After more than 40 years of public service, the man who worked hard to hold the City of Bastrop in high regards and diligently labored through ever title he has ever held has turned in his keys.
The former Mayor Clarence W. Hawkins will begin his second day out of the office today, which is something he has not done for several decades.
“Today is the first day (Wednesday, July 1) of being unemployed. First time in 44 years,” he said.
Hawkins started out his life by attending school in Laurel, Miss. and Jackson, Miss. He decided to attend Grambling State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1965. In the spring of ‘65, he did his student teaching in the Morehouse Parish School System. The following fall, he was hired as a social studies teacher. He taught Louisiana history, civics and world history.
While teaching in 1972, he received a masters degree in education from Northeast Louisiana University. He pursued his career in education by climbing the ladder to assistant principal, curriculum supervisor, co-director of personnel, supervisor of textbooks and adult education.
Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo recalls Hawkins days at Bastrop High School. The future mayor announce the football games and created nicknames for the starting line-up. Not knowing what to call Mayo, Hawkins asked a friend who replied ‘sweet.’
When Mayo came out, Hawkins announced him as Jamie ‘Sweet’ Mayo.
“He’s always been a winner. Teacher, husband, father, principal, father. He’s a rare commodity,” Mayo said.
Hawkins’s children, Stacey Hawkins and Tonya Sheppard, remember the days when their father taught at Bastrop High, because he was quizzing them on the subject matter.
“It was pretty fun for us,” Stacey Hawkins said. He also recalled his father showing them around Bastrop and asking his dad “why don’t you work in there” as they were told about city hall and the courthouse.
After 20 years with the school system, Hawkins decided to retire from the education field. He started working with Horace Mann in Bastrop. He also helped to from MCIO and has stayed active in his church his entire life.
“My father was a minister; so, I grew up in a service environment. That has always been a part of my life,” he said.
In 1988 - 1989, Hawkins decided to run for mayor. Henry Cotton and he were standing on the street talking; when Cotton asked why doesn’t he run for mayor after seeing Hawkins speak to everyone that passed.
This was not something that was new to Hawkins; he was the kind of person that got to know everyone and their family. He started this while working in education.
Hawkins thought “politics are dirty.” Cotton persuaded him, however, by saying the politicians lie to get in more terms. So if you don’t do that, everything should be fine.
He started thinking about the demographics and relationships he had built.
“If I run and don’t win, I will have gotten recognition for the company,” he said. Hawkins told his wife, Barbara, of his plan to run for mayor. She spread the word to the children, “he’s going to run for mayor now.”
Hawkins said at the time integration was still a big issue. There was not a mixture of races in public offices.
“There was not a black person in administration,” he said.
He knew in order to take the votes he would have to be accepted by all the races. There was an assumption by the African Americans that if Hawkins won, they would be given more jobs.
That assumption was both positive and negative depending on your race.
When he launched his campaign that included honesty and openness in 1989, Hawkins was racing against four others. All of whom were white.
He ended up in a run-off with Jerry Jordan. In the general election, he won making him the 33rd mayor of Bastrop.
Sheppard remembers her father winning that night in 1989. While attending college and living in the dorms that only offered a television in a common room, she turned to the northern Louisiana mayor elections to watch the numbers coming in. Someone asked why they were watching something that was not even going to affect them in central Louisiana.
Her reply was “because my daddy is about to be the mayor.”
The following 20 years have graced Hawkins with both good and bad times.
“My goal was to create a quality of life for Bastrop, keep a positive image and form relationships,” Hawkins said. ‘I’m thankful we had no scandals. We did have incidents [that were not government problems]. I really enjoyed coming to work.”
His lowest point in his 20 years of service came in the last few years. He said there were two things. One is economic; the other was from a human perspective.
The International Paper Bastrop mill closing obviously affected Hawkins; since, he worked to keep it afloat for quite some time.
“IP would have probably closed five years earlier if not for [Hawkins],” Senator Mike Walsworth said.
The other low point occurred on August 10, 2007. Hawkins remembers the day vividly.
“I think the assassination has made our community and police department aware. Even though we are small town America, we’re not immune. We must be constantly vigilant about personal safety,” he said. “I’m happy the community rallied and still is.”
The high point he says is the development of the individuals he worked with.
“They know how to take care of business. Those folks can help her run the city,” he said. “I like to see people grow. They can feel good about themselves.”
One of the last things, Hawkins took care of before handing in his key was to ensure a memorial had been taken care of.
“The monument [for Detective Sergeant John Smith and Detective Sergeant Chuck Wilson] will be here mid-August,” Hawkins said. The base is being prepared now. “I wanted to be sure it was in place to ensure it happens. I feel good about being able to do that.”
The future for Hawkins is unknown right now, but he has several opportunities awaiting him if he chooses to take them.
Right now, the USDA is naming state directors around the United States. Hawkins is one of the candidates for Louisiana. He said there have been other offers that he may take if the USDA position does not end up his. Other things to do include spending time with his grandchildren, his garden and taking care of the “20-year long list” his wife has for him to do.
“I feel good physically and mentally. I’m amazed at the energy I have. I think I still have something to offer,” he said.
In conclusion to his 44 years of public service, Hawkins said, “I want to thank my family for supporting me. My wife first, my children, [who] have never given me a moment of sadness, nothing to regret. They are following their paths. I honestly respect them. I appreciate this community for allowing me [the opportunities I was given]. Some people see a small community like this and they don’t appreciate it. It can prepare you for the world if you just listen. I appreciate them for appreciating me. We made a small impact. This has been wonderful. God bless ya’ll and thank you.”
