克利夫顿·莫特·考德威尔法官

1919-1965年HSU理事

克里夫顿·莫特·考德威尔出生于5月1日, 1880, 在帕洛平托县, 戈登以北10英里, 德州, 致詹姆斯·S. 和珍妮·莫特·考德威尔. He attended rural schools until the age of 13 when he had to drop out to help on the family farm. He returned to school two years later in Colorado City, 最终获得了教师资格证书.

At age 16, his family moved to Breckenridge where he met his future wife, Cora Belle Keathley. By 1901, 他已经攒够了这对夫妇结婚的钱, 还有他的马车和科拉的马, 他们一起开始了他们的生活. Their first home was in Caddo 社区 where Caldwell was teaching. They lived in a former one-room school house that was located next to the new school building. 他以20美元的价格买下了这所房子, and the couple pasted newspapers over holes in the walls to help block the winter wind while they hunkered near their potbellied stove.

坚信教育的重要性, Caldwell was appointed principal of the Caddo school in 1905. He was able to be an effective disciplinarian by counseling and guiding his students rather than using the more traditional methods of the day of thrashing and whipping.

The young couple welcomed their first child, Guy in 1904, with Mildred and Agnes to soon follow. In 1908, 带着三个孩子, the Caldwells took their life savings and moved to Austin, where he was to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. He entered the University of 德州 Law School, but expenses were more than their savings could cover. They rented a large house adjoining the university and Mrs. Caldwell took in boarders to help support the family of five. 除了学习法律, Caldwell worked at the library and in a bookstore to supplement their income.

He performed well in law school, serving as secretary and vice president of his class. He graduated in 1911 at the age of 31, and returned to Breckenridge where he began his law practice. 1912年，他被选为县检察官, 1916年被任命为县法官, 后来的地区法官. He held these posts briefly, but the nickname “Judge” stuck with him for the rest of his life.

作为县检察官和法官, Caldwell used the same tactics he had applied in the schoolroom, choosing to counsel with the person rather than pressing charges or levying fines.

在此期间, Caldwell developed a business partnership with Breck Walker, which involved leasing mineral rights on surrounding farms. He and Walker later entered into the banking business, Caldwell as a director of the First National Bank of Breckenridge and Walker as president.

In 1917, shortly before the Ranger oil boom, the Walker-Caldwell Oil Company was formed. Caldwell invested in property and at one time owned over 225,000 acres on four ranches around Toyah in West 德州. He also bought smaller tracts of land around Breckenridge and in Callahan and Shackelford counties. 觉得这是他的公民义务, he also invested thousands of dollars in the Breckenridge community, financing a dam and pipeline to replace the Breckenridge water-wagon business. He was also largely responsible for bringing the railroad to the area.

In 1922, 考德威尔举家迁往阿比林, where he again gave of his time and resources to the community. 当HSU校长，Dr. J. D. Sandefer, approached Caldwell about contributing to the building of a fine arts building, 克利夫顿和科拉捐了100美元,000 – enough to cover the total cost of the building. This donation was the first of many contributions to HSU to come from the Caldwell family, including those made by his children and grandchildren.

Caldwell served on the HSU board of trustees from 1919 until his resignation at age 85 in 1965. He also served as a director of the 德州 and Pacific Railroad during the 1920s and again in the 1950s. He gave the land to build Hendrick Memorial Hospital and served as a hospital trustee. He also served on the boards of two of the city’s leading banking institutions, Citizens National Bank and Abilene Savings Association, 40多年了.

He served as director of the West 德州 Chamber of Commerce, working toward his goal of making West 德州 the “most democratic section on earth, 包括正确的生活和黄金法则.” He chaired the war loan drive during both world wars, 筹集了四千万美元的战争债券和邮票.

In 1951 he was named the Top Citizen of the Year by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, and in 1953 the Boy Scouts of America recognized him with the Silver Beaver Award. 他得到了许多赞赏的决议, including one by the State Legislature on January 29, 1969.

In his later years, Caldwell stated that his most treasured title of all was Baptist Deacon. Caldwell’s humility and caring are well illustrated in a letter he wrote to one of his grandsons:

“我一直有一个雄心壮志，想要学习一些东西, but I didn’t have the early opportunity and therefore I haven’t learned fast enough. If I could have had the opportunity my children have made for their children I believe I could have made a stronger, 更好的, 更有用的公民. 我就指望你了…….I just want you to make one of the best citizens 德州 has….I want you to learn how to make a living for yourself and be able to help others who are less fortunate than you.”

C. M. Caldwell died at the age of 88 on August 8, 1968, one of the best citizens 德州 has ever claimed.