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Former County Judge and District Judge Kenneth A. "Buck"
Douglas passed away at about 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, in Corsicana.
Judge Douglas was born Feb. 17, 1927, to Lawrence Douglas and Gladys
Arnett Douglas of the Cryer Creek community in northwest Navarro county.
Graduating from Barry High School, Douglas joined the U.S. Army and served
in Panama. Upon discharge from the Army, he enrolled in Navarro College.
Married in 1947 to Dorothy Jo Owen, he was admitted to Baylor University
School of Law, receiving his law degree in 1951. Douglas returned to
Navarro County and practiced law with an office in Corsicana. He was
appointed judge of the municipal court of the City of Corsicana in 1951.
Two sons were born to Judge and Mrs. Douglas, Kenneth "Ken" Douglas in
1952, and Brett Owen Douglas in 1959. Douglas continued to practice law
and serve as municipal judge until his appointment as constitutional
county judge of Navarro County in 1957. During his tenure, he was faced
with numerous challenges, among them the renovation of an aging
courthouse, and the finance of the county's contribution to the
construction of Interstate 45. These and other projects required
remarkable management skills at a time when county revenues were extremely
low. As county judge, "Buck" Douglas practiced fiscal conservatism and
dedicated himself to the effective management of public affairs. Also
noteworthy is that the Navarro County Courthouse was made accessible to
handicapped persons long before passage of the Americans with Disabilities
Act.
Judge Douglas left the county bench in 1972 to become executive director
of the Texas Association of Counties, then a struggling organization
committed to the assistance of county government in numerous ways, from
legislative issues to liability management and insurance. Under his
direction, the association greatly expanded its scope of operations and
influence.
In 1976, Judge Douglas resigned as executive director of the association
to seek the bench of the 13th District Court of the State of Texas. In
this election he defeated the incumbent and served with distinction on the
district trial bench for 20 years, never facing an opponent after 1976. As
district judge, "Buck" Douglas heard all manner of family and civil
disputes, as well as criminal cases including capital murder and organized
crime prosecutions. Judge Douglas is remembered by the bar of Navarro
County as a jurist who managed his considerable docket with firmness and
fairness. After retirement, he continued to sit as an assigned visiting
judge in complex and controversial cases. Other achievements for which
Judge Douglas will be remembered are his participation in the founding of
VFW Post No. 3366, and his service as president of both the Northeast
Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association and the Texas County
Judges and Commissioners Association. He also engaged in ranching and the
independent trucking business.
Judge Douglas will be deeply missed by those who believe that all persons
are equal before the bar of justice as well as those who believe that the
courts of America are the only institutions which stand between tyranny on
one side and anarchy on the other.
He will also be remembered as a loving father and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Jo Owen Douglas; his mother, Gladys
Douglas; and his sons and daughters-in-law, Ken Douglas and Cindy Douglas
and Brett Douglas and Dianne Douglas. He is also survived by his
grandchildren, Allison Douglas, Ryan Douglas, Dustin Douglas, Daniel
Douglas, Seth Douglas and Anna Middleton. Surviving relatives also include
sisters and brothers-in-law, Marie Griffin of Carrollton, Dorothy Jean and
Bob Ashford of Grand Prairie, Betty and Dan Lancaster of Athens and Wanda
and Eddie McNeese of Kerens; sister-in-law, Bobbie Brown; nieces, Brenda
Hodge and husband Coy and Kim Andrews and husband Larry; and many other
nieces, nephews and friends.
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