(Seguin) — Guadalupe County is helping to celebrate the 100th birthday of Charlie Willmann Sr.
The Guadalupe County Commissioners Court recently observed March 25th as the 100th Birthday Celebration for Charles “Charlie” Julius Willmann, Sr.
Willmann not only served as Guadalupe County Commissioner Pct.1 from 1988 to 1992 but also acted as county judge pro tem. He is also best known for having served as the interim county judge from May 2012 to November 2012.
Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher says Willmann over the years has played an important role in the operation and continuation of the county’s values, traditions and heritage.
“We wanted to recognize his 100th birthday. We know we have some very influential people in this community who have lived a very long time who have served this community well, but we have a direct connection with Charlie at the county for what he has done and we just wanted to honor him and say we appreciate that,” said Kutscher.
Willmann who attended Seguin High School began his service to others when he paused his formal education at Texas A&M College in order to enlist in the United States Navy during World War II. When he returned, he completed his degree in agricultural administration, raising award-winning pecans and becoming a part of the many service boards and organizations throughout the county.
Kutscher says one of Willmann’s most important contributions to the public was his appointment as interim county judge. Willmann’s appointment followed the resignation of, then County, Judge Mike Wiggins.
At the time, Willmann was 87 and was selected unanimously from a pool of 23 candidates who were looking to serve the temporary position.
Kutscher says Willmann’s willingness to serve the county at that time was to not only help but to ensure the integrity of the county’s operation.
“We wanted to recognize Charlie because he’s played a pivotal role in Guadalupe County for a long time as an individual but also helped the county through a difficult time politically back in 2012, but I want to tell the story real quick about Charlie and his servant heart.
You can tell by the proclamation; he has served on all of these boards. He’s donated and volunteered his time in numerous ways to all types of people, families and organizations but he got appointed after a selection process — a bunch of interviews with commissioners court members and he comes in as county judge and he is standing over when our offices were at the Justice Center and he gets his (paper) check at that point. It wasn’t a pay stub and Doreen, my assistant, was standing there and I was standing in my office, and he had this complete look of disbelief on his face and I looked at him and said ‘Charlie, is the amount not right?’ He goes, ‘Kyle, I didn’t know I was going to get paid.’ That’s truly the kind of individual that he was. He always just wanted to help. He always was there,” said Kutscher.
Willmann’s 100th birthday was observed with a proclamation during last week’s meeting of the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court.
Kutscher continued that celebration with Willmann by attending a special birthday gathering this Saturday with family and friends.