It was a cheerless day at the Nueces Co. Courthouse for retired District Court Judge Joaquin Villareal’s former colleagues.
He died Wednesday after a lengthy illness.
"It hurts my heart to know that he's gone, but it also makes me feel incredibly wonderful that I got to know such an outstanding citizen of our community," said local attorney Robert J. Gonzalez.
Villarreal served as an asst. district attorney, a county commissioner, and a judge for Co. Court at Law No. 1.
He later was elected to the 347th District Court.
"He was just a great character, and a great person, and just a really nice man, and his loss Nueces county is gonna be felt by many, many people," said Pct. 4 county commissioner Brent Chesney. "He was just a really . . . a good man.
