Brownwood City Council recognized council member Carl McMillan of Ward 3 as he stepped down after serving two terms on the council.

With his wife Mildred present during the meeting, McMillan sat in his last meeting before stepping down to pass the torch to newly elected councilman Larry Mathis.

McMillan was honored with praises from his fellow council members who stated they have been honored to serve with him and will sorely miss his presence on the council.

“He has been a valuable leader to this community and someone I have looked up to for sound and trusted advice for the past 6 years,” said Mayor Stephen Haynes.  “It’s been a great privilege to have served with him and alongside him.  I very much appreciate you Carl and everything you have done.”

Councilman Jerry DeHay was recently elected to serve another term and spoke of McMillan as a dedicated representative of the community who always worked to do the right thing for the community in all of his decisions while in office.

“I always appreciated his integrity and his courage to speak up and to challenge things when they needed to be challenged, to constantly be concerned about things that were going to be in the best interest of the community,” said DeHay.  “It’s going to be hard to even consider being here and Carl not being a part of us.”

City Manager Bobby Rountree, who will retire at the end of June, also expressed his appreciation for McMillan, as a friend and for his support of Rountree throughout the years.

“Carl was on the council when I was hired.  He came over to Goldthwaite and ran around with me,” said Rountree.  “I learned real quickly the strength of character that Carl McMillan has.  His insight and just his determination to do what’s right, to me, has stuck out.  I appreciate all of Carl’s support over the years and will miss him.”

McMillan then sat with his wife while Larry Mathis was welcomed to the council.  Mathis has been a long time member of the faculty of Brownwood ISD, recently retiring from serving as the Theatre Director, UIL Coordinator and longtime debate and speech coach.   Mathis has been involved in numerous civic projects including a twelve year tenure with the Brownwood Lyric Theatre where he serves as Technical Director.  He also wrote and directed for 20 years the Mystery Dinner Plays as part of the annual fundraiser for THE ARK. Mathis also serves on the Board of Directors of the Gordon Wood Hall of Fame.

Pictured above is McMillan with council members (left to right) Jerry DeHay, Eddie Watson, Mayor Stephen Haynes, H.D. Jones and Draco Miller.

Below is Mathis, also pictured with council members at Tuesday’s meeting.