Theodore H. Stokes

Theodore H. "Ted" Stokes was born March 30, 1927, in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up in Glendale, California, graduating from Monrovia High School. In 1944 he reported for active duty at the University of Redlands in the V-12 Officer Training Program, later transferring to the University of Southern California, where he served on active duty as an apprentice seaman in Naval ROTC. He graduated from USC in 1947 with a degree in Foreign Trade and was commissioned as an Ensign in the inactive reserve. During the Korean War he worked at the Pentagon in the Operational Section of the Office of Naval Intelligence, was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade, and served as a courier of special intelligence to the Chief of Naval Operations, taking night classes at George Washington University's law school during this period.

Stokes entered Hastings Law School in San Francisco in 1955 and graduated in 1957, moving to Carson City, Nevada, to take a position as one of the first two law clerks at the Nevada Supreme Court. He passed the bar exam in 1958 and went to work for the notable attorney Homer Angelo. In 1960 he became a deputy district attorney, and in 1961 he was elected District Attorney for Carson City and Ormsby County, serving in that office from 1962 to 1966.

Stokes continued in private practice until well into his seventies, representing several clients from overseas and traveling to Europe many times. Beyond the law, he was active in civic life as President and later District Governor of Rotary Club District 5190, hosting numerous Rotary Exchange Students over the years. He passed away in Carson City, Nevada, at the age of 91.