8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 13, 2010

CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-10924	75-2396863
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission File	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Number)	Identification Number)

6 Desta Drive, Suite 6500, Midland, Texas	79705-5510
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code:   (432) 682-6324

Not applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2 (b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2 (b))

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4 (c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c))

Item 5.02Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Electi on of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c)           Appointment of Certain Officers.

On December 13, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed the following officers:

·   Mel G. Riggs was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company to fill the vacancy in that position resulting from the death of L. Paul Latham on December11, 2010.  Mr. Riggs, age 56, was previously Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, having served in that capacity since 1991.  Mr. Riggs is also a director of the Company and has served on the board of directors since 1994.

·   Michael L. Pollard was appointed Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Pollard, age 60, was previously Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company, having served in that capacity since 2003.

Item 7.01                      Regulation FD Disclosure

On December 14, 2010, the Company issued a press release announcing the death of L. Paul Latham and the appointment of officers reported under Item 5.02(c) of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information, including Exhibit 99.1, be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01                      Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)           Exhibits.

The following exhibit is provided as part of the information furnished under Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated December 14, 2010.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.

Date:	December 14, 2010	By:	/s/ Mel G. Riggs
			Mel G. Riggs
			Executive Vice President and
			Chief Operating Officer

Date:	December 14, 2010	By:	/s/ Michael L. Pollard
			Michael L. Pollard
			Senior Vice President and
			Chief Financial Officer

CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated December 14, 2010.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF

L. PAUL LATHAM, DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,

AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Midland, Texas, December 14, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) – Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.  (the “Company”) (NASDAQ–CWEI)regretfully announced today that L. Paul Latham, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, died Saturday, December 11, 2010 after a courageous battle against cancer.  Mr. Latham, age 58, had served in this capacity since the Company’s inception in 1991.

 “The loss of Paul’s life to this terrible disease has left a huge hole in our hearts,” stated Clayton W. Williams, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Paul was a very talented businessman, a strong corporate and community leader, and a loyal friend.  Modesta and I, as well as the entire Clayton Williams Energy organization, will miss him immensely.  We extend our deepest sympathy to the Latham family.”

On December 13, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company made the following changes to its slate of executive officers:

·   Mel G. Riggs was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.  Mr. Riggs, age 56, was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, having served in that capacity since 1991.  Mr. Riggs is also a director of the Company and has served on the board of directors since 1994.

·   Michael L. Pollard, age 60, was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Prior to his appointment, Mr. Pollard held the position of Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company, having served in that capacity since 2003.

Mr. Latham’s Board position will remain vacant pending further action by the Board of Directors.

MORE…

Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. is an independent energy company located in Midland, Texas.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  All statements, other than statements of historical or current facts, that address activities, events, outcomes and other matters that we plan, expect, intend, assume, believe, budget, predict, forecast, project, estimate or anticipate (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events.  The Company cautions that its future natural gas and liquids production, revenues, cash flows, liquidity, plans for future operati ons, expenses, outlook for oil and natural gas prices, timing of capital expenditures and other forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, incident to the exploration for and development, production and marketing of oil and gas.

These risks include, but are not limited to, the possibility of unsuccessful exploration and development drilling activities, our ability to replace and sustain production, commodity price volatility, domestic and worldwide economic conditions, the availability of capital on economic terms to fund our capital expenditures and acquisitions, our level of indebtedness, the impact of the current economic recession on our business operations, financial condition and ability to raise capital, declines in the value of our oil and gas properties resulting in a decrease in our borrowing base under our credit facility and impairments, the ability of financial counterparties to perform or fulfill their obligations under existing agreements, the uncertainty inherent in estimating proved oil and gas reserves and in projecting fu ture rates of production and timing of development expenditures, drilling and other operating risks, lack of availability of goods and services, regulatory and environmental risks associated with drilling and production activities, the adverse effects of changes in applicable tax, environmental and other regulatory legislation, and other risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Patti Hollums                                                                           Michael L. Pollard

Director of Investor Relations                                              Chief Financial Officer

(432) 688-3419                                                                        (432) 688-3029

e-mail: cwei@claytonwilliams.com

website: www.claytonwilliams.com