Known simply as “The Judge,” Tim Lapham stands as a resolute figure within the tapestry of Austin County. From spearheading transformative changes to battling unprecedented weather conditions, his enduring commitment remains evident.
Simultaneously, he champions preserving one’s roots amidst change.
Local Boy Does Good
After graduating from Sealy High School, Lapham became a volunteer firefighter at the Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Department. “It has been a long and wild ride. From the places we have gone to the devastation we have been in the middle of, there is no better opportunity to make the best of someone’s bad day. As a rookie, I listened to the stories of the old firefighters, and now I am wearing a white helmet and telling my own stories. If you have the opportunity to become a volunteer, take it,” Lapham said. “You don’t have to be inside the burning house to make a difference; there’s a place for everyone who wants to give back to their community. That’s why I still have a soft spot for Fire and EMS. I’ve ridden on the old pumper that you had to hold the door shut when you turned a corner. I’ve stayed the night on fire watch, catching a cat nap on the tank of a booster truck. I’ve spent a few nights in the old, haunted Sealy Hospital that was our EMS station for years. We didn’t believe it then, but those were the good old days.”
On The Job Learning
Contrary to common knowledge, being a County Judge doesn’t require a law degree, and there are no formal training programs for the role, with Lapham emphasizing a hands-on learning approach. Lapham consistently embraced leadership roles within the organizations he was involved in, including FFA, the Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Department, and the Austin County Farm Bureau.
“Always take the opportunity to lead in whatever organization you spend time being a part of. You never know what a small leadership role will evolve into. With encouragement from many good friends, I ran for County Judge.
That was over ten years ago now,” Lapham said. “I enjoy the opportunity the people of this great county gave me to be their representative in local government. There is nothing like it. From meeting with CEOs and owners of huge companies to those who come into the office unsure where their next meal comes from. I enjoy the interaction and the opportunity each one presents.
“The first trick to being an effective County Judge is to surround yourself with good people and give them the tools to do their job. The second trick is to visit with everyone who comes to see you, calls or emails. To you, their problem may seem trivial. But their issue is the most important thing in their world.”
Staying Put
On two occasions during Lapham’s tenure as County Judge, opportunities arose for the State Representative position within the district, and he received invitations from multiple organizations to consider running.
“I asked for the support of the people of this county to serve as their County Judge, and that’s where I plan to stay. I enjoy going to the Capitol in Austin. I enjoy seeing my friends who work at the Capitol. From various Representatives to Senators to lobbyists to other state officials, I never thought those couple trips to the Capitol as a kid would turn into this,” Lapham said.
When Lapham isn’t at the courthouse, he can be spotted enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, riding on a fire truck, chasing down some sick calf, or turning wrenches on some old tractor.
“People ask me what I do for fun. It’s all of that. The old saying is true: Find something you enjoy, and you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s not to say I don’t come home hot, tired, and filthy; it’s my mess to clean up now,” he said.
Nature as a Foe
Over the past decade, Lapham has addressed a series of challenges in Austin County, including incidents such as a county building catching fire, multiple floods, and even a microburst event.
“Who ever heard of a microburst before May 2017 when a 2.5 mile-wide downdraft occurred within a thunderstorm, causing extensive damage through wind and rain? Then Hurricane Harvey came later that year. We experienced a flood, then drought conditions, and back again.
Rain water coming in the top of the courthouse to storm and sewer water backing up in the basement,” Lapham said. “Burn bans to flood warnings to blizzard cold and who could forget that little disruption called Covid! We all learned a lot. Some good, some bad. Who could we believe?”
Lapham Spearheaded Improvements
“From a new Justice Center that was desperately needed, to a remodeled jail and new sheriff’s offices to new EMS stations with many smaller improvements too numerous to mention, Austin County strives to provide the best service to the citizens for a reasonable investment,” he said. “The first responders of Austin County have the best fleet we have ever had to serve the citizens.
From modern healthcare to dependable patrol cars and even the fire trucks bought with the community’s support, Austin County has a lot to be proud of, but mostly, it’s the people who serve. We are blessed with amazing first responders.”
Balancing Act: Competitive Salaries & Low Tax Rates
“We have a great staff here in the county, from the clerical positions to EMS to the Sheriff’s office to Road and Bridge to all those in between.
We are one big family. We may argue and disagree, but we all look out for each other and work hard for the citizens of Austin County,” Lapham stated. “It’s hard to stay competitive with private Industry, all the while knowing every dollar spent is from a taxpayer that needs it just as much if not more than we do. The state continues to push more and more down to local governments. Sometimes funding comes for a short period, and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s tough when they make the rules you must follow and then point at you for being the bad guy. It’s all part of the job.”
Future Projects
Judge Lapham has additional projects on his agenda. Initial talks about establishing a new library in Industry are underway, alongside considerations for an improved AgriLife facility to comprehensively support the various activities that engage the youth.
“I meet with developers weekly about this parcel or that building.
Recently, it has changed from small property divisions to master-planned communities. Houston is still coming this way. We have good rules to manage the growth as best we legally can,” Lapham said. “We recently hired the first full-time engineer to manage many of these projects.
Between subdivisions and the Commissioners, he stays busy and is a tremendous asset to the county.”
Lapham said every year, the county becomes less and less like the one he grew up in and challenged others to stick to their roots.
Lapham Legacy
“That’s why the people come here. I enjoy all my friends here in Austin County and wouldn’t want to be a judge anywhere else. I’m in my third term (4 years each term) in office and am still not used to people calling me judge. It’s not about me,” Lapham insists. “I represent every person in Austin County. I hope those who look back, whether that be yesterday or 20 years from now, say That I interpreted the rules fairly for everyone, made great improvements for the citizens and helped to preserve the quality of life that Austin County is known for. I might be satisfied if they don’t just shake their head and say ‘that Judge!”
“I represent every person in Austin County. I hope those who look back, whether it be yesterday or 20 years from now, say I interpreted the rules fairly for everyone.”
ABOUT THE WRITER:
Holly has covered the Austin County area since 2016, being a resident for portions of her young and adult life. When not writing, she spends time with her two young children or writing for her blog, hollyinhouston.com.
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