Written by Ben Cox – This is one of a two part series highlighting the candidates for Brownwood City Council, Ward 5. The election will be May 4th. Wards 2 and 3 are also up for election, but those seats are running unopposed.
Jerry DeHay is the current City Councilman for Ward 5, and has run unopposed since his election in 2007.
DeHay is a Brownwood Native, born to Marvin and Willie Marie DeHay in November of 1939, graduating from Brownwood High School in 1958. DeHay attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, majoring in Business Administration in 1962. He attained a Master of Business Admin from the same school in 1966, and earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of North Texas in1978.
DeHay has been on many boards and commissions in his career, including the BISD, Mullin ISD and chairman of the Small Business Administration.
Starting his career in 1962 with Procter and Gamble, he says he learned the value of representing yourself well with the company. “The taught us that we were the face of Procter and Gamble. These businesses we were calling on, they would never meet the CEO or the President of the company, but they would see us regularly. So we had to always act accordingly, to show the best face of the company that we could.”
Leaving Brownwood for school and work, DeHay says that a childhood story he was told eventually came true. “The Native Americans in the area said that if you drank from the Pecan Bayou as a child, you would always return to the area. Well, I certainly drank plenty from there as a boy, and here I am!”
DeHay was the first Dean for the School of Business at Tarleton University in Stephenville, and after his retirement he was pressed to continue that work for Howard Payne University.
DeHay was unsure as to whether or not he should accept the position, but a chance encounter made up his mind. “I prayed on it and prayed on it, and it was close to time for me to give an answer. We were on a trip in Dallas, and a big white box truck pulled in front of us, and the only thing written on it were the words “Do It God’s Way” and I realized this was the sign I was looking for! I called and turned down the job the next morning, and did it God’s way by serving the school in other ways.” DeHay later retired from HPU as an educator, and serves on the board of the Guy D Newman Honors Academy.
DeHay, who was not planning to run for another term, realized that what he liked about it was the reason he felt called to keep doing it. “I enjoy what I do, I like to serve. I’m a good problem solver, in terms of getting the problem served and finding resources to get that problem solved. With my lots and lots of years of experience I have a pretty good catalog of resources.”
DeHay says those resources and his knowledge have helped him work with City Manager Emily Crawford to bring business to the area. “I will go to Emily’s office and we will have ourselves a little victory party from time to time, we are so excited for what is coming!”
He also lists helping take a city council that was, in his words, “highly dysfunctional and turning it into one that is highly, highly functional” as another highlight of his term in office.
Early Voting begins April 22nd, and ends the 30th, with election day May 4th with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling location details are available on the city website under the Notice of General Election.
