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Terrell council renames two streets for Judge J.C. Williams and Irvine family cemetery
Summary
The Terrell City Council on June 3 approved ordinances renaming parts of University Street as Judge JC Williams Drive and an unnamed No Name Road as Irvine Pioneer Avenue after unanimous recommendations from the city facilities naming committee and planning and zoning.
The Terrell City Council voted June 3 to rename West and East University Street between South Park and South Adelaide as Judge JC Williams Drive and to rename No Name Road between Bethlehem Street and New Hope Street as Irvine Pioneer Avenue.
The measures implement unanimous recommendations from the city's Facilities Naming Committee and from Planning and Zoning, which recommended both changes by 7–0 votes. Council members moved and approved ordinance No. 3105 (Judge JC Williams Drive) and ordinance No. 3106 (Irvine Pioneer Avenue) during the regular meeting.
City planner Jana Wampler told council the Judge JC Williams Drive proposal had been vetted by the naming committee and planning and zoning and that the committee had adjusted the formal name to "Judge JC Williams Drive" for sign-size constraints. Wampler read a biography of James Curtis Williams, describing his long community service, creation of a Teen Court program in 1995 and roles in local civic organizations. Jessica King, chair of the Facilities Naming Committee and executive director of the Terrell Heritage Museum, said she had not met Judge Williams but had "heard a lot of stories" and supported bringing the recommendation to council.
At the public hearing on the Judge JC Williams Drive item, a resident who said she participated in Williams' original Teen Court recalled being appointed a youth prosecutor and described the program as giving students practical legal experience. That resident told council she had "really good memories of Judge Williams" and called him "a great guy." Multiple council members and residents praised Williams' community work; the ordinance record cites his death earlier in 2025.
The Irvine Pioneer Avenue renaming stems from committee research showing the small historic Irvine (Irvine Family) Cemetery predates Terrell and contains graves dating to 1851. Wampler said the Facilities Naming Committee approved the recommendation on Jan. 23, 2025, and Planning and Zoning forwarded a unanimous recommendation in late May. No public speakers opposed the Irvine Pioneer Avenue ordinance during the council hearing.
Both ordinances include standard language repealing conflicting ordinances, providing severability and establishing an effective date. Council directed staff to proceed with the street-sign changes and coordinate updates to maps and records.
Background: the Facilities Naming Committee first took up the University Street request in October 2024; it formally advanced its recommendation to council in January 2025. Planning and Zoning considered both recommendations in late May and recommended approval by unanimous votes.
The council approved both ordinances by voice votes of those present.
