Dan Gattis passes away
Longtime county judge had deep connection to rodeo, education
Former Williamson County Judge Dan Allred Gattis — who led the county from 2007 to 2018 — passed away at the age of 83 surrounded by his family on the evening of October 30.
Born on May 22, 1942, in La Grange, the fifth-generation Texan was a husband, father, grandfather, educator and public servant, who was committed to Texas agriculture, youth, education, faith and community.
After graduating from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), he served as an agricultural education teacher at Round Rock High School. In 1970, he joined the Texas Education Agency as a consultant in vocational agriculture and served as executive secretary of the Texas Young Farmers Association.
In 1976, Mr. Gattis began his work with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, an organization he helped expand for more than 30 years. He also served as president of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, served on the Board of Directors of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and was inducted into the International Association of Fairs and Expositions Hall of Fame in 2004. He was added to the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2010.
In 2006, Mr. Gattis was elected Williamson County Judge, where he served 11 years in office. During his tenure, he guided the county in developing major infrastructure, mobility and public safety projects — including improvements to the Interstate and Ranch to Market 620 corridors.
In a statement to the Sun, the county said Judge Gattis was a steady hand who helped shepherd the county through rapid growth as one of the fastest-growing counties in the country. By passing two bond elections, he increased safety and mobility and was an advocate for agriculture and educational opportunities for youth.
“Our Williamson County family is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of former County Judge Dan A. Gattis,” the statement reads. “Judge Gattis will be remembered as a true statesman -innovative in his ideas, humble in his leadership and steadfast in his moral character.”
Mr. Gattis was also a founding member and served as the former vice president of the local rodeo association. In 2023, the Wilco Fair and Rodeo named a scholarship in his honor and continues to give out the scholarships every year. In April 2024, Williamson County honored Mr. Gattis by naming a pavilion after him at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor.
“Thank y’all so much,” Judge Gattis said in a speech during the naming ceremony. “This is a great honor, and I really do appreciate that honor. It is great to be here.”