County Court at Law Judge Howard Warner remains in critical condition at Central Texas Medical Center as of Wednesday morning.
Warner, a Democrat, held the judgeship for 27 years. Despite battling a cancer relapse, he had told friends that he hoped to serve out the remainder of his seventh consecutive term, which was due to expire at the end of 2010.
Hays County Commissioners took a break from their meeting Tuesday to visit Warner in the hospital.
"He was in complete control of his faculties, he was alert, he was in good spirits," said Pct. 2 Commissioner Jeff Barton.
Warner remained active in recent weeks, attending the Juneteenth festivities in San Marcos and running a cook-off event.
"The fondness and love for Howard Warner was really evident there," Barton said. "He could be big and gruff and tough but people really respected him and loved him."
