Judge W. Ozelle Wilcoxson

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WILCOXSON ANNOUNCES FOR FIFTH TERM

WILLS POINT-- Judge W. Ozelle Wilcoxson (D-Wills Point) Monday announced she would seek a fifth term as Justice of the Peace for Van Zandt County’s Precinct 3.

“For more than 21 years, I have served the people of this precinct as their Justice of the Peace. During that time, our court has made many improvements in operations, facilities, and technology. Keeping that in mind, I believe there is still more work to be done, and my desire to continue serving the people is stronger than ever,” Wilcoxson said.

“I have always believed that the Justice of the Peace courts are the ‘People’s Courts,’ and I believe this court needs to continue with a judge who has the best interest of the people of this precinct at heart,” Wilcoxson added.

Wilcoxson was appointed Justice of the Peace in March, 1985 to fill out an unexpired term. She won election to the post to fill the unexpired term in 1986. She was re-elected to full terms in 1988, 1992, 1998, and 2002.

As Justice of the Peace, Wilcoxson presides over the Justice of the Peace Court for Precinct 3, a court that handles Class C Misdemeanor cases, evictions, and civil suits where the amount in question is less than $5,000. In addition, she serves as a magistrate and inquest officer.

Wilcoxson holds an Applied Science Degree in Mid-Management from Trinity Valley Community College (formerly Henderson County Junior College) and is a graduate of Wills Point High School.

In addition to serving as justice of the peace, Wilcoxson has held positions as both the elected and appointed City Secretary for the City of Wills Point, and was elected as a Trustee for the Wills Point Independent School District. Wilcoxson also served as Municipal Judge for the Municipal Court of the City of Wills Point for 10 years.

During her tenure as Justice of the Peace, Wilcoxson has supervised the transition of her office from a home-environment setting to that of a staffed office maintained in downtown Wills Point. She has also worked to continuously upgrade technology in the office, all in an effort to better serve the people. "I believe it is important that are offices run efficiently and professionally. I have always worked toward these goals and will continue to do so," Wilcoxson said.

“The Justice of the Peace courts are the only courts many citizens in our county ever come in contact with, either through service on juries, or involvement in civil suits or Class C Misdemeanor offenses, such as traffic citations. Wilcoxson also stated, "We deal with people on a personal level so much more than higher courts."

“I’ve always believed that Leviticus 19:15 is a good point of guidance for me as a jurist: ‘Judges must always be just in their sentences, not noticing whether a person is poor or rich; they must always be perfectly fair,’” Wilcoxson noted.

Wilcoxson is a longtime Wills Point resident. She and her late husband, G.P., have two sons who live in Wills Point with their families.

Reprinted from The Wills Point Chronicle

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Letters of Endorsement

"As a born and reared Van Zandter who is still a property owner engaged in raising cattle between Wills Point and Edgewood, I gladly and proudly endorse Judge Ozelle Wilcoxson for re-election as Justice of the Peace. As a practicing attorney I have observed her to take the job seriously and operate her court with dignity and fairness, just as all courts should be operated, as opposed to the way Justice Courts were so often run in the past as mere collection agencies for traffic fines.

"Next week I will have been a practicing attorney in Tyler, Texas for 30 years. I have known Judge Wilcoxson even longer than that, going all the way back to when she kept "study hall" at Wills Point High while I was a senior. Thus, I know Ozelle Wilcoxson, as a person, a friend and as a judge. Her integrity and willingness to make her job as a Justice of the Peace into the prime focus of her life speaks to the kind of person she really is. Election of judges is not about parties or politics, but moreover, it is about the selection of individuals who can be fair, impartial and available to their constituents. Judge Wilcoxson has always displayed these qualities. The people of Van Zandt county can continue to benefit from her dedication and hard work by re-electing her on November 7th.
---Robert Hindman

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Judge Wilcoxson,

Just a short note to thank you for all that you do in our precinct. I know that if I refer someone to you with a problem, that you will take care of it, or give them a course of direction. You've always taken care of us, and I appreciate it. I've already voted, and feel certain you will remain the people's choice!

Lisa Yockey

Subject: Note of Thanks

Sent Tues Oct 24, 2006, 8:13 AM

Permission to post to website by Ms. Yockey

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Woman of the Year 2006, Van Zandt County

June 13, 2006 -- Ozelle Wilcoxson was named Outstanding Woman of the Year during the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court meeting.

She has spent most of her adult life serving the citizens of Van Zandt County. Even though Wilcoxson is an elected county official, she makes time for many worthwhile causes and always finds time to help others. Judge Wilcoxson said, “This is the proudest day of my life. I do what I can for others, not for myself.”

A few years ago, with the assistance of her son, Tolvia, she landscaped, prepared flowerbeds, planted trees and placed donated benches in the Veterans Wall of Honor Memorial Park on US Highway 80 in Wills Point. Over the years she has worked with the veterans programs at White Rose Cemetery.

Wilcoxson, as a member of the Van Zandt Community Choir, was instrumental in making arrangements through David Cain, State Senator, and Dr. Bob Glaze, State Representative, for the choir to sing in the Rotunda of the state capital. Today, the choir continues to perform in the Rotunda every other year at the State Capitol in Austin on Van Zandt County Day.

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Judge enjoys visiting with Class of 1965-66 and 66-67 at their class reunion on June 17, 2006 at the American Legion Hut.

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Biography

Traders and General Insurance Company, Dallas, Texas - 3 months (Summer relief for three months) after graduation from high school

Baker Clinic Hospital Wills Point, Texas 17-18 years, full and part-time - Receptionist, Bookkeeping, Medical Secretary. While employed with W.P.I.S.D., continued part-time as medical secretary for Dr. Richard Lane - home office Owned and operated by Drs. Horace Baker, Robert Golladay, and Richard Lane.

Wills Point Independent School District - Junior High and High School - 6 years Teacher’s Aide-Supervised first detention hall in the history of Wills Point High School Study hall and library, both campuses. Other duties assigned by teachers and principals Volunteer - supervised student extra-curricular activities.

Texas Department MHMR - Terrell State Hospital, Staff Development Department - 8 years Clerk I, promoted to Administrative Assistant to Staff Development Director within a short period of time, and held this position until September 1984. Record Keeping - Continuing Education credits for all physicians, employees Instructor - CPR, First Aid, other teaching responsibilities as assigned Clerical Support Chair for Continuing Education - appointed by the superintendent at the hospital. Seminars and Conferences - shared responsibility with other TSH employees.

Appointed Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Van Zandt County - March 1985 - December 1986

Elected Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Van Zandt County, 1987 - present

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Appointed and Elected Positions

City Council, Wills Point 1973 - 1979 -- 3 years elected and 3 years appointed

Independent School District Board of Trustees 1979 - 1982 -- elected

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Van Zandt County March, 1985 -- appointed

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Van Zandt County 1987 - present - elected

Judge of the Municipal Court, City of Wills Point October 1990 - September 2000 - appointed

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Community Involvement

First Christian Church Historical Marker -A Sesquicentennial Project - An old historical Christian Church in Wills Point - took almost a year to get the material and documents required for the historical marker - worked with a very small group of members still active for Sunday School at the church. Dedication for the marker was an important event. First Christian Church, though almost ready to close permanently, is a viable and growing church today.

Lungs for Amy - Co-Chaired - Board of Directors - Town Community Committee - Raised over $300,000.00 in approximately 3 to 3 ½ months for Amy Louise Harris, a young girl just out of high school who needed lung transplants. Ms Harris did not live to receive the transplant. A Foundation in memory of Ms Harris was set up through the Communities Foundation in Dallas to be used for children, 18 years of age and younger, who need organ transplants.

American Legion Auxiliary - Member

Wills Point Chapter # 366, Grand Chapter of Texas, Order of the Eastern Star - Member

Wills Point Wilderness Society - Assists this group with Bluebird Tours during Bluebird Festival held each year in Wills Point.

Kiwanis Club of Wills Point

Past President
Distinguished Past Lt. Governor, Division 34, Texas-Oklahoma District
Past District Chair, Blue Ribbon Committee, Membership Growth, for Texas-Oklahoma District.
Past District Chair, Sophomore of the Year and HOBY, Texas-Oklahoma District
Tablet of Honor Recipient from home club; most prestigious award any Kiwanis Club can give to one of its members.
Diamond Level 6 Hixson - Supporting the Kiwanis International Worldwide Service Project, Iodine Deficiency Disorders
(1 Level Hixson by Hide-A-Way Lake Club, awarded at their last meeting during tenure as Lt. Governor, Division 34)
13 years perfect attendance
Selected Kiwanian of the Year in 1993-1994, 1999-2000, and 2003-2004 by the Kiwanis Club of Wills Point.
Member of the Million-Dollar Club, Texas-Oklahoma District Foundation. 1999-2000.
Co-Chaired a flag project for home club, and today this is the largest fund-raising project the club has. Monies are used for scholarships and other children's projects in the community.
Life Member of the T-O Kiwanis Past Lt. Governor's Association, awarded by home Club
Outstanding club leadership and service award recipient in 1994-1995
One of seven lieutenant governors in the Texas-Oklahoma District in 1999-2000 who received recognition for outstanding leadership and commitment to serving the children of the world.
Assisted club in organization of Wills Point Independent School District's Key Club, Builders Clubs, and K-Kids
Benefactor - Kiwanis International

Wills Point Chamber of Commerce - Member

Van Zandt Council of Communities (Visions) - Member (county-wide organization)

Van Zandt County Community Choir - Charter Member

Memorial Day - Veterans Day - Veterans Memorial Park - Participates in all activities sponsored by the American Legion and veterans. Spearheaded a project to make improvements at the Veterans Memorial Park

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Church

Charter member Calvary Baptist Church, Wills Point - Sunday School Teacher - Women on Missions - Church Choir

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Neat Quotes and Anecdotes

"Remember, people will judge by your actions, not your intentions.
You may have a heart of gold but so does a hard-boiled egg."

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JUST A THOUGHT TO KEEP YOU GOING
It takes God's grace,
a ton of courage,
plenty of prayers,
a world of friends
and a heart full of faith
to go forward in life and
to face the future undismayed.

Let us pray for each other.
I am praying for you.
Perry Tanksley (c) J-99

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MYSELF
by Edgar Albert Guest

I have to live with myself, and so,
I want to be fit for myself to know,
I want to be able as days go by
Always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don't want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I've done.

I don't want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself.
And fool myself as I come and go
Into thinking that nobody else will know
The kind of man I really am;
I don't want to dress myself up in sham.

I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all men's respect;
But here in the struggle for fame and pelf,
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to think as I come and go
That I'm bluster and bluff and empty show.

I never can hide myself from me,
I see what others may never see,
I know what others may never know,
I never can fool myself - and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and conscience free.

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How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the driven and
tolerant of those who are weaker that you because some day,
you will be all of these. C1999 Creators Syndicate

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I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart.
I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts, the morning dew, the sun,
the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds.

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As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow,
I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life.
And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child,
excited with expectation because I know
tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!