Troy Davis Williams

Troy Davis Williams died peacefully at home on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, after a lengthy illness. He was bom to J.H. and Clara May Williams on June 23,
1915, at Gary, Panola County, Texas. Troy, his elder brother, Ben, and their parents traveled to Sherwood, Texas, in a Buick touring sedan in 1919, after J.H. Williams developed tuberculosis and was advised to move to a drier
climate. Troy attended school in Sherwood and made many lifelong
friends there before moving to Ozona in 1931, where the family operated a Sinclair gas station and sold groceries.

Troy graduated from Ozona High School in 1934. He wanted to attend law school, but the economic situation presented by the Great Depression and the family’s circumstances dictated that he remain in Ozona and work in the family business, which by then was J.H. Williams & Sons Grocery. Troy met Estelle Reid when he stopped by her parents’ grocery store and gas station at
Tankersley. He was enroute to San Angelo at the time to purchase groceries for J.H. Williams & Sons. Troy and Estelle married in 1935. Four children were
bornto them. 

Troy left the family grocery business and became a rancher
when a University lease was vacated in 1938. He continued to ranch throughout the remainder of his life, although he developed other interests as well. In remembering the early years of ranching, Troy sometimes said that he guessed he was successful because he got to where he owed lots of money, and for a rancher, that is a measure of success. His business interests included a Studebaker dealership and building contractor. He commuted to San Angelo to attend Angelo State University and became a member of its first four-year graduating class in 1967, at age 52. He was then ablfe to finally'realize his life-long dream and enroll at the University of Texas Law School in Austin. He graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree
in 1970. While a student at the University, Troy essentially commuted from Ozona to Austin every weekend while Estelle ran the ranches.

Troy passed his bar exam on his first try in 1969, and returned to Ozona to set up a law practice. In 1972, he was elected Crockett County Judge. Troy acknowledged that he won that office by a landslide of 19 votes. He held
the office of county judge until his appointment by then-governor Dolph Briscoe in 1977, to the District Judgeship of the 112th Judicial District. This district is comprised of five counties, which necessitated much travel. After serving the unexpired term to which he was appointed, Troy was elected twice to the same office and served until he retired in 1984, returning to his private law practice, ranching, and various other business interests. He was actively engaged in all of these until 2005, when he reluctantly closed his law practice
because of declining health. Besides his family, the practice of law was Troy’s greatest love. While county judge, he presided at the first jury trials to be held since 1909 in Crockett County. He presided at some interesting trials while district judge as well.

One of these trials was at Crystal City and concerned allegations of election fraud, during which he received death threats and had to be escorted to and
from the city by Texas Rangers. He carried a briefcase lined with a thick sheet of steel plate throughout the trial, which he intended to hold up as a shield if the need arose. Once, while traveling home from a trial within his
own district, a deliberate but unsuccessful attempt was made to force his car from the highway.

After his retirement from public office, Troy was asked which office had he enjoyed most. He thought a moment and replied that he had enjoyed being
county judge more because it had afforded him more opportunity to help people.

He always considered the legal problems presented to him by clients and tried to help them regardless of their ability to pay. He did a great deal of pro bono
and sliding scale fee legal work and was proud of the fact that he had never increased his fees during his legal career. He simply stated that those less fortunate needed legal representation too.

His law practice involved other matters as well. He especially liked probate work. He was licensed to practice in .Texas, the Northern District of Texas -in
Federal Court and also in the 5th Circuit Appellate Court in New Orleans.

Always emphasizing the importance of education, Troy was benefactor to numerous deserving students. He was a true philanthropist, contributing to many organizations, charities, and individuals.

He became a trustee of First Baptist Church of Ozona in 1948, and served in that role until his death. He was one of the oldest members of that church, having become a member in 1931, and to the end. He taught a boys’
Sunday School class for more than 30 years.

He served on the boards of numerous civic and other organizations, which included trustee on the board of Baptist Memorials Geriatric Center of San Angelo. He became a director of Paisano Baptist Encampment during the 1950s and continued in that capacity until the present.

Troy was a member of the Ozona Lions Club for years. He was chairman of the Crockett County Planning Committee. He was vice-president of Concho Hereford Association and later served two terms as that organization’s president. He was a member of the Ozona Chamber of Commerce and served as its president. He served as director of the West Texas Chamber of
Commerce, Abilene, Texas.

He was a member of the Crockett County Hospital Board. He served on the board of supervisors of the Crockett County Soil Conservation District. In
later years: he represented the Concho Valley in the Silver Haired Legislature, an advisory board to the state legislature.

Troy was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Ben, and by a daughter, Kathryn Mayfield. He is survived by a brother. Rev. J. Calvin Williams
of Oklahoma City, a sister, Marie Tawater of Mansfield, Texas, a sister-in-law, Grace Williams of Ozona, and a son-in-law, Richard Mayfield of San Angelo. He
is also survived by his wife, Estelle; a daughter and her husband, Jacquelyn and Paul Shacklette of San Angelo; two sons and their wives. Bill T. and Rosalind Williams, and Larry and Elaine Williams of Ozona.

He is also survived by eight grandchildren and their spouses: Peter and Patricia Shacklette of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina; Summer Shacklette of Dallas, John and Patty Williams of San Antonio, Tom Ben and Stacy
Williams of Lubbock; Candace Williams of Chicago, and Slate and Heidi Williams of Ozona; Martha and James Shepherd of San Angelo; and Sara and Bobby Grannis of Ozona. Six greatgrandchildren survive him as well as numerous nieces, nephews and, cousins.

Services were held Monday, Sept. 24, at the First Baptist Church of Ozona, followed by interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by
Preddy Funeral Home. Former pastor Bill Fuller will officiate, assisted by Pastor John Collis. Pallbearers will be the deacons of the church, Douglas Bean, Pleas ChildreS's III, Bob Falkner, Abe Gott, Les Hale, Gene Hood, 
Doug Meador, Burl Myers, Jerry Perry, Harold Shaw, Richard Stoitnsv Jason Sullivan and Bill Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be J.B. “Buster” Miller, Eugene “Jake” Miller, S.E. “Mutt”, Carnes, Jim Burnett, Perry Hubbard,
A.O. Fields and Oscar Kost.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Marcus Sims, Ike Whitten, PA, Hospice of San Angelo, especially Nurse Veronica Fierro, Medway Home Health, Ozona
EMT personnel and the personal caregivers who made Troy’s last days a little more comfortable. They are Romelia Fierro, Patsy Enriquez, Felicita Sandoval,
Linda Kay Vasquez, Becca Flores, Alice Salas, and Maria Vasquez.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Scholarship Fund of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1608, Ozona, Texas 76943, or to the charity of one’s choice.