Some close to the case of The State of Texas vs. P. David Romei have called it the biggest trial in Brazos County since the Bonfire collapse was heard in court. It's not that the crimes are the biggest, but the man alleged to have committed them is certainly well known.

P. David Romei road is paved with overwhelming successes and overwhelming opposition, and in the Twin Cities, it's hard to miss the signs of some of his work.

Some 20 pieces of public art have been unveiled throughout the cities in his time here. That includes the Veterans Memorial. Dedicated in 2002, it honors thousands who have served their country.

Former Brazos County Judge Al Jones serves on the memorial's board of directors, and speaks nothing but praise for one of the men at the forefront of its creation.

"Dr. Romei had a great passion for this project," Jones said. "My association with Dr. Romei has always been on a very professional basis, and his vision of what we developed and what is here today impresses me."

Romei, an Army vet himself, came to the Brazos Valley as arts council director in 1998, and made such an impact in the first five years that College Station's city council chose to name the $1.2 million arts center after him.

Former College Station council member and a Romei detractor, Dick Birdwell recalls the lead up to the building's construction.

"He said, 'If you'll give me the lot, I will raise all the funds to build this building we need, and I will guarantee you it will not cost the taxpayers of the City of College Station one cent,'" Birdwell paraphrased.

In March 2003, $200,000 was approved by the council for the building. Then, in January 2004, Romei said donors had fallen through, and the city approved another quarter million dollars.

This all happened a little more than a year before politics were turned upside down in College Station, a campaign season that will long be known as "arts vs. business."

Romei contributed to Robert Wareing's campaign, but it was common thought that Romei, at the least, advised other candidates.

So toxic a topic now that they chose not to speak on camera, former council and staff members say based on his associations with sitting leaders and City Manager Tom Brymer, Romei had a large measure of control in College Station. One high-ranking person with the city at the time said Romei could pretty much get his way with whatever he wanted around 2004.

Tales are told of Romei pulling aside elected officials and screaming at them about decisions, including then-Mayor Ron Silvia, who, like many, still speaks glowingly of Romei's contributions

"He has done so much for this community in the form of arts and building all of the affiliates," Silvia said in the summer of 2005 when Romei announced his retirement.

"I haven't always agreed with Dr. Romei and his methods, but I think he should be commended for what he's done here," said Ron Gay, a now-former councilmember speaking when Romei's retirement was announced.

Birdwell -- who, like Gay, was vehemently opposed to the city spending taxpayer money from the city's general fund on the non-profit -- has another opinion.

"Dr. Romei is a brilliant con artist, and he makes a good impression and he is able to twist people, give them a line of bull, and then have them believe it," Birdwell said.

Without question, arts council affiliates thrived in the Romei era, providing increased outlets for the arts in the Brazos Valley. That came, in large part, because of increased funding, and the City of College Station was at the forefront.

Take 2003, for example, when tax records show College Station gave more than $830,000 of taxpayer money and hotel-motel taxes to the arts. Combined, Brazos County and Bryan gave less than $100,000.

Having provided all those funds, when incomplete tax records caught the attention of the city council in 2005, just after his retirement was announced, Romei's relationship with the city hit a boiling point. A fiery meeting in September of that year featured shouting and accusations. It ended with the arts council receiving funding for the upcoming fiscal year from the general fund, but not as much as it had requested.

Responding to claims that he had made the arts political when they shouldn't be, Romei answered, "Any organization that receives money from a political entity, by its very nature, is political."

But Romei's supporters stood by him, as evidenced by dozens who packed council chambers on a night Romei came under fire.

The work of a former soldier is seen in all corners of our community, on Veterans Day in Veterans Park, and every day.

"I think he was the primary vehicle initially to put the facility and the memorial together," Jones recalled.

But questions always followed.

"Every time a question is raised, we answer it, and then there are three more," Romei said after 2005's famed council meeting.

That he had an impact is undeniable. The overall result of that impact depends on who you ask.