CLEAT HQ Moves to Historic Property

In CLEAT’s long history dating back to February of 1976, the organization has made several monumental moves. The latest move to the historic Mauthe-Myrick Mansion at 408 West 14th Street in Austin is no exception.

While the physical distance from our former building next door couldn’t be any shorter, we can’t help but reflect on our journey, where we came from, and those whose visions propelled us to this point in our rich history.

CLEAT’s founding members, including our first President Jerry Clancy, VP Edward Ortega, and Secretary Ron Delord, banded together to leave TMPA and begin the organization in San Antonio. The Alamo City would be home for CLEAT over the next ten years. 

It wasn’t until 1986 that CLEAT officially moved to the capital city of Austin and operated from an office suite on the northwest side.

A couple of years later, in 1988, San Antonio POA President Jimmy Wilborn went all-in, mortgaging his family’s home in order to purchase CLEAT’s first commercial property in Austin. The address:
304 West 13th Street.

While the building needed a lot of work, it set a real estate foundation in place for CLEAT. Its location allowed easy access to the Capitol, allowing us to continue and expand our legislative services, designed to help all Texas law enforcement with better benefits, pay, and employment rights. Through us, Texas law enforcement would finally have a union, a voice, and brass balls to boot.

We made Austin our base and our membership grew statewide, along with the cutting-edge services we continued to refine on behalf of our members.

By 1998, CLEAT was able to purchase the building at 400 West 14th Street. The brick building with arched windows that we occupied until earlier this year not only provided us with a view of the Capitol dome, but also a place to grow and further our commitment to our members. 

The recent sale of that property was a financial power move at a time when Austin commercial real estate was in high demand. A roll call vote of all affiliated unions was held to move forward with the plan, and the vote was unanimous.

CLEAT Corporate Counsel Michael Rickman, along with Executive Director Charley Wilkison, President Marvin Ryals, Vice Presidents Scott Leeton, Danny Diaz, and Lloyd Cook, and the Executive Board, all came together to sign off on the most significant financial deal in CLEAT’s history. 

An international development firm will construct a 35-story mixed-use tower on the site, in which CLEAT owns a 12,500-square-foot Operations Center—larger than either of our past buildings. The CLEAT Operations Center will boast a Capitol-facing balcony, entertainment area, and signage.

While the tower will take approximately three years to complete, we are excited to have finished renovations on our current base of operations next door in the historic Mauthe-Myrick Mansion, which was built in 1877­—nearly 100 years before CLEAT was formed. Our ribbon-cutting ceremony in March this year marked the official opening of this new Headquarters location at 408 West 14th Street. 

Stories and memories of CLEAT’s history were shared among the staff and present executive board members, and the contributions of the past presidents and trailblazers were honored. “What our founders could have only imagined almost 50 years ago is coming to fruition,” stated former President Todd Harrison.

Since the opening in March, we have maintained a steady pace of growth among our membership. Improving service offerings, fighting for the rights and protections of all Texas law enforcement, providing the absolute best legal plan and coverage available in the state, and keeping our focus on a true member-first organization will always be paramount for us. 

President Marvin Ryals said CLEAT owning two pieces of real estate in downtown Austin without any cost to members was due to the skyrocketing market and the ingenuity and forward-thinking of Executive Director Charley Wilkison and his team. “Specifically, Charley and Michael Rickman—former Mesquite PD, now CLEAT Corporate Counsel—have proved how much they love CLEAT and how hard they’ll fight for our union and our future.” 

Our mission and our members are what drive us, sustain us, and give us purpose. The dues paid by our members go directly into the services and support we are honored to provide. Because of our members, CLEAT has been able to build this long and steady path without political grants, and we’re damn proud of that. As CLEAT members, we hope you are, too.

We welcome you to visit us anytime you’re in town and to be a part of CLEAT’s continued history in the making.

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