Luther Nicholson started the accounting and tax practice (L.B. Nicholson, CPA) in 1952 and maintained it as a sole proprietorship for 35 years. In 1987, the firm became Nicholson and Clopton and remained that way for another 10 years until it became Clopton & Company in 1997, and Cathy R. Clopton, CPA in 2006.  Now, with the return of Rick Clopton, CPA/PFS, to the firm, we are once again--and plan to stay--Clopton & Company, CPA. Cathy Clopton joined the firm in 1987 after working in the banking industry for 10 years. She became a CPA in 1980 after completing her bachelor`s degree in accounting from Baylor University in 1976. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the Garland office, as well as works with clients in the preparation of their tax returns and financial statements. She currently maintains memberships in the Texas Society of CPAs and the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs. A sixth-generation member of a pioneer Garland family, Cathy has always taken an interest in community and civic affairs.  She currently serves as Treasurer of New Beginning Center and has served on the board of the Garland Chamber of Commerce as well as on various GISD, City of Garland, PTA and church committtes.  She married her high-school sweetheart, Rick Clopton, after they both graduated from Baylor.  They have two daughters:  Kate Odenwald, a registered nurse working and living in Fredericksburg, Texas with her husband, Eric, and Sarabeth, a senior majoring in physical therapy at Texas Tech and playing on the soccer team. In 2008, they proudly welcomed the addition of a granddaughter, Ellie Odenwald!  Rick Clopton joined L. B. Nichoson, CPA in 1985 after working in the steel and oil/gas industries for 9 years. He became a CPA in 1982 after completing his bachelor`s degree in accounting from Baylor University in 1976. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the Rockwall office, as well as works with clients in the preparation of their tax returns and assists clients out of both offices as their need for financial planning comes about. He currently maintains memberships in the Texas Society of CPAs, the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs, the Personal Financial Planning Division of the American Society of CPAs, and the American Society of CPAs. Having lived in Garland since he was 14 months old, Rick has also taken an interest in community and civic affairs.  He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Baylor Specialty Hospital and has served on the board of the Garland Chamber of Commerce, the board of Baylor Hospital at Garland where he was chairman for 6 years, as well as various other committes in the church and for the City of Garland.  His hobbies include golf, so as to maintain the swing that helped him earn his way onto the Baylor baseball team where he started in the outfield all four years and onto the 1975 Pan American Games Baseball team, which won a silver medal in Mexico City.