Services held for former CC dean

Hundreds of mourners filled the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center Sunday afternoon, June 7, to remember the life of Leonard “Tex” Selvidge, – a man who personified Clarendon College for decades.

Selvidge, the college’s former dean of students and the former mayor of Clarendon, died Tuesday, June 2, 2015. Sunday’s services were led by Rev. Chris Downer and Rev. Lance Wood with arrangements under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

“Tex was totally invested in youth,” Rev. Wood said, “and he never lost touch with youth across multiple generations.”

Clarendon College President Robert Riza also memorialized Selvidge and discussed the long-lasting impact of his 50-year relationship with the institution.

Rev. Downer eulogized Selvidge as the man who influenced him as a young man, saw potential in him, and gave him a chance. He also touched on Selvidge’s own challenges as a youth who faced hard times and said those early experiences made Selvidge the great man and the great leader that he was.

“Tex said ‘community’ was what raised him and so he spent his life investing in ‘community,’” Downer said.

That commitment led the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce to bestow its lifetime service award, the Saints’ Roost Award, on Selvidge in February of this year.

Selvidge was born January 7, 1934, in Bismark, Ark., to Elmer D. and Ella Mae Selvidge. He graduated from Stinnett High School in 1953. He attended Southwestern State Oklahoma University where he played football, graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s Degree, and completed his Master’s Degree in 1962. He started coaching in Spearman and later coached in Hollis, Okla., before moving to Clarendon in 1965 to start his career at Clarendon College.

He served in a number of positions at CC in the last fifty years, including Counselor, Registrar, Dean of Students, Recruiter, and Financial Aid Director, and was member of the Board of Regents at the time of his death. Through the college he engrained himself as the surrogate father, grandfather, mentor, and friend for thousands of CC students over the years.

Selvidge’s far-reaching influence is evidenced by Clarendon College’s social media posts regarding his passing which were viewed by 44,923 people. The Enterprise’s social media posts reached another 4,913 people.

Selvidge also ran a small business on Kearney Street for a time, served as an adult probation officer, and served in public office. In addition to his recent service on the college board, he served on the Clarendon Board of Aldermen in 1976 and later served two stretches as mayor from 1977 to 1980 and again from 1997 to 2006. He served more time as mayor than any other person in the city’s history.

He was preceded in death by his Pop, Jimmy Worsham, and his Mom, Geneva Worsham; his biological parents, Elmer D. Selvidge and Ella Mae Selvidge; a sister, Merle Damron; a brother, Cecil Selvidge; and an aunt, Evie Scott.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Selvidge, of the home; his son, Chad Selvidge and wife, Carolina, of Dallas; his daughter, Shay Tidmore and husband, Alan, of Lubbock; his son, Scott Newland and wife, Jeanette of Plano; his son, Gary Jack of Clarendon; his daughter, Teresa Dronzek and husband, Dan, of Clarendon; his son, Mark Jack and wife, Beverly, of Springtown; his daughter, Pam Watson and husband, Noble, of Clarendon; his daughter, Shay Ann Selvidge of Austin; 19 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his step-dad, James Griffin of Lubbock, his sister, Sharon Walker and husband, Skip, of Stinnett; and numerous family and close friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that all gifts be directed to the Leonard “Tex” Selvidge Memorial Scholarship, c/o Clarendon College, Attn: Ashlee Estlack, PO Box 968, Clarendon, Texas 79226.