Gregg County officials take oath

News Herald Photo by Brenda Brown Fellow judges Becky Simpson and Alfonso Charles help William "Bill" Jennings put on the robe he will wear as the newly sworn in jurist of the 124th District Court in Gregg County. Nine officials took the oath of office on Jan. 1 before a courtroom packed with supporters. "Special day" was mentioned more than once as Gregg County elected officials pledged to preserve, protect and defend the laws of the United States and Texas when they took their oaths of office on New Year's Day, but as the only newly-elected official, Bill Jennings seemed to take it to heart.

As the new judge of the 124th District Court, Jennings made a brief speech after taking his oath, thanking his followers and remembering a couple of longtime supporters, including his mother, who did not live long enough to see him take the bench.

Eight others also took oaths in the 188th District Courtroom on Jan. 1, but Jennings is the only one to hold a new office, though he's no stranger to the ceremony as he served as Gregg's elected district attorney for four terms, resigning late in his last term to run for the seat vacated by Judge Alvin Khoury, who retired at the end of 2008.

Fellow jurist David Brabham, judge for the 124th District, welcomed Jennings to the bench and laughingly noted, "We watched Bill serve as an assistant district attorney, as a criminal defense lawyer and for 11 years as district attorney. We also watched him during these past one-and-a-half years as an unemployed citizen," he said, adding Jennings was successful in each role.

Other officials taking the oath for another term before a standing-room-only crowd were: Judge Jim Worthen, chief justice of the 12th Court of Appeals; Maxey Cerliano, sheriff; Charles Davis, commissioner for Precinct 1; Kirk Shields, tax assessor-collector; and four constables, James Plumlee of Precinct 1, Billy Fort of Precinct 2, Bill Echart of Precinct 3 and Robby Cox of Precinct 4.

In honor of his late mother, Jennings said he got up early to prepare 36 blueberry muffins made with her recipe and served to supporters many times during his political career.