It is with great respect and a deep commitment to public service that I present my qualifications for consideration as Burnet County judge to complete the remainder of the vacated term. My life and career have been dedicated to leadership, problem-solving and serving my community and I am honored to seek the opportunity to bring this experience to the role of county judge.
I do not intend to run for the position in the next election.
I am a proud Texan and a product of the University of Texas, where I earned a bachelor of Business Administration in accounting in 1966 and a juris doctor from the School of Law in 1973. These foundations have shaped a career focused on analysis, leadership and service to others.
Professional experience
Over the past five decades, I have developed a diverse set of skills in law, accounting and finance, governance and conflict resolution. My career began in accounting as part of the audit staff with Arthur Anderson & Co. in Houston, where I gained hands-on experience with complex financial reporting and analysis.
In 1973, I transitioned to law, establishing a private practice that thrived for nearly 25 years. My work concentrated on estate planning, probate, guardianships, business organizations and general civil litigation, helping individuals ad businesses make critical decisions with confidence. As
general counsel to the Big Spring Independent School District, I successfully handled desegregation issues involving the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and a federal civil rights case.
In 1996, I was honored to be elected to serve as judge of the 33rd Judicial District of Texas, a role I held with integrity for 16 years. In this capacity, I presided over civil, criminal, juvenile and family law cases, ensuring fairness and impartiality. Extra-judicial activities included:
• Fostering the creation of an additional district court (the 424th to aid the burgeoning docket of the 33rd and helped author the legislation.
• Helped author the legislation creating the Burnet County Court-at-Law.
• Served on the Texas Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care.
In 2015, I served a brief stint filling a vacated term of justice of the peace, Precinct 4, Burnet County.
Since 2013, I have worked as a professional mediator and arbitrator and am credentialed “Distinguished” by the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. I have mediated many hundreds of disputes with a success rate exceeding 90%, bringing parties together with a focus on reasonable outcomes and efficient processes, thus disposing of many cases that otherwise would have clogged the dockets of the county and district courts.
Military and Leadership Experience
My commitment to service began in the United States Navy, where I served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam conflict. As an officer, I directed the communications message center and served as underway officer of the deck, managing critical operations and personnel with precision and care.
This foundation of leadership has informed my civic and community engagement. I am a lifelong Rotarian and founding president of the Marble Falls Daybreak Rotary. I have also chaired significant projects, such as the development of a $3 million, 120-unit HUD-funded retirement home for elderly and disabled residents in Big Spring which I managed from concept through completion. Afterwards I similarly consulted on the same type of project in Midland.
Additionally, I have served the Episcopal Church as senior warden, parochial school board chairman, and Trust Fund chair. … As county judge, I will bring a collaborative approach to leadership, working closely with the commissioners court, county departments and all stakeholders to address the county’s needs effectively. My extensive experience in law, finance and
government equips me to oversee the budget and serve as a fair and impartial leader for the commissioners court. My years on the bench and as a mediator have honed my ability to navigate difficult situations and being people
together to find common ground.
I will also assume the operational judicial functions to hear cases including probates, contests probates and guardianships in collaboration with the county court-at-law. Having spent 16 years on the district court bench I can do so immediately. … I am confident that my background, skills, and dedication uniquely position me to serve as Burnet county judge. It would be my honor to work with you and the citizens of Burnet County to continue a bright and prosperous future for the county.
