T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E
Judge Tidwell grew up in DeKalb, Texas, and received his Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, along with his wife, Cathy. “We both went to A&M but never dated,” said the Judge. “I came back to Texarkana as an Ag Teacher for Texas High School. The school secretary knew when Cathy was going to be signing her contract at the superintendent’s office and arranged for me to go and bump into Cathy to ask her out. This June, we will have 38 years of marriage.” In 1984, when Texas slashed the budgets for vocational education, Judge Tidwell had a decision to make: move to a smaller school with an Ag program or do something else. “That’s when I got the idea to go to law school,” he said. Judge Tidwell attended South Texas College of Law from 1985 to 1988, around the same time that the Bowie County Courthouse was constructed. “Being from DeKalb, I would drive on I-30 past here going to Texarkana with my wife. I would always tap her and say, ‘One day, I’m going to be a judge there.’ I practiced law for almost 30 years and then went for the judgeship.” During his three decades of practicing law, and now as the 202nd District Court Judge, his steadfast character and reputation have made him a respected leader among the local Bar. “Throughout my experience with Judge Tidwell, as both an attorney and a judge, he has been consistent in his careful approach to the application of the law and his genuine desire to seek justice,” said Attorney David Glass of Smith Weber, LLP. “Attributes of a good judge include legal knowledge, compassion, judicial temperament, integrity and character, and Judge Tidwell exemplifies these traits.” Outside the courthouse, Judge Tidwell enjoys spending time with Cathy, their son, Jackson, and daughter, Jordan, both graduates of Oklahoma State University. “The main thing I wanted my children to learn was to be kind and respectful and always be an encouragement to people,” said Judge Tidwell. “Our goal as a family is to have fun. We are a Disney family. We find things to enjoy together… anything where laughter’s involved.” Staying true to his agricultural roots, Judge Tidwell plants a garden each year and is building a raised bed garden this spring for Jackson and his wife, Amelie. The couple is expecting their first child, and Judge Tidwell’s first grandchild, in September 2021. When he is not trying a case in court, digging in his garden, or at Disney World with his family, you can find Judge Tidwell on the back of a motorcycle for “wind therapy,” as he calls it. “I don’t look like a motorcyclist,” Judge Tidwell admitted. “It’s something to distract my mind, and I will get out and go.” In 2016, he rode 3,000 miles round trip to Sturgis, South Dakota, after he won his first election as the 202nd District Court Judge. In a position like Judge Tidwell’s, compassion and integrity are vital components to achieving real justice. He is the person for this role since these are the hallmark characteristics that define him. Add to that his love of fun and adventure and his green thumb, and you find a man who is truly growing more than a garden. He is sowing a legacy of honor that is sure to reap rewards for not just his family, but for Bowie County and beyond.
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C OMM U N I T Y & C U L T U R E
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