areas of Practice:

Civil Litigation

Drug Manufacturer

Medical Malpractice

Personal Injury

Products Liability Law

Professional Negligence

Toxic Torts

Wrongful Death Law

Litigation Percentage:

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certification/Specialties:

Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Bar Admissions:

Texas, 1977

U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1979

U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1981

U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1981

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1990

U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1990

Education:

The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1976
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
Honors: Phi Delta Phi

United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, 1969
B.S.Eng., Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Honors: Dean's List

Honors and Awards:

College of the State Bar of Texas, 1992 - Present

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Dallas Bar Association

Member

Mesquite Bar Association

Member

State Bar of Texas

Member

Dallas Trial Lawyers Association

Member

American Board of Trial Advocates

Member

Texas Trial Lawyers Association

Member

American Trial Lawyers Association

Member

Past Employment Positions:

United States Army, Captain, 1969 - 1974

Fraternities/Sororities:

Phi Delta Phi

Birth Information:

March 16, 1946, Oak Park, Illinois, United States of America