San Saba County was one of the first of a month-long campaign to celebrate Texas courthouses. The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced this campaign in conjunction with touring a select number of Texas courthouses as part of their new “I Love Texas Courthouses” initiative. Representatives of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation and the Texas Historical Commission visited San Saba on Wednesday, January 23rd to spotlight the courthouse project and to find out why San Saba County loves its courthouse.

Visiting the county were Jim Lindberg, National Trust for Historic Preservation from Denver Colorado; Lyman Labry, Architect, Texas Historical Commission; and Bess Graham, architect, Texas Historical Commission from Austin, Texas. Approximately fifty people gathered at the courthouse and greeted the visitors including the following: Gary Kofer, District Director, office of State Representative J.D. Sheffield; representing Mills County that was the recipient of their Courthouse restoration two years ago, County Judge Kirk Fulk, County Commissioners Jason Williams and Keith Harper; representing San Saba County, Judge Byron Theodosis, Administrative Assistant Cathi Miles, County Commissioners Kenley Kroll and Otis Judkins, Family & Consumer Science Agent Carolyn McDowell, Attorney Randy Robinson, Justice of the Peace Judge Les Dawson and Sharon Blossman, Sheriff Steve Boyd and Chief Deputy Rickye Feist; City of San Saba represented by Mayor Ken Jordan, City Manager Stan Weik, Tourism/Economic Development Tony Guidroz; United Methodist Pastor Dan Harrington; Parkview Baptist Pastor Curtis Chandler; County Historical Society members David Williams, Nelda Weatherby, Nancy Bannister, Dwight Harkey, Marilyn Johan-son, Tom and Ann Alston, Lynn Blankenship; SSISD Superintendent Leigh Ann Glaze accompanied by 15 students; Mike McHenry, LCRA Board member; Attorney Richard Miller; Roger Whatley, Dora Miller, Lisa Schulze, and San Saba News & Star Reporter, Alice Smith.

After a group picture, approximately 15 people toured the courthouse. Judge Theodosis gave interesting information and history as he led the group from the first floor (when first con- structed was dirt and no rooms or partitions) to the fourth floor. The second floor has unique Terrazzo tile flooring and the third floor is the District/County Court with original wood furnishings; however the balcony has been enclosed and is now the fourth floor. As the group exited the fourth floor they got a glimpse (from a window) of the roof repairs recently completed with the major funding from an Emergency Grant which was provided through the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.To learn more visit www.ilovetexascourthouses.org