The Johnson County Republican Party gathered at the Cleburne Conference Center on Monday night to celebrate Presidents’ Day, focusing on one president in particular.

This being the 100th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s birth, the JCRP honored the 40th president by running clips of him throughout the night, clips that ranged from passionate oratory to examples of Reagan’s trademark wit.

Numerous Johnson County Republican office holders attended, as did U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, and Bosque County Republican Party Chairman Thomas Bratcher. Roger Williams, former secretary of state and probable U.S. Senate candidate in 2012, also attended.

The group also heard from Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones, who served as keynote speaker.

Sworn into the office in 2005, Jones served as chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission from 2005 to 2007. Jones has also led trade missions to Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai in addition to Pentagon-sponsored trips to Central and South America, and the Guantanamo Bay prison facility. A frequent participant in trade missions to Mexico, Jones will chair this year’s trade mission to that country in collaboration with Gov. Rick Perry’s office.

Jones is one of several candidates who plan to run for the U.S. Senate to replace U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who recently announced she will not seek re-election.

“That’s whose shoulders we stand on,” Jones said, referring to the Reagan clips. “I knew a man who always put his hand on his heart when someone mentioned Reagan, and that’s how people feel about Reagan.”

Jones went on to say she was honored to spend Presidents’ Day “deep in the heart of Texas,” in Johnson County before discussing the U.S. Constitution and what she sees as the current challenge to Republicans.

“It [the Constitution] is a beautiful compact with America; the most beautiful document ever crafted by mankind,” Jones said. “It’s a document so beautiful it must be divinely inspired.

“We’ve inherited a treasure. In this new century, we’re called upon to build on the foundation they laid for us.”

Mentions of crippling debt, unsecured borders, moral hazard and over-reliance on the government to solve everything made it clear that Jones doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the current administration. Jones characterized the recent health care bill and other acts as direct conflicts with the 10th Amendment, which provides that powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it, are reserved for the individual states.

“Congress, with impunity, passed laws that trample on states’ rights,” Jones said. “The transfer of power from the people to the federal government, and with Obama, we’ve had a giant leap in that direction.

“It flies in the face of limited government. Those policies perpetuate a dependency on bureaucrats, and our individual liberties, and that’s what we are called upon to fight.

“But I’ve seen a great re-awakening going on, and it’s so great to see the TEA Party re-invigorate the Republican Party. In time, we will be able to reclaim our virtues of limited government and self determination.”

JCRP Chairman Henry Teich agreed and spoke of the “clean sweep” and “massive victories” Republicans in Johnson County and other areas enjoyed during the 2010 election cycle.

“I came [to the office] with the intent to beat Obama in 2012,” Teich said. “With your help, I’m ready to go for that in 2012.”

From the applause, it would appear the 140 or so attendees agreed.

“Tonight we celebrate Presidents’ Day, tomorrow we get right back to work on next year,” said Johnson County TEA Party President Angela Cox, while accepting her organization’s recognition for Johnson County Republican Newcomer “Young Bloods” of the Year Award.

The JCTP was one of several organizations and individuals recognized during the night. Former JCRP Chairman Dan Hunt received the Long-Term Mover, Shaker and Activist Service Award. An occasion which inspired Hunt, a TCU alumni, and JCRP Vice Chairman Jack Guthrie to chide college football’s BCS system while touting TCU’s undefeated season and No. 2 ranking, as well as their No. 1 ranking in college baseball.

The awards ceremony wrapped with the presentation of a bronze eagle and trophy to Roy and Judith Giddons, who received this year’s Johnson County Republican Party Lifetime Dedicated Service Award.

Another award winner, Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford, led the auction of donated items to bring the night to a close.