Joe Moss was born and raised in Fannin County, making his entrance into this world in a janitor’s closet in the Allen Memorial Hospital because all the delivery rooms were full. Despite such an inauspicious start, Joe made the most of the opportunities life would throw his way, embodying the values of faith, family and hard work so common in Fannin County.
Joe spent his childhood working on his family’s farm between Dodd City and Windom. The Moss Farm grew cotton, corn, wheat, oat, and hay, and raised cattle and pigs. Working on the family farm taught Joe the value of a hard days work. “My parents worked every day of their lives, and encouraged me to pursue my education not just for my benefit, but that of the community.”
After graduating from Bonham High School in 1961, Joe went on to complete a Bachelor of Science (1965), Master of Science (1968), and a Juris Doctorate (1975).
As a young attorney Joe opened up a private practice in Dallas. He says it was one of the biggest challenges he had ever faced. “I was a young and inexperienced lawyer with few clients; to make ends meet I worked nights teaching Political Science at Dallas County Community College and mornings delivering newspapers for the Dallas Morning News. My parents taught me during tough times you buckle down and work, and that is what I’ve tried to teach my children.”
In 1981, Joe and his lovely wife, Kathy, moved back home to raise their two small children and care for Joe’s aging parents. Soon after they would be blessed with a third son. For over 28 years Joe has been an active community member. Joe’s dedication to his community comes in part from the fact that the Moss family has been established in Fannin County since before the Civil War.
“Growing up in Fannin County, all we had were our neighbors," Joe recalls. "My parents taught me what it meant to truly be a part of your community; you knew your neighbor, their struggles and their joys, because they were yours, too. If you wanted a better stronger community it was up to you to make it so.”
Joe was a little league coach for 15 years, and a community leader in the Boy Scouts and Kiwanis Club of Bonham, where he was named the Kiwanis of the year in 2001, and became the Club’s president in 2002.
Joe has grown up, worshipped, raised his family, worked, and owned a business alongside the people of Fannin County. Joe knows what the people of Fannin county need because he is one of them.
Joe has been married to Kathy Moody Moss for 37 years; all three of their sons are graduates of Bonham High School. James Moss is married to Charla Richey of Bonham, and they have two daughters Molly, 4 and Emma, 1. James is an Assistant Criminal District Attorney in Fannin County. Stuart Moss served 5 1/2 years in the United States Navy, in the military intelligence field, and was stationed at the National Security Agency during 9/11. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently works in public affairs and political consulting in Austin. Will Moss graduated this year from Rice University with a degree in management. He received a football scholarship, and was a four-year varsity letterman.
When he returned home in 1981, Joe joined the law firm of Cole and Moss, until the death of Buster Cole in 1988. From Buster Cole, Joe developed a deep understanding of the responsibility and importance of the legal profession in the community. Joe practiced law with his brother, James S. Moss, until his election as County Attorney in 1992. Since then, Joe and Sharron Cox have practiced law at 518 N. Main Street, Bonham, Texas.
Joe concentrates on family law and criminal law. From 1992 to present, the law firm of Moss and Cox has become the dominant law firm in Fannin County. Joe handles more cases in the District and County Court than any other attorney.
Joe has the highest possible rating (AV) for legal ability and ethical standards from the Martindale-Hubble Legal Review, which is the oldest and best-known legal rating service with a history spanning 140 years. He is a strong advocate for his clients, and committed to the pursuit of justice. Joe became an attorney in part to help grant hard working people assess to quality legal service. He has dedicated a good portion of his practice to providing low cost and pro-bono services.
Joe was named pro-bono attorney of the year for Fannin County in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, and Grayson County in 2007. Fannin County has approximately 13 attorneys and a population of 31,200. Grayson County has over 200 attorneys and a population of 119,000. In 2008, Joe provided more pro-bono legal services through Legal Aid of North West Texas, to the low-income families of Fannin County than the combined efforts of all the attorneys of Grayson County for their county residents.
Joe also served on the board of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Fannin County, and the Fannin County Child Welfare Board. In 2004, Moss and Cox was instrumental in establishing a legal aid clinic for Fannin County, along with Legal Aid of North West Texas.
During his practice of law he has been involved in numerous family law, probate, juvenile law, and criminal law cases. He has served as an attorney-ad-litem representing children and parents in cases brought by the Department of Family and Protective Services, Child Protective Services, and Adult Protective Services. This broad experience gives him the knowledge and experience to continue his advocacy for children as Judge for the County Court at Law. He will protect the children of Fannin County and ensure severe punishment for those who abuse, injure, or neglect children.
In a family law case, he will first seek to protect and provide for the children before any other interests. In criminal law cases, he will judge cases based upon the law and the facts presented in court. His decisions will ensure that those who endanger the peace and safety of the community will face the toughest penalties.
If you appoint Joe Moss to the County Court at Law, he will make Fannin County proud – as he has since arriving in that hospital janitor’s closet.