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Robert E. Lang

robert lang
Robert (Bob) Eugene Lang,75, passed away at home on Friday, April 26, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. Bob was born in Cleveland, Ohio and eventually made his way to Texas by way of a long military career that took him from Ohio to Washington DC to Korea and finally to San Antonio. As a young boy, Bob worked in a dairy and had a paper route. During junior and senior high school, he participated in skating competitions, was a member of the National Honor Society and joined ROTC in college. After graduating from Ohio State University in 1965 and obtaining his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Akron Law School in 1970, Bob served in the Army from 1970-1971 and then, after deciding private practice was not his cup of tea, he reenlisted in the Air Force and served from 1972-1992, reaching the rank of Lt. Colonel. After retiring in 1992, Bob was hired as a Hearing Officer for the State of Texas Worker’s Compensation Commission (TWCC), where he decided contested case hearings. During the early years working for TWCC, Bob traveled the State as a traveling hearing officer, and he often said that it was the best job he ever had. After TWCC merged with the Texas Department of Insurance and prior to his retirement in 2011, TWCC Bob was promoted first to Regional Team Supervisor of Hearings/ Proceedings, then Appeals Panel Manager/Judge and finally Deputy Commissioner for Hearings. However, Bob’s life wasn’t just filled with facts, and rules and left-brained lawyerly things. There was a spiritual, artistic and altruistic right-brained side to Bob Lang as well. As he was contemplating leaving the military and deciding what the next part of his life would look like, Bob began to dabble a little with meditation. He began to read a lot of spiritual and religious books, both ancient tomes and modern age. The more he read and studied, the more passionate about his journey he became. Bob completed a year-long study of the Course in Miracles and attended meditation retreats and workshops of various kinds. More than anything, he was a student and a searcher of truths, which he continued to pursue rigorously until his passing. In addition to his spiritual journey, Bob turned his long ago love of skating into a love of dancing. He took lessons from instructors all around the state as he traveled for work, and also attended and eventually participated in dance competitions. It was his newfound love of dancing which led him to meeting Karen, who would become his wife in 1998. Last, and probably the most meaningful for those who knew Bob, was his generosity and loyalty. Bob was selfless in order to be incredibly generous and giving to others. He hated to receive presents for, or even acknowledgement of, his birthday. He rarely asked anyone for favors. His generosity to others ran the gamut from always paying for dinners out, or arranging for a weekend getaway at the Port Aransas condo for friends in need of a respite, to preparing wills, powers of attorney and deed transfers to insure that others would be prepared for the unexpected. Almost everyone who knew Bob could talk about at least one instance or story of Bob’s altruism, if not more. Bob volunteered with Hospice to play cards, read or just sit and visit with folks who, nearing the end of their lives, had no one else or to provide a needed break for their families. And while Bob had no biological children of his own, it is a testament to who he was that two young women considered him Dad and 4 children called him Grandad. From inventing silly games to play, like booties on the footies, fight on the bed, rubber band shoot-out, elevator elevator, or foot cushion volleyball, to teaching a 13 year old about the stock market, and instilling values such as fair play and gamesmanship when playing board games with 7 year olds, Bob’s love for them shone through. Robert Eugene Lang was born on May 13, 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio. He is predeceased by his parents, Eugene Albert Lang and Mabel Lillian Lang (Stoll), and by his brother, Wilbur Stoll Lang. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Karen; step-daughters, Amy Jurewicz (Chris D’Amura) and Audrey Harig (J.R. Harig II); grandchildren, Luke Jurewicz, Gillian Jurewicz, Tripp Harig, Landon Harig, Ethan D’Amura, Cole D’Amura and Lucy D’Amura; sister-in-law, Dorothy Lang; niece, Karen Lang Smith (Tommy); nephews, David Lang (Lori) and John Lang (Debra Olson); great niece, Kacie Lang; great-nephews, Ryan Lang and Armwell Lang; former wife, Carol Lang; numerous friends and colleagues. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Bob’s memory to the National Hospice Foundation or to your favorite charitable organization.

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  1. Bob was always very gracious and witty colleague. He cared about the workers’ compensation system and he cared about his coworkers. He will be greatly missed!

  2. Bob was one of the first people I met when I started here. He always had a kind ear and words of wisdom to help guide me through.

  3. Bob was as respected professionally as he was admired personally and I consider myself fortunate to have known him.

  4. Bob did so much for me personally and professionally over the years. I was fortunate to have crossed his life’s path several times. A great accomplished gentleman – a friend.

  5. I had the honor of knowing Robert E. “Bob” Lang. Bob was one of the kindest, smartest, and humorous individuals I have ever met. To say he was smart is an understatement, Bob was brilliant. I always enjoyed visiting with Bob and always walked away from him having learned something new. He dedicated his life to serving our nation – first as a member of the U.S. Air Force’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps and then later as an Administrative Law Judge at the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission and Deputy Commissioner of Hearings at the Division of Workers’ Compensation. I shall never forget what I learned from Bob and his great wit. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all who came in touch with him.

  6. Bob is one of the most important inspirations in my life. What I learned from his mentorship and his friendship over the years cannot be measured. Farewell, sir.

  7. Bob brought dignity, knowledge, dedication, and humor to an often contentious subject for many years and through many difficult times. He has been missed terribly since leaving the system and it is with great sadness that we bid him a final goodbye.

  8. Bob was someone I respected enormously and I will miss him. He was instrumental in my advancement in my Career. He encouraged me to apply for positions when I myself was not sure I was ready for. If not for his encouragement I would not have done so. He was right, I was ready as it turns out. I’ve known him since 1993 when he used to travel as a Hearing Officer. We attended a funeral and another co-worker was shocked when Bob opened his arms and I walked into them for a hug. I don’t hug or display affection very often. He was just that kind of man. I always thought that his family was blessed to have him. I knew I feel blessed to have know him. He was an incredibly interesting individual. The world is a poorer place now that he is gone. My blessings and prayers go to his family.

  9. 22 years ago Frank Allyn and Don Woods interviewed me to take over David Wagner’s job in Abilene as a TWCC Hearing Officer. At that time, we had to undergo 13 weeks of training before being certified to be a Hearing Officer. There were 2 weeks out of that 13 that taught me everything I needed to know, and those were the 2 weeks I spent with Bob in Dallas. • I watched him conduct hearings and read the exhibits in their entirety before he ever called the case to order. • He would make the attorneys translate anything he could not read in the exhibits, including the chicken scratch in SOAP notes and ER records. • He would routinely interrupt those attorneys by looking over his glasses and saying, “I’m sorry…….” • He never left the office before writing his decisions on the same day – and in plenty of time to make it to whatever ballroom dancing event he had planned for the evening. • He always stayed at the Marriott Courtyard on the Northwest Highway because they had free breakfast. • He always ordered his enchiladas with flour tortillas (and I regularly reminded him that he was actually eating a burrito). • To say he was frugal was an understatement, and no one has ever had a better grasp of maximizing rewards points and incentives. If you did not know him, he seemed prickly, but he was truly a kind man. I did not always agree with Bob, but he did not care and he never held it against me. He was a very kind and empathetic man. He was a teacher, a friend and a good man. I will miss him.

  10. I will never forget Robert Lang. I was thanking the Lord for him today. I wouldn’t be alive if Robert hadn’t been on the Hearings and review at TWCC when the 1990 reform happened. I just realized today of his passing. Will never forget Robert Lang – wnated His Family to know: could never quantify the difference he made in others live.


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