Karl Paul Mattlage, born December 8, 1940, Waco, Texas. Educated in the public schools of Waco, McGregor, and Crawford, Texas. Graduated from Crawford High School, 1959, honors as "Most Likely To Succeed". Attended college on pre-law major (combination of BBA and JD) at Baylor University, Waco, Texas in the fall of 1960. Studied Economics and Finance in Hankamer School of Business at Baylor. Member of Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in United States Air Force, 1963. Graduated with Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in 1964. Entered Baylor University School of Law. Member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. Graduated from Baylor School of Law in August 1965 with Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree. Admitted to Texas State Bar, December 1965.
Entered on active duty in U.S. Air Force in 1966 in Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps (JAGC) 1966-1970. Chief of Military Justice, Hq. Air Force Communications Service. Promoted to Captain. Awarded Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding and meritorious service. Admitted to U.S. Court of Military Appeals 1969. Honorably discharged 1970. Served as Liaison Officer, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado 1974-1980. Promoted to Major, United States Air Force Reserve, 1978.
Admitted in person on motion of U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough to United States Supreme Court Bar, November 1969 and personally sworn in by Chief Justice Warren Burger before full open court in Washington D.C. Admitted to Colorado Bar after passage of bar examination, October 1970. Served as staff attorney with Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver, 1970-1972. Associate of Denver law firm of Holme Roberts & Owen and assigned to its branch office in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, 1972-1974. Associate with Denver law firm of Hall & Evans at Steamboat Springs, Colorado 1974-1975, and made managing partner, 1976. Deputy District Attorney, 14th Judicial District, Colorado, 1976. Formed private law firm partnership, Mattlage, Maus and Lettunich at Steamboat Springs, 1977. Practiced law in Steamboat Springs until 1997. Staff attorney, Texas General Land Office, 1998-2003. Private law practice, Austin and Georgetown,Texas, 2004-to date. Admitted to Wyoming State Bar upon successful examination, 2013.
Appointed as Commissioner, Colorado Highway Commission, 1976-1979, by Colorado Governor Richard Lamm. Appointed as Commissioner, Colorado Transportation Commission, 1989-1992, by Colorado Governor Roy Romer (Vice-chairman 1992). Elected to Steamboat Springs School Board, Colorado, 1986-1990. Board of Directors, Yampa Valley College Foundation, 1980-1993. Marquis “Who’s Who” (2018).
Member, The Federalist Society. Member of The Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas for outstanding contributions to the delivery of legal services to low income Texans (2021); legal assistance to veterans through Austin Bar Association, 2020 to present. Avid student and speaker on Constitutional Law.
Served as Seasonal Interpretive Park Ranger with the U.S. National Park Service at Devil’s Tower NM, Wyoming (2011) and at Little Bighorn Battlefield NM, Montana (2012-2013). Member of Sheridan, Wyoming Archaeological Society. Licensed boatman and river-guide, Dinosaur National Monument, 1973-1977. Avid fly fisherman, camper-hiker, and world traveler. Travelled solo overland through Canada’s Yukon and Northwest Territories over ice bridges on McKenzie and Peel Rivers to reach Bering Sea/Arctic Ocean at Inuvik, April-May 2006. Presently an active owner/rancher at “Last Chance Ranch,” Cranfills Gap, Texas.
Favorite pastimes at home include classical piano and guitar. Auditioned member of Austin Choral Symposium (which toured Ireland in 2002), and University of Texas Choral Arts Society, 2004. Studied theology, Lutheran Seminary of the SW-Wartburg School of Theology, 2004.
Father of 3 children; 3 grandchildren.
Fifty plus years of experience in law practice specializing in probate, estate planning, wills & trusts, real estate law, personal injury, and probate litigation. Active litigation in all state and federal trial and appellate courts including jury trials.
I carry the Martindale-Hubbell rating of “AV- Preeminent” (the highest possible legal ability and ethical standards rating).
