During a legal career spanning four decades, McMaster presided over several notable criminal cases, including the 1971 murder trial of John Hill, a Houston-based cosmetic surgeon who was accused of killing his wife.
Born in Galveston, Texas, McMaster graduated from Houston's Lamar High School before joining the United States Army Air Corps.
Stationed in Europe during World War II, he served as a bomber pilot and flew cargo planes, before returning to the United States to take up a place at the University of Houston, where he studied airport administration.
[2] McMaster served as a district judge in the 179th Criminal Court for sixteen years, retiring from the bench in 1988.
Other notable cases included the trial of Harris County Commissioner Bob Eckels, accused of stealing bridge timbers, and David Port, who was indicted for the murder of a Houston letter carrier.