For the first time in more than 100 years, an Ector County District Clerk has been named Clerk of the Year by the Texas County and District Clerks’ Association.
Clarissa Webster, who took office in 2015, received the honor during the association’s 127th annual conference in Waco July 10-July 14.
Webster became eligible for the honor after first being named the Region III Clerk of the Year by her peers in 27 other counties. Her peers throughout the rest of the state then chose her for the top honor by casting virtual votes in advance of the conference.
Although it’s been more than a week, Webster remains tearful about her selection. She was thrilled about being named Region III Clerk of the Year and never dreamed she’d take home the state-wide award.
“I’ve had some of the best conversations in my life and the last week as far as hearing what people think about you while you’re still alive,” Webster said.
Little did she know that in the weeks before the conference several family and friends had been asked to collaborate on a video for the unveiling of the award.
“When they announced it, they said there were three words to say about this person. ‘She is knowledgeable, inquisitive and friendly and the video will say the rest’ and then when the video kicked on, I was like ‘That looks like me. That is me!’”
Like many people who love their jobs, Webster said she is passionate about many aspects of her profession — from being customer friendly to preserving history to making things run efficiently for everyone involved.
When she first took office, judges were still flipping through paper case files in chambers and on the bench because everything flowing through her office was still in paper form. Nowadays, 90-95% is filed electronically.
“We have come light-years,” Webster said.
She and her staff have also taken it upon themselves to digitally scan every case file, log book, and minute entry dating back to 1887 so they’re available electronically.
“I think that we can learn from our history if we choose to and it will prevent us many errors. But just having that history available. If somebody wants to go back and research their ancestry and they’re trying to find their adoption record or something like that. We have those all the way back and that’s important. If somebody’s trying to qualify for Social Security benefits, and they need to prove that they were divorced at a certain year, being able to come and get that. We have landmen that come looking at our records because they want to know, how was the property parsed out in a divorce action or in a civil dispute? It’s important that these records be kept in a way that they’re retrievable, but promptly retrievable. You don’t have to take weeks and weeks to research.”
Over the years, Webster said she has done her best to create a culture of friendliness and helpfulness, not only when it comes to customers, but within her office and with other clerks’ offices throughout the state.
“I believe we have changed the culture of our office and that it’s bleeding outwards, like a ripple effect through the association, to have an idea of being kind, courteous and respectful to everybody, but also to help elevate everybody,” Webster said. “As each of us gets better, the whole of us gets better.”
She is part of a group that has started a mentoring program for clerks and she frequently allows other counties’ clerks to shadow her staff, Webster said. She also readily shares any new forms or training materials she’s created with clerks throughout the region and is always available to take their calls if questions arise.
“The mentoring program is very, very valuable. We are trying to create it in such a way that it will be perpetual and then we’ll self perpetuate through the coming generations to help maintain that integrity and excellence of our profession so that the court records are always kept in a great way and new incoming clerks can find resources and help that they need quickly,” Webster said.
Webster said she owes a debt of gratitude to God and a long list of people.
“My successes are to be credited to the Lord who has given me all things, including opportunities, wisdom, and discernment,” Webster said. “The Lord has also given me the wonderful support system of love and encouragement from my husband, family and friends, my team of amazing staff, especially my administrative and supervisory deputies, and placed mentors and advisors in my life who have helped me along my journey.”
