Wise County Judge Bill McElhaney Dies

Wise County Judge Bill McElhaney

Wise County Judge Bill McElhaney died today at Wise Regional Health System after collapsing during the bimonthly meeting of county commissioners at the county courthouse on the square in Decatur.

Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Jan Morrow has ordered an autopsy by the Dallas County Medical Examiner.

McElhaney, who lived in Bridgeport, was serving his second term as county judge and also served as vice president of North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Our prayers go out to McElhaneys' friends and family. He was a decent man and will be missed.

Bill was a life-long resident of Wise County and was born in June of 1946 in Decatur, Texas. He was a 1964 graduate of Bridgeport High School and a 1977 Graduate of North Texas State University with a B.A. in Finance.

Additionally, Judge McElhaney was a U.S. Army Veteran. Bill served as the Wise County Judge since 2007. Prior to that, he served on the Bridgeport ISD School Board for 21 years. He also served on the Wise County School District Tax Board in 1994 and on the Bridgeport City Council from 1978 to 1980. In total, Bill devoted 26 years to government service. He is survived by his wife, Kim, and children Billy Jr., spouse Suzanne; Blaine, spouse Melissa; Stacie and Katie – spouse Josh; and seven grandchildren.