Retired, But Not Yet Tired

Judge James Carlow left a legacy of leadership, service, and hard work as the former Bowie County Judge

by LISA PORTERFIELD THOMPSON

Judge Carlow and Nancy on September 30, 2019, his last day working before retirement.

Judge James Carlow will always be “the judge” to those who know him. Even though he has been relieved of his duty for almost two years now, that does not mean he’s out of the public light just yet. Our readers might recall that he announced his retirement nine months into a four-year term back in 2019, and a lot has happened in our corner of the world since then—COVID, a snow storm, more rain than we care to measure. Then, just two months ago, Judge James Carlow was announced as the 2020 recipient of the prestigious C.E. Palmer Award, given by the Texarkana USA Chamber of Commerce. Carlow joined the ranks of previous honorees such as Wilbur Smith, J.K. Wadley, a myriad of those named Morriss, Truman Arnold, Dan Haskins, and many more.

This recognition, delayed a year due to COVID-19 restrictions, piqued our interest here at FSLM, and prompted us to follow up with Judge Carlow and wife, Nancy, a year or so into their “retirement.” We wanted to know what they had been up to since we last wrote about them in 2016.

In our original article, we highlighted the upbringing of Carlow, the early experience he gained in western Bowie County with a paper route, and purchasing a tractor at age 13. We told you about his adventures growing a business in our community from the ground up, and eventually passing on several of the family businesses to his two sons, Brad and Blake.

Ron Collins and Bill Cork presented Judge Carlow with a replica of the street sign that was installed when the main drive at Red River Army Depot was renamed to James Carlow Drive.

Judge Carlow first ran for county judge in 1986, following up on an interest in lobbying and political action spurred from his dairy business and lobbying activities in D.C. on behalf of dairy farmers. This career in public service would focus on economic development, job retention, mental health issues, financial security, transportation, county asset management, and much, much more.

Judge Carlow described the role of county judge as a junk drawer.  “If it won’t fit anywhere else, then it gets thrown to the county judge to take care of,” he said, recalling a class he’d taken as a new county judge back in the ’80s.  These days, Carlow is doing less of the junk drawer clean out, and more of the back pasture kind, but none-the-less, he’s working hard and still serving his county.

Touring the farms lands was a highlight during the Carlows’ trip to Mexico in 2008.

Of course, retirement has not meant the slow down that some might expect for the Carlows. Rather, the obligations have changed from public service to personal endeavors, and from expectations of the taxpayers to volunteering to benefit the community. Before retiring, Judge Carlow served on 16 boards and commissions both locally and statewide. Today, he has a few less, but no less important appointments and jobs to tend to.

Since retiring, Judge Carlow is now able to devote more time to his cattle and ranching.  “I’ve been working with my other businesses, and looking after my cows,” he said. “There’s plenty to do here. For the next few years, or however long I’m able, I hope to keep working cows, ranching, and cutting hay.”

January 2, 1987, was Judge Carlow’s first day of work in the Bowie County Courthouse so he and Nancy took a moment to snap a photo to document this special day.

The family’s tractor business, and title companies are also still demanding the Carlows’ attention, though now managed by their sons. In fact, Judge Carlow’s wife, Nancy is still working, albeit from home.  “We’re up to 13 tractor dealerships now, and several title company offices,” Carlow said. “If I could just get my wife to retire, we might be able to really enjoy it.”

The Carlows have not found much time to relax just yet, but they do have a plan in place when the time comes.  “We have a place up in Arkansas that we love,” Nancy, said. “Unfortunately, we have not gotten up there as much as we need to or want to, but when we go, we do have so much fun. We are just extremely busy, always. Our whole family is going in a hundred different directions. Last weekend, we got together for a nice Sunday brunch at Verona to celebrate all the January-June birthdays. That’s how difficult it is to get everyone together. In August, we’ll try to celebrate the rest. I so enjoyed having everyone together, but with all the grandkids and greats being so involved, and our boys having a lot of responsibilities, and their wives being busy, it’s just so hard.”

James and Nancy have two sons: Brad and his wife, Ashley, have four kids (Taylor, Shelby, Triston and Briley) and Blake, has two children (Malori and Mason) with wife, Melinda.

The Carlows were married on September 11, 1965, at the Maud United Methodist Church.  They still attend church there now, where many generations of the Judge’s mother’s family have attended.

There is no doubt the residents of Bowie County have been, and continue to be, the benefactors of Judge Carlow and his family’s busyness. After a nearly 30-year career in public service to the county, he is still serving on boards like the I-69 Alliance, Maud Methodist Church Board, and the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. 

Although there are still obligations for the Carlows, they’ve both found themselves enjoying the slow down in unexpected ways.  “We’ve both enjoyed, surprisingly, being home more,” Nancy said. “I really enjoy having him here. I am not used to being home either, but when COVID hit, my boys sent me home to work from here, and so I got a printer, and a desk, and I work at home. He is in and out all the time, checking on things and getting everything done here and, of course, doing for other people. It’s been really nice.”

Leaving the county, although it was not easy for Judge Carlow, was made better when Judge Carlow learned who his replacement would be. He was replaced by Judge Bobby Howell, a competent and capable leader in his own right.

Judge Carlow and his wife, Nancy, while on a Kubota-sponsored trip to Rome, Italy, in 2013.

Carlow still stays informed about the day-to-day happenings at the county, and in the community as a whole.  “From everything I can tell, Bobby’s doing a good job,” he said. “There’s a lot to it, and I think he’s doing fine.”

The county has survived several natural and man-made disasters since Carlow’s retirement. When asked if he felt like he dodged a bullet by retiring before all the disaster declarations, Carlow indicated something else.  “No,” he said. “I feel like I missed out. I miss not being involved in all that, and although I’m so glad COVID is going away, and we can all move on, I wish I was right in the middle of it all. When I served during the Red River floods, twice, it was amazing to see how people came together and worked collectively during a disaster. It’s awesome. I’m enjoying retirement though, and it’s been a good thing.”

Nancy confirms what we all suspected. Judge Carlow’s exit strategy at the county had everything to do with accomplishing the goals he’d set out, and he did just that.  “Before he retired in September of 2019, he made sure he had everything in order,” she said. “That was his goal when he went back in and found the county was in disarray. Once that was done, and he’d gotten everything straight, he had not planned to run again, but his supporters were relentless. Still, he has people every day telling him how much he’s missed, and that says a lot about the kind of leader he is and was.”

Indeed, it does.  Judge James Carlow left a legacy of leadership and service and hard work as the former Bowie County Judge, but his service is far from over, even in retirement.