There is a question about who may have been the first mayor of Bonham. The first entry in the earliest minute book located at Bonham City Hall is dated November 11, 1878 and it lists F. D. Piner as mayor.
But there is no question about the first Bonham mayor elected by popular vote.
In years past the Bonham City Commission selected the mayor, but a recent change in the Bonham City Charter gave voters the right to choose the city's chief executive. Roy Floyd ran unopposed in the election held May 12, 2007 and became the first mayor of Bonham elected by the people.
Running unopposed, Mayor Floyd received 490 votes. Floyd first served as mayor from 1980-1989. In his most recent stint in office, Floyd has served as mayor since being selected by the City Commission on January 13, 2005.
Bob McCraw, a former mayor and prominent local businessman and former mayor, offered this assessment of a man he has worked closely with on a number of projects.
"Roy Floyd has been an ambassador and salesman for Bonham for many years," Mr. McCraw noted. "I have worked with Roy on many occasions with industrial prospects. I have never seen him anything but upbeat and positive about our community.
"I guess one of the most memorable accomplishments, in my way of thinking, was the placement of a second prison in Bonham. During the time that we were trying to secure the prisons, Roy attended all meetings locally and in Austin. After we had gotten the first prison, at every meeting Roy attended he would always say, 'Bonham will take another prison'...'Bonham will take another prison.' One day at a Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice meeting, one board member said, 'I'm tired of hearing at every meeting about Bonham wanting another prison.' In other words he was telling Roy to hush.
"Later on at a subsequent meeting of TDCJ, a community that was in line to get one of the prisons had some dissention in their community about whether they wanted a prison or not. Finally, after a time of discussion among TDCJ board members, a board member spoke up and said 'Bonham has been wanting a second prison, so let's just give it to them.'
"In my opinion Roy's never-give-up attitude was the major influence in us getting the second prison. Roy, I appreciate all you've done for Bonham and Fannin County and I join the community in tipping my hat to you!"
A special meeting of the Bonham City Commission was held Monday, May 21 to canvass returns from the May 12 municipal election. Fannin County Judge Derrell Hall was present to swear in all the winning candidates.
Incumbent John Burnett ran unopposed for Bonham City Commissioner Ward #1 and received 371 votes.
Joe W. Clark ran unopposed for Bonham City Commissioner Ward #5 and garnered 431 votes.
Incumbent Wayne Moore won the Bonham City Commission At-Large seat by collecting 458 votes to Billy Cox's 90 write-in votes.
After Judge Hall administered the oath of office to the victorious candidates, the Bonham City Commission voted unanimously to elect Brad Underwood, City Commissioner Ward #3, and the new mayor pro tem.
Fannin County Judge Derrell Hall swears in Bonham Mayor Roy Floyd (left) and City Commissioners John Burnett, Wayne Moore and Joe W. Clark. Looking on in the background is new mayor pro tem Brad Underwood.
"It's always a pleasure to be at these meetings," Judge Hall remarked. "I am still looking forward to visiting with Corby Alexander [new Bonham City Administrator] to discuss all the things the city and county can do together."
The Bonham City Commission voted to accept bids for the purchase and installation of an air conditioning system for the armory/civic center. The cost of an adequate system is estimated to be approximately $30,000.
"This time of the year, it almost becomes unusable because of the heat," mayor pro tem Brad Underwood stated.
Commissioners approved the expenditure of $13,200 for the purchase of a 1997 ambulance with 26,000 miles for EMS.