Roger E. Towery, one of the longest-serving district judges in the history of the 97th Judicial District, died Wednesday at his home in Nocona. District Judge Jack McGaughey said Towery had undergone a kidney transplant last October and was in a Dallas hospital until three weeks ago. Towery’s new kidneys were removed several weeks ago following an infection. Since coming to office in 1990, the retired district judge had presided over most of the important trials of the last quarter century.