Premont mourns constable Frank Davila Jr., community pillar for 38 years

Davila’s path to that role began close to home. He was born June 19, 1958, in Kingsville, graduated from Premont High School in 1977 and attended police academy in 1987 before becoming a certified Texas peace officer in August 1987. He won election in the 1992 Texas General Election, took the oath of office in January 1993 and then spent the next 38 years serving the Premont community in one form or another, including as constable for Jim Wells County Constable Precinct 4.

In practical terms, that meant Davila was more than a badge on a uniform. As a certified peace officer with full enforcement powers in the Premont area, he handled bailiff duties, served subpoenas and legal papers in civil and criminal cases, participated in criminal investigations, enforced court judgments, handled truancy cases and managed financial transactions and seized property for the office. He also worked security at the local high school, where he watched over students, including his own children and grandchildren.

That kind of steady presence made his absence feel larger than the loss of one official. South Texas law-enforcement agencies escorted Davila after his death, a show of respect that reflected how widely he was known beyond Premont. As friends, family and neighbors prepared for services, the community was left to reckon with the loss of a man whose work touched classrooms, courtrooms and front-line public safety.