William Baird provided the photos.  Tony Hill and his staff hung them.  Elizabeth Asbury and Dennis Potter hosted.  And several attorneys and others provided entertaining and enlightening stories.

Wednesday afternoon in the lower level courtroom at the Campbell County Court House at Jacksboro, is when and where a special ceremony took place honoring and remembering the current and past chancellors and clerk and masters of Campbell County.

TOP PHOTO:  County Attorney Joe Coker shared several stories including the one when the late Chancellor Billy Joe White once said to a person appearing in his court room that he was ruling in his favor despite his attorney’s poor performance.

Baird, the former Campbell County Mayor, came by the photos through his grandfather Winston Baird and father Lendon Baird.  Winston served as Clerk and Master from 1900 to 1946 and was succeeded by Lendon in 1946.  He served until 1979.

Current Chancellor Elizabeth Asbury (above) emceed the ceremony and gave a brief history of the men in the photographs that now hang on each side of the courtroom.  Photos date back to the 1800s.

Asbury said that White was the longest serving chancellor during a career that spanned 35-years.  She went on to say that he was a national champion trap shooter and the ultimate competitor and a great story teller.

Attorney Steve Hurst added that Chancery Court is the working man’s court.  He called clerks (clerk and masters) life savers for attorneys; especially those just starting out.

Current Clerk and Master Dennis Potter (L) visits with Laura Broyles and her grandson Cline Carden Russell.  Cline’s great great grandfather was Joe Carden who served as Chancellor from 1948 to 1959.  Potter calls it an honor to have his photo hanging on that wall.

“I’ve never been treated any kinder,” said attorney Terry Basista as he recalled Clerk and Master Lendon Baird.

Attorney Vic Pryor said, “Judge White brought a lot of common sense to his courtroom.”

The stories could have lasted for hours.  But the almost one-hour gathering was like a good dose of medicine as it brought those in attendance a little closer to some rich Campbell County history.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/06/2018-6AM)

 

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