Wichita County courtroom to be named after longest serving county judge

Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News
·2 min read
Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom stands in the Commissioners Court meeting room Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. Gossom is retiring, and the commissioners courtroom will be named after him as the longest serving county judge.
Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom stands in the Commissioners Court meeting room Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. Gossom is retiring, and the commissioners courtroom will be named after him as the longest serving county judge.

Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom was forging ahead in Tuesday meeting's agenda when one of the commissioners gently stopped him short.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Beauchamp told Gossom he missed the item for presentations on the agenda for the Commissioners Court meeting.

"You are the longest serving county judge in Wichita County history," Beauchamp said after Gossom and the commissioners gathered up front. “You have served this community tirelessly."

Gossom will retire after just over 33 years of public service upon the swearing in Sunday, Jan. 1, of his elected successor, Jim Johnson.

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On Tuesday, Beauchamp handed Gossom a dedication plaque inscribed with the new name of the Commissioners Courtroom: "County Judge Woodrow W. "Woody" Gossom, Jr. Courtroom."

His years of service are 1989 through 1998 as the Precinct 1 commissioner and 1999 through 2022 as county judge, according to the plaque.

As their first order of business next week in 2023, commissioners plan to officially change the name of the courtroom in honor of Gossom's service and devotion.

Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom, second from right, hears from Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Beauchamp, far right, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, that the Commissioners Courtroom will be renamed for Gossom, who is retiring. Looking on as Gossom is honored are Precinct 4 Commissioner Jeff Watts, second from left, Precinct 3 Commissioner Barry Mahler, far left, and Precinct 2 Commissioner Micky Fincannon, not shown.

Beauchamp said the county judge is the first person in the door every morning, and the last person to turn out the lights every evening.

Gossom's level of devotion is unequaled, Beauchamp said. The county judge's post has never been filled to the degree that Gossom has with "that much love for the job and desire to do well for our community."

The county judge said it's been heartwarming since he announced his retirement the number of people who have stopped him around town and told him, "Thank you. We wish you the best."

This plaque honors Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom and commemorates the dedication of the courtroom to him. Gossom will have served over three decades when he retires upon the swearing in of the new county judge Jan. 1. The Commissioners Court presented the plaque to him during a meeting Tuesday Dec. 27, 2022.
This plaque honors Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom and commemorates the dedication of the courtroom to him. Gossom will have served over three decades when he retires upon the swearing in of the new county judge Jan. 1. The Commissioners Court presented the plaque to him during a meeting Tuesday Dec. 27, 2022.

Gossom expressed appreciation to the commissioners for what they were doing and their "support and friendship and professionalism."

"It's really been great. Thank you all very much," Gossom said.

His wife, Kris Gossom, was among those attending the meeting. They gave Judge Gossom a standing ovation.

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Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita County to rename courtroom after Gossom