Judge Helped Moore County Children

Bill Sheehan came to Dumas in 1965 to open a law practice and by the time he left thirty years later, he had improved the lives of many Moore County children.
He had been practicing law in Friona for 16 years. During that time, he served as city attorney in Friona, county attorney for Palmer County and as district attorney for the 154th judicial district.
Bill was born in Childress in 1928. His father was a circuit-riding revival pastor until his death when Bill was only three. He was raised by his mother and step-father who owned and operated Doc's Shoe Shop in Childress.
His first job was at age 5, delivering milk. He also worked at his step-father's shoe shop until he entered the Army in World War II.
He was a member of the 10th Mountain Division where he was a ski instructor and boxing champion of his regiment. He served in the Army Reserves and was called up to serve during the Berlin crisis when he served in Texas as a post legal officer. He earned the rank of Major during his service.
Bill attended Texas A&M University, then law school at Baylor University. He worked as a general practice lawyer for both civil and criminal cases, for 28 years in Friona and Dumas. He was elected Judge of the 69th District Court in 1978 and retired from the court in 1989. After his retirement, he often served as a visiting judge in the Dallas area.
His greatest passion was helping children. In 1985, Judge Sheehan learned of the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program at a Juvenile Justice seminar. He felt that a CASA volunteer's input could help him make quality decisions regarding the future of children who were involved in the court system.
His efforts founded the first rural CASA program in the United States here in Moore County. He was a founding member and Texas CASA's first board president. In 2008, he was recognized at the annual meeting of Texas CASA for his lifetime contributions to the welfare of Texas children.
Bill was frequently a speaker around the state on needs of abused children.
An active member of the Dumas community, he served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board for the Dumas YMCA and many other organizations, including the Noon Lions Club. He was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 1987.
At an early age, Bill learned to enjoy opera by listening to a Childress radio station. While in Dumas, he and his wife, Mary, were instrumental in organizing the first community concerts in Dumas.
The Sheehans were active members of First Baptist Church where Bill served several terms as a deacon and on the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention.
They were parents of four children, Mary Margaret, Kathleen, John and Jack and a foster daughter, Doedy.
He had been practicing law in Friona for 16 years. During that time, he served as city attorney in Friona, county attorney for Palmer County and as district attorney for the 154th judicial district.
Bill was born in Childress in 1928. His father was a circuit-riding revival pastor until his death when Bill was only three. He was raised by his mother and step-father who owned and operated Doc's Shoe Shop in Childress.
His first job was at age 5, delivering milk. He also worked at his step-father's shoe shop until he entered the Army in World War II.
He was a member of the 10th Mountain Division where he was a ski instructor and boxing champion of his regiment. He served in the Army Reserves and was called up to serve during the Berlin crisis when he served in Texas as a post legal officer. He earned the rank of Major during his service.
Bill attended Texas A&M University, then law school at Baylor University. He worked as a general practice lawyer for both civil and criminal cases, for 28 years in Friona and Dumas. He was elected Judge of the 69th District Court in 1978 and retired from the court in 1989. After his retirement, he often served as a visiting judge in the Dallas area.
His greatest passion was helping children. In 1985, Judge Sheehan learned of the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program at a Juvenile Justice seminar. He felt that a CASA volunteer's input could help him make quality decisions regarding the future of children who were involved in the court system.
His efforts founded the first rural CASA program in the United States here in Moore County. He was a founding member and Texas CASA's first board president. In 2008, he was recognized at the annual meeting of Texas CASA for his lifetime contributions to the welfare of Texas children.
Bill was frequently a speaker around the state on needs of abused children.
An active member of the Dumas community, he served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board for the Dumas YMCA and many other organizations, including the Noon Lions Club. He was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 1987.
At an early age, Bill learned to enjoy opera by listening to a Childress radio station. While in Dumas, he and his wife, Mary, were instrumental in organizing the first community concerts in Dumas.
The Sheehans were active members of First Baptist Church where Bill served several terms as a deacon and on the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention.
They were parents of four children, Mary Margaret, Kathleen, John and Jack and a foster daughter, Doedy.