Little known facts about local Bexar County Elected Officials

L-R: 4th Court of Appeals Justice Marilyn Barnard taught in public school for 7 years

Some little known facts about local Elected Officials that you might not know or recall.

Did you know?

Three Bexar County Judges served in Viet Nam.
1. Probate Judge Tom Rickoff (JAG Officer)
2. Justice of the Peace Pct. 2, Pl. 2 Bill Donovan (Medic)
3. Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2, Pl. 1 Steve Walker (Unit Mail Clerk)
* State Rep. Joe Farias also served in Viet Nam

Did you know?

A number of local officials taught in public school before their election to higher office.
1. Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo (Marine) served as a Band Director for 18 years in SAISD. He also served as a State Rep.
2. Judge Barbara Nellermoe (13 yrs.-History)
3. 4th Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Barnard (7 yrs.-English)
4. 73rd District Court Judge Renee McElhaney (taught with Judge Barnard @ McArthur HS-English)
5. Bexar County Clerk Gerry Rickoff (Sp. Ed.)
6. JP2 Steve Walker (retired teacher) (English-Sp. Ed)
Rickoff & Walker taught @ Southwest Middle School together (87)

7. Walker also taught Judge Edmundo Zaragosa's daughter, State Senator Carlos Uresti's son & State Rep. Joe Farias' son in Harlandale ISD when State Rep. Joe Farias served on the Board

Did you Know?

1. County Court Judge David Rodriguez is the nephew of former Judge Hippo Garcia
2. County Court Judge Ray Olivarri was a former probation officer
3. County Judge Monica Gonzalez, along with District Judges Toni Arteaga, & Catherine Torres-Stahl served as Municipal Judges
4. State Reps. Roland Gutierrez, Ruth Jones McClendon & Jose Menendez were former city councilmen
5. Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Edmundo Zaragosa, along with State Rep. Joe Farias, & Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, all served on the Harlandale ISD School Board (not at the same time)

6. District Judge Sol Casseb's father Sol Casseb Jr. also served as a District Judge

7. District Judge Lori Valenzuela is the daughter of retired Army Major Gen. Freddie Valenzuela

7. Congressman Charlie Gonzalez served as a Judge & Mediator before being elected Congressman to succeed his father Henry B. Gonzalez

8. Tax-Assessor Collector Sylvia Romo also served as a State Rep. & as Bexar County Democratic Party Chair

9. 4th Court of Appeals Justice Steve Hilbig, currently the only male on the court & the only one on the current court elected to the office without being appointed first, served as Bexar County DA before his election on the 4th Court

10. District Judge Peter Sakai is the first elected Judge of Asian descent

11. Distict Judge Barbara Nellermoe is known by her peers as the singing Judge due to her opera-like voice

12. Former El Rey Feo Ronnie Gabriel is the younger brother of District Judge Johnny Gabriel

13. Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus is only the second San Antonio native Speaker in nearly 100 years

14. Probate Judge Tom Rickoff & brother Bexar County Clerk Gerry Rickoff are one set of two brothers currently serving in public office in Bexar County, the other two being Congressman Ciro Rodriguez & Commissioner Chico Rodriguez

15. County Judge Nelson Wolff & Commissioner Kevin Wolff are the first father & son currently serving on the Commissioner's Court

16. District Judge Ray Angelini & 4th Court of Appeals Justice Karen Angelini are the only husband & wife Judges in Bexar County

17. State Rep. Frank Corte is the only Bexar County Elected Official to serve in Afghanistan with the Marines during his tenure as a State Rep.

18. DA Susan Reed is the first Female DA in Bexar County history as well as serving as a Distirct Judge

19. Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo is Godfather to State Senator Leticia van de Putte's children

20. County Judge Nelson Wolff is the ony current officeholder with a building named after him (Nelson Wolff Stadium)

21. District Judge Larry Noll taught Law courses @ St. Mary's Law School to the majority of Judges in Bexar County

22. Former 4th Court of Appeals Chief Justice Alma Lopez was the first Hispanic female to serve as a Chief Justice of a higher court in the United States

23. 4th Court of Appeals Chief Justice Catherine Stone who followed Chief Justice Alma Lopez, is only the 2nd female 4th Court of Appeals Chief justice

24. Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Steve Walker is the only Judge to serve as a union president (Harlandale Federation of Teachers-AFL-CIO) President of the San Antonio Junior Chamber of Commerce & as a city councilman (Balcones Heights)