James "Judge" Milton Meyer of Granbury, Hood County judge for 20 years, died Tuesday, April 24, 2001 in Granbury. He was 74.

Mr. Meyer was born August 2, 1926 in Hood County. He was a sixth-generation Hood Countian. His parents were the late Henry Preston Meyer and Lillie Belle Barton Meyer, who still lives on the property where she was born 94 years ago. After graduating from Granbury High School, Meyer joined the Air Force and served in World War II. He married Mildred Jean Denny in 1948. Milton and Jean returned to Granbury in 1951 and opened a small grocery store on the square where many people shopped and did their banking at the time. In 1970, Meyer was elected county judge and served as the 21^st county judge of Hood County for 20 years.

Meyer rode the crest of a population boom in Granbury and helped transform Hood County from a rural county into a sprawling modern county. During his tenure, Judge Meyer spear-headed a drive with the commissioners to move the Hood General Hospital to its present location on the Paluxy Highway. He was also founding director of Granbury State Bank, now known as Community Bank and was instrumental in the building of the Hood County Law Enforcement Center.

Two highlights of his life included his hole-in-one at Starr Hollow Country Club golf course and a 1995 trip to Russia where he worked with locals regarding ranching practices.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jean Meyer; two sons, Scott Meyer, and Craig Meyer and wife Susan, all of Granbury; two daughters, Susan Austin and husband Tom of Uvalde, and Paula Nelson of Farmers Branch; his mother Lillie Belle Meyer of Granbury; one brother, Gary Shaw and wife Mary of Tolar; five grandchildren, Aaron Riggins of Stephenville, Natalie Nelson of Farmers Branch, and Cortney Brewer and husband Tom, Preston Meyer, Conrad Meyer, all of Granbury; and one great-grandson, Baxter Brewer of Granbury.

Services will be today (Thursday, April 26, 2001) at 3 p.m. at the Granbury Church of Christ with Minister Stan Reid and Judge Ralph Walton officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Hood County.

Pallbearers will be Kermit Smith, David Smith, Larry Stewart, Bob Brockman, J.D. Rockwell, Dr. Gary Cooper, Dale Edmiaston and Neil Allen. Honorary pallbearers will be Ben Macon, Roger Gideon, Don Johnson, Bud Gifford, Dan Coates, Gerald Bowser and Willie Crossland. Wiley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Hood County Committee on Aging, Lake Granbury Medical Center Auxiliary or the American Heart Association.

2001 HOOD COUNTY TEXAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY