This Week in Canton History

Canton Herald, April 27, 1961: 

Acting County Judge Truett Mayo attorney of Van, was named permanent County Judge Wednesday morning at a called meeting of Van Zandt County’s commissioners court.

Judge Mayo was named to fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge G. D. Staton.

The Van attorney has been serving as County Judge the past two months.

Judge Mayo received his bachelor and Masters degrees from the University of Texas and was graduated from the University School of Law in 1960 he has studied at the University of Indiana, Notre Dame and Columbia University.

During World War II Judge Mayo saw service with the Navy with an underwater demolition unit. He is married to the former Phyllis Sohn of Cleveland, Ohio, and the father of three children of daughter age 8 two sons age 6 and 1 year.

Judge Mayo’s appointment by the court covers the years 1961 and 1962.

Funeral services for County Judge G. D. Staton, 80, were held Tuesday afternoon, April 25 the First Baptist Church in Canton. Rev. Donald Brown pastor of the church conducted the services for the popular Judge. Judge Staton died early Monday in a Dallas hospital after a long illness. A lifelong resident of Van Zandt County he had served as superintendent of school and postmaster in Grand Saline, county superintendent of schools, and superintendent of Wills Point Schools for 27 years. He had been County Judge for more than eight years. Judge Staton was a member and a deacon of the First Baptist Church in Canton. Interment was in White Rose Cemetery in Wills Point under the direction of Eubank and Company Funeral Home of Wills Point.

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