Although he will still be in private practice as a local attorney, Municipal Judge Don Clements is stepping down from the bench at the Brownwood Municipal Court on Friday after more than 32 years of service.
Friday, September 28th will be his last day as judge; however Clements has two trials set for that morning. The judicial part of Clements career began in 1980 when the mayor, Truman Harlow, asked him to become the municipal judge.
Clements grew up in Brownwood, and is a 1954 graduate of Brownwood High School. After graduation, Clements entered the Navy. He served during peace time, which gave him an adventure of travel and education.
“I served between the Korean and Vietnam wars,” said Clements. “I had the opportunity to travel and it was a good education, plus I got to meet a lot of good friends.”
After the Navy, Clements came back to Brownwood in 1958 and graduated from Howard Payne in 1961. He spent several years in the insurance business. In 1969, he was accepted to Baylor. He graduated in 1972 with his Juris Doctor degree and began a private law practice in Brownwood.
In 1974, the Texas Republican party asked Clements to run for congress. Through this experience, he was given the opportunity to meet with President Gerald Ford and Congressman Tower. Although he didn’t win the congressional seat, he states that this was quite a compliment to be asked to run for Congress.
In 1980, Mayor Harlow would ask him to become the municipal judge. Clements spent 32 years and 7 months serving the City of Brownwood in this capacity.
Clements stated that he enjoyed the position and that every day was different. His court heard cases each morning, what he called not difficult Class C misdemeanors with fines, and that offenders are only jailed if they didn’t pay the fine. Every year required him to take classes to keep current with the new laws.
“Every day was unusual in a way, you hear nine million excuses for what has taken place,” Clements said with a smile.
The court has grown and has a lot more activity according to Clements, from having a judge and one part time clerk to now having the judge, three fulltime clerks and a city marshal. The business of the court runs in cycles, said Clements, one day may have a single case to up to 10 cases. He stated you never know what to expect, but that not too many are contested and go to a trial.
Throughout his career he has also been involved with many civic groups including Kiwanis (serving as president at one time) and the Jaycees in his early years.
When asked why he decided to retire, Clements stated that he just woke up one day and decided he had been at this long enough. Clements stated he loves to play golf and will enjoy having a little time to spend taking in a game with friends more often.
His law firm, located at 307 Fisk, will continue to keep him busy. Clements stated that he practices real estate law and handles probate, wills and trusts. He stated that many have heard of his retirement from the municipal courts and have thought he was completely retiring; however that is not the case said Clements, who still handles many legal cases each day through his private practice.
Clements stated that he will have more flexibility with his work after retiring from the court.
“I have the greatest secretary on the earth (Debbie Gwathmey),” said Clements. “I can enjoy my old age a little. I can golf, or whatever, and know that the office is in good hands when I am out.”
Clements is married to Janice King Clements (whose father once owned King Music), and is the father of Craig Clements (owner of Sticks BBQ) and Leslie Butler (a teacher in Rochelle).
Pictured above is Clements at his office on Fisk Street.
