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Judge Guy Reece's remarkable journey from a Mississippi sharecropper's son to a decorated military officer and groundbreaking African-American judge captivates with its powerful message of perseverance and purpose.
Growing up in the segregated South before his family relocated to St. Louis, Reece's childhood foundation of hard work and determination became the bedrock of his future success. When drafted during the Vietnam War, rather than simply accepting his assigned position, he excelled at testing and earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant, eventually being awarded a Bronze Star for his service.
The path to becoming a judge wasn't straightforward. Beginning with culinary aspirations that went unfulfilled, Reece's life took unexpected turns through military service, where he discovered his interest in law while serving as trial counsel despite having no formal legal training. After thirteen years of active duty, he pursued his law degree at Ohio State University, maintaining his military connections through the Army Reserves, where he eventually achieved the rank of Colonel.
Making history as the first African-American elected to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Reece's judicial career spanned over twenty years. In a remarkable display of partnership, he later resigned his position to support his wife's groundbreaking corporate opportunity in Indonesia, demonstrating his belief that success is meant to be shared.
Today, Judge Reece continues mentoring law students and young attorneys, driven by his philosophy that "if you plant that seed, potentially it'll grow." His message to young people facing today's challenges resonates with simplicity and power: "Do your best. Nobody can take that from you." What seeds of excellence are you planting in your community that might grow into something extraordinary?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
I always feel that, no matter what you do, if you do
your best there can be noquestions.
You know, if you do your best,you don't have any more to give.
You've done your best andthat's what I always try to do,
whether I'm assisting someone orwhether I'm not.
(00:22):
I try to do my best.
But it's all a matter of beingaccessible and realize that if
you plant that seed, thatpotentially it'll grow.
You know, potentially it'llgrow.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome to Be A Baller where we're building a
lifelong legacy for our families, communities and the world.
Your host, coach Tim Brown, isexcited for you to join him on
this journey.
On each episode, we'll betalking about how to be
intentional about building alasting legacy.
We'll be exploring what itmeans to leave a mark that goes
beyond just our lives but has apositive impact on those around
(01:00):
us and even generations to come.
So if you're looking forinspiration, guidance and
practical tips on how to build alasting legacy that makes a
difference, then you're in theright place.
So grab your earbuds, getcomfortable and let's dive in.
It's time to Be A Baller.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Welcome to Be A Baller podcast.
I'm your host, tim Brown.
Thanks for joining me today aswe sit down with my good friend,
judge Guy Reese.
Judge Reese will share hisinspiring story from being born
in Mississippi, where his fatherwas a sharecropper, and being
raised in St Louis.
Judge Reese, a Vietnam Warveteran, went on to become a
(01:37):
second lieutenant in the US Army, earning a Bronze Star, and is
a graduate of United States AirWar College.
Judge Reese has a distinguishedcareer as a judge in Franklin
County for over 20 years.
Judge Reese, welcome to Be ABaller podcast and thanks for
your service to our country.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Thank you for inviting me.
I'm looking forward to beinghere with you, Coach Brown.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah, coach Brown.
You know, those are the peoplethat don't even know my name,
they just say Coach.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
They just say, coach, they do, man, what a blessing
we come a mighty long waytogether.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yes, yeah, and it's been a blessing just watching
our children grow, just watching, and you've always been a model
of excellence for me and justour family and just the
community on how to do things ina professional manner.
You know, and I alwaysappreciate that about you,
appreciate that about you.
(02:34):
Thank you, tim.
Let's talk about your familygrowing up and the impact your
dad and your family had on yourlife growing up.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Sure, well, I was born in Mississippi, macon,
mississippi, and while we werein Mississippi there were
initially seven of us we lost myoldest sister, who was right
after me, when she was six yearsold.
(03:03):
She had appendicitis and itruptured on her and she died.
Then my dad, of course he was asharecropper in Mississippi,
raising corn and what have you,but in the early 50s decided to
(03:23):
move from Mississippi and wemoved to St Louis, missouri.
I certainly remember that moveand the opportunity that it
presented to us.
Things were not the best inMississippi during those times
and Dad, we moved.
He went up first and then latermy mother and all of the kids
(03:45):
got on a train and we went to StLouis.
I remember distinctively livingin St Louis.
Initially we lived in abasement apartment.
There was three rooms, frontroom, middle room, in the
kitchen, oh yeah, and there wasa lot of us there.
(04:07):
But we survived and it was good.
You know much better thanthings were in Mississippi.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Now, when you went to St Louis, was the family
already there, or Dad, just kindof?
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Dad went there.
My uncle was there, matter offact, the uncle that I'm named
after, kai, he was there.
Matter of fact, the uncle thatI'm named after, guy oh, okay,
he was there.
My grandmother was there, andwe had aunts and uncles there
also, and my mother's brother.
He was there also with hisfamily.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
You know, I know you love to cook.
I do Love to cook.
Where'd that come from?
Was that mom or dad?
How'd you figure that out?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
That started with my mother when we were growing up.
I was the second oldest.
I had a brother that was olderthan I but I was the second
oldest and my mother would tellme go in there and do this, this
and this to cook cornbread orsomething else.
And that got me startedcornbread or something else.
And that got me started.
(05:06):
And when I attended high school, I attended a technical high
school and I took commercialcooking.
My intent at that time was tobecome a chef someday.
I did every after high school,which during high school, I was
a good student.
I had A's and B's.
I really applied myself and didwell.
(05:29):
In high school I intended to goto the Culinary Institute of
America.
All right, man Got all of thepaperwork, all right, but never
submitted it.
Wow, and the amazing thingabout that is my uncle and
several other family members hadtold me that if you get in
we'll sure help you make itthrough.
(05:51):
But I never submitted it.
But that love of cooking stayedwith me and is still there
today.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I know you can get a good meal
from you.
I know that.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I know that in that church basement, yes, yes, as a
matter of fact, we are preparinga repast for Saturday and our
pastor's anniversary is Sunday,so we will have prime rib and a
few other things.
All right, man?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yes, you were involved in the military.
I was During a challenging timein our country in the 60s.
What were some of those lifelessons you learned from that
military experience?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
You know, it's sort of amazing.
I was drafted.
I did not.
I was drafted in and so I wentthrough basic training and
advanced training.
I was supposed to be an armoredcab person riding around on a
Jeep or what have you, shootingat folk.
But I took some tests and Iscored well and then I had an
(06:52):
opportunity to attend officercandidate school and I did that
and I completed it and became anofficer, second lieutenant in
the Army, and I think one of thethings that it initially taught
me is that that was duringVietnam and to be drafted in was
(07:14):
not necessarily something thatfolk wanted to do, but I felt an
obligation.
I had to fulfill myresponsibilities as a citizen
responsibilities as a citizenand I applied myself and by
doing that I had the opportunityto not ride around on a Jeep or
a personnel carrier.
I became an officer and Ibecame a quarter rest officer
(07:36):
supplying services, and thattaught me that, no matter what
situation you're in, if you takeadvantage of the opportunities
that are available to you, youhave an opportunity to excel at
what you're trying to do.
Now I did that.
I got married while I was thereand sort of amazing I went to
(07:58):
Vietnam.
That occurred sort of amazing.
I married my wife's pregnantand I ship off to Vietnam and,
amazingly, during my stay inVietnam I became a graves
registration platoon leader,which meant that I was
(08:20):
responsible and the soldiersthat were under me were
responsible for collecting theAmericans that had been killed
in Vietnam and taking them tothe facility there so they could
be prepared and shipped back tothe US.
I was assigned to the 25thInfantry Division, which saw a
(08:42):
lot of action division, whichsaw a lot of action.
I shipped a lot of Americansback home during that one year I
spent in Vietnam.
But again, while I was there Idid earn some medals and all of
that which basically doing myjob and trying to do my best and
(09:04):
that was recognized and Iappreciated that.
But that the military, I think,afforded me an opportunity to
not only serve my country and dowhat I felt was the right thing
to do.
It offered me an opportunity togrow I felt was the right thing
(09:25):
to do.
It offered me an opportunity togrow.
Being in the military, being anofficer.
You have an opportunity todirect people and to accomplish
missions, set goals, setrequirements, ensure that people
have the things that they needto accomplish those goals and
tasks and then monitor to makesure that they're doing those
things that they need toaccomplish those goals and tasks
(09:46):
.
And then monitor to make surethat they're doing those things
that they need to do and if theydon't, you coach them up.
If they can't, then you findout what you need to do to get
the mission done.
One of the things that I feltit taught me is that I can't do
everything.
If you're in a position, you'rethere to enable those folk that
(10:08):
are with you an opportunity todo their job, because if they
can accomplish what they'resupposed to do, then my mission
will be fulfilled.
I will get it done by allowingthem the ability to do what they
need to do.
So my thing in the military ittaught me a lot about leadership
(10:29):
and how you get people thatfrom all different walks of life
and you get them together on acommon goal and you try to
accomplish that mission that'sbeen established for you Sounds
like a good Ohio State footballteam.
Well yeah, they were definitely,you know.
(10:50):
And the amazing thing that'ssort of significant when you
mention the Ohio State footballteam things don't go the way you
think they should.
All the time the loss toMichigan, everybody was ready to
say, yeah, they don't have it,they can't do it, but you're
going to run into obstacles.
The big thing is that ifeverything is going smooth, you
(11:14):
don't need to be there.
It's when you hit those hiccupsthat you need someone to assist
you and to direct you, so thatyou know that, by working
together with a common purpose,you can overcome those hiccups
and be able to accomplish yourmission.
And that's what they did thisyear.
(11:36):
They had those hiccups, butthey overcame those missions.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
You know you are a proponent of education.
You were determined to get acollege degree.
Can you talk about thatexperience?
Speaker 1 (11:48):
You know I mentioned about wanting to attend the
Culinary Institute and get adegree, and what have you?
One of the things that I didafter graduation from high
school, I wound up getting a job, and that you know.
You start making a little moneyand you think this is where
(12:08):
it's at.
You know, and I had a prettygood job.
Initially I worked for a shoecompany, a wool shoe company.
Then I went to work for the StLouis Police Department.
I was doing offset printingwork for them.
They don't do that anymorebecause they used to print all
of those police reports and whathave you?
Using a printing press.
(12:29):
From there, I got a job at thepost office and so I was going
to be a postal clerk.
Then the draft came no college.
And you know, I became anofficer in the Army and I still
didn't have any college.
But in order to progress it wasnecessary for me to get a
(12:49):
degree.
So I started attending collegeat night and weekend, university
of Maryland, their overseaswork, and what have you?
And I achieved up to almostthree years of college by doing
that, and the Army selected meto attend the University of
(13:11):
Nebraska at Omaha to get myundergraduate degree.
So the Army.
My duty assignment for onewhole year was to go to school
in Omaha, nebraska, and get mycollege degree, and I did that.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Nice, nice nice.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
That was a blessing.
That was truly a blessing theopportunity to get my
undergraduate degree that way.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
What led you to law school?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Well, when I was in the Army, I decided hey, I'm a
career person, you know I'mgoing to stay here.
So the Army allowed individualsthat were not lawyers to serve
as trial counsel or defensecounsel in low-level court
(13:57):
marshals, and doing that, I hadthe opportunity to serve as a
trial counsel and a defensecounsel, and that perked my
interest in law.
Perked my interest in law and,after spending 13 years on
(14:19):
active duty in the Army, I tookthe LSAT, the law school
admission test, and I scoredwell enough.
I guess I was planning on goingback to Missouri to attend law
school, but I received a letterfrom the Ohio State University
requesting that I apply there,and I did.
I was accepted at Ohio Stateand then I came here to attend
(14:41):
law school and while I was doingthat, I remained in the Army
Reserves and continue to do mymilitary part also.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Nice, you know, I know you're a deacon at Second
Baptist Church.
I am.
Can you share with the audienceyour faith journey and how
important faith is to you?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Well, you know, if we go back those years ago, when I
was a kid growing up in StLouis, there was no option, no
option.
You had no options at least Ididn't anyway.
When it was Sunday to go tochurch, you put on your best and
(15:24):
you were at church on Sunday,and if something else was going
on at church, you were theredoing those times also, and so
that was instilled in me at anearly age.
The importance of being—yourreligious life was very
important to you.
Even in the military, where youhave chaplains and what have you
(15:45):
, I attended chapel serviceswhenever I could.
If I was overseas it was alittle bit different, but you
still had services.
And of course, back in the US,when I was stationed there, we
went as a family every Sunday,we attended church and we were
engaged into what was going onwith the chapel services, with
(16:07):
the chapel services.
Amazingly, after I came here toColumbus I started attending
Second Baptist Church and Iattended and I attended.
I went to Indonesia and I cameback and I attended and I
(16:37):
attended and finally, onDecember 1st 1998,.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I got up and joined Second Baptist.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Church and, amazingly , a number of people felt I was
already a member of the churchand that's been important to me,
because I think your spirituallife and that portion of your
being is critically importantand for me it's important to
maintain that portion of my life, because a lot of things can
(17:04):
fade away, but that should bethe core that holds you there.
Keep you there, man.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
That's the foundation .
We know that you know you do alot of work in the community as
well.
Why was serving your countryand serving the community so
important to you?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
You know, serving my country.
I think everyone has aresponsibility to do what they
can to make sure that ourcountry is what it should be.
I'm not going to make anypolitical statements about this
person or that person, but as anindividual, you should have
(17:45):
some commitment or somededication to your country, some
commitment or some dedicationto your country With respect to
community involvement.
Our community will only be asgood or as great as we make it.
If we sit back and criticizeall the time and do not engage
and ensure that we're doing whatwe should do to make our
(18:07):
community better, then all we'redoing is complaining and not
contributing.
I believe that I have a uniqueperspective on community,
especially when it comes toyoung people.
I feel that it's criticallyimportant that they see me as an
(18:28):
example of some barefooted kidrunning around in Mississippi,
not having any college until Iwas in the military, but still
went ahead, got a law degree,became a judge, retired as a
colonel from the Army, that theytoo have that opportunity as
(18:51):
long as they apply themselvesand are willing to commit and
work hard at it.
And from that perspective, Ithink it's critically important
for me to be engaged in thecommunity because I need to pay
it back and not just think aboutmyself.
I need to also think aboutthose that are out there that
need some guidance, someassistance, and make sure that I
(19:14):
do that, and that can bethrough resources, but I think
personal involvement is moreimportant than anything else.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
How was that first day on the bench?
Oh, it's sort of amazing.
First, day on the bench.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
That was 1990.
I replaced a judge here JudgeGlasgow on municipal court
initially, and prior to takingthe bench, it's sort of
interesting I went down and Isat with him and he allowed me
to sit up there and go throughthe process with him for a month
(19:53):
or two to get the feel of whatwas going on and it was very
interesting.
When I took the bench I was notafraid.
I realized that you know you'regoing to make a few errors here
and there and that's why youhave courts that are above you
to ensure that you don't doanything totally out there.
(20:14):
But I really enjoyed doing mywork as a judge and I still
enjoy doing it.
But you know, you come to thebench and you bring all of your
life experiences, all of yourlife experiences and one of the
things that I always tried to doand I still try to do that, is
(20:34):
to realize that those folk thatare appearing in front of me
that is the most important thinggoing on in their life at that
time.
To it, what should go intomaking decisions, meeting out
punishment where appropriate,but make sure that I maintain
the integrity of the office towhich I was elected.
(21:07):
You know one of the things thatI think is critically important
as a judge is that you have tomake sure that you understand
who's in front of you and theauthority that's vested in you
as a judge.
You don't necessarily want todevelop a reputation as being a
hammer or being even a ball ofcotton.
You want to be in therelistening to the cases, making
(21:29):
the appropriate decisions thatyou can at the time that you
have to make them and then beprepared to move on, because in
municipal court you have a lotof cases so you can't have it
carrying over to someone elseand common pleas.
That was a little bit moreimportant.
After two years on municipalcourt I was appointed to the
(21:52):
common pleas court and then Iran and was elected to the
common pleas court and that wassignificant because I was the
first African-American electednot the first one to serve, but
elected in Franklin County tothe common pleas court and that
was significant to me.
(22:13):
I enjoyed that work and that'swhat I do now primarily as a
visiting judge is serving on theCommon Police Court and the
Municipal Court.
I do both.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
You know it was a big deal.
A big deal and a dispatch onyou, and you resigned from the
bench to support your wife,shirley, for a corporate career
opportunity in Indonesia.
What did your family learn fromthat experience one, and what
were some of your favoritememories there?
Speaker 1 (22:40):
In Indonesia.
You know, I thought in makingthat decision to move to
Indonesia was significantbecause I, from a perspective of
being a judge, I was on thecommon pleas bench, which was
significant, and you don't wantto give up something lightly for
(23:04):
that.
I was a colonel in the ArmyReserves with the potential
probably of getting promotedagain.
I had commanded a battalion, Ihad commanded a group, I was a
director, so I had significantpositions in the Reserves, in
the Army.
But one of the things that Ifelt was important was that I
(23:28):
had accomplished quite a bit.
From when I think of myself asa poor country boy, well yeah, I
thought that I'd had theopportunity to accomplish a lot.
And for Shirley, this was anopportunity for her to do
something that no other personhad done female, for her company
(23:51):
and her executive position.
So I felt that it wasbeneficial for me to be willing
to say, since I had done all ofthis and I didn't do it by
myself, your family is therewith you and you have supporters
out there that may be a littlebit disappointed in me making
that decision, but I felt sheshould have that opportunity
(24:14):
also to go and pursue somethingthat no one else had done so.
That's why I made that decisionthat I would resign and go to
Indonesia Now.
In Indonesia, initially, Iserved as a legal advisor with
an Indonesian law firm for abouta year and a half, which was
(24:34):
revealing because Indonesia ahuge country, acapella, a lot of
islands, 16,000 islands and itis a country that's a developing
country with a lot of naturalresources.
So you have a lot of differentcountries, different businesses
(24:55):
going there and pursuingopportunities there, some of it
good, some of it bad, becauseyou wind up taking advantage of
people when they are in a lowerposition than you are.
A country with a lot of supersuccessful people with a lot of
money, but many, many, many morethat are very poor, in
(25:16):
subsistence type living.
So for me, it was anopportunity to go and develop.
Also, for the last year and ahalf that I was there, I pretty
much just volunteered myselfwith some legal advice for
businesses that requested it,and I played a lot of golf and
(25:39):
got myself in shape too.
So the last year and a half itwas a lot of fun.
You know you think aboutIndonesia.
Most people don't think, butwhen you say Bali, that brings
it home and that is a part ofIndonesia.
There was a lot of good timesthere and a lot of anxious times
(26:01):
also.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Your son Floyd, was there as well.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Yeah, he was.
It was very interesting.
But it was very interesting.
Floyd went there and he spentthe last part of his middle
school time was at JakartaInternational School, where you
had people from over I think itwas almost over 50 different
(26:24):
countries children thereattending school.
So he had that ability tointeract with folk from
everywhere and it wassignificant.
I thought it helped him and italso just rubs off on the family
also.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
That's good.
That's good, you know.
I know you have been a mentorto so many young lawyers and
judges.
Can you talk about some mentorsin your life?
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Ooh yeah, you know I think about my military time and
there are some folk from myinitial assignment as a
lieutenant there was a colonelwho was the post commander at
Fort Campbell, kentucky.
The post and the division the101st Airborne Division totally
(27:13):
separate entities and operations, but this colonel was really
significant in allowing me todevelop myself.
I was the post-S-4 as a secondlieutenant and he allowed me to
develop myself a lot with hisguidance and everything and part
of that.
He even gave me a medal when Ileft and I had only been there
(27:35):
for a year and a half, two yearsbefore going to Vietnam and
throughout my military career.
There are those that want tokeep their thumb on you.
Being an African-American,you're going to hit some bumps
here and there, but there arealso folk that you latch on to
that gives you some assistanceand know your capabilities and
(27:59):
assist in developing you, givingyou opportunities to develop
yourself.
I went to spent three years onOkinawa as the executive officer
of a petroleum depot there,where we provided petroleum for
the military units on Okinawa,as the executive officer of a
petroleum depot there where weprovided petroleum for the
military units on Okinawa.
(28:20):
That was a revealing experiencefor me, to give me an
opportunity to look at things ona larger scale and be able to
do that.
I attended the command andgeneral staff college there and
after coming here and being inthe reserves, I was a commander
of a battalion and I didn't haveto have that.
(28:43):
But someone saw something in meand gave me an opportunity.
I commanded a group, attendedthe Army War College and
graduated from that.
So I've had people that havepushed me on, graduated from
that.
So I've had people that havepushed me on as a judge.
You know who you can talk toand who's going to give you
(29:05):
sound advice and not just tellyou something to lead you astray
or what have you.
And there were judges that Icould go and talk to and get
advice from.
You know and you use thatadvice to make yourself better
and know who you can trust andwho you can't trust, based upon
their track record and notnecessarily on what I do or what
(29:28):
I can't do.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
That's awesome.
You know we talk a lot on thepodcast about mentors.
We also talk about sponsors.
Yes, you know it's good to havethose mentors.
I think Jordan Miller sharedthis.
Good to have mentors, but yougot to have a sponsor.
It sounded like you had thosewho were pounding the table.
Give them a chance.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Yeah, you know, significant.
I mentioned that.
Maybe I didn't, but this was mysecond marriage.
My first wife died of a heartattack at 39.
And at the time I had an18-year-old son and a
20-year-old daughter.
(30:09):
We went through hiccups there.
But there was one person thatreally I thought you mentioned,
sponsor Dorothy Teeter, who wasa city councilwoman at the time
Columbus City Council.
(30:29):
She was running for electionand she selected me to be her
campaign manager.
Now, really, she didn't need acampaign manager, but she gave
me that opportunity and Iremember at the celebration
after she was elected, one ofthe things that she said is that
(30:50):
he should be a judge in frontof all of those folks there.
And she pushed that in sayinghe should be a judge.
You know, and even after that,when Judge Glasgow was getting
ready to retire, I was selectedto run for his position.
(31:10):
She set up a number of peoplewith money that would be able to
help my campaign.
So she, you know, was a truesupporter and sponsor of me when
I initially ran for judge Wow,and I will always be grateful to
her for what she did for me atthat time.
(31:31):
But one of the things that Ifelt was significant in my
running I mentioned her as aperson that initially said
something, but you can't relyjust on that when you're talking
about getting people's support.
I think it's important for meto be out, and I did this in the
(31:53):
community.
I think it's important for meto be out, and I did this in the
community, meeting people,letting them know who I am and
what I stand for.
Critically important to do thatso that folk will know who I am
.
People run up to me now andcall my name.
I don't know who they are, but Idon't remember who they are.
(32:14):
Let me put it that way.
But they remember who I am andyou know, that sort of makes me
feel good because at least maybeI did some good as I was going
through and meeting.
You do your best, there can beno questions.
(32:40):
If you do your best you don'thave any more to give.
You've done your best andthat's what I always try to do.
Whether I'm assisting someoneor whether I'm not, I try to do
my best.
I still mentor law students.
I still mentor young lawyers.
(33:01):
A young lady calls me all thetime she works in Indianapolis.
Now How's my favorite judge?
I say where is he or where isshe?
But it's all a matter of beingaccessible and realize that if
you plant that seed, thatpotentially it'll grow.
You know, potentially it'llgrow.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Well said, you know.
Speaking of that for some younglawyers or some young people
who may be listening to the show, what words of wisdom would you
share with them?
Speaker 1 (33:33):
the show.
What words of wisdom would youshare with them?
Well, I always tell someonenumber one do your best, know
who your friends are.
Everyone that run up and sayI'm your friend, they're not
your real friend.
They're looking at what's in itfor them, and it's perilous
(33:59):
times right now for young people.
They don't know who to trustand they're getting a lot of
their information from theircell phones and computers and
they're not getting it fromtheir parents or from folk that
really are looking out for theirbest interests.
They need to know who to trust.
(34:27):
They need to know that do yourbest.
Do your best, don't be ashamedof doing your best.
And so many of our young men,young boys.
Peer pressure enters in andthey decide that do I want to
get along with my friend or do Iwant to do my best?
Do your best.
We're depending on it.
I'm going to move off the stageeventually and you're coming on
(34:52):
the stage, so be ready to stepup and do your best.
Boy, that's a good word.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Do your best, do your best.
That's the bottom line.
It is Nobody can take that fromyou.
They can.
We had a thing at our school.
My mother would always sayeducation is something no one
can take away from you.
Correct, nobody can take thatfrom you.
Correct, nobody can take thatfrom you.
Nobody can take that from you.
Correct, nobody can take thatfrom you.
But do your best, do your best.
You know this is a legacypodcast.
(35:19):
What does the word legacy meanto you and what is the legacy of
Judge Guy Reese?
Speaker 1 (35:27):
That's a toughie, I think, legacy for me if I look
at my dad and my mother.
They didn't have the education,they were just common folk, but
they worked hard and theyshowed love and they cared about
(35:49):
what was going on with theirchildren and their community was
going on with their children intheir community.
A legacy from them isinstilling, maybe in me and my
sisters and brothers the desireto do your best and to work hard
, no matter where you are.
You know, I'm the first one inmy family to get a college
(36:12):
degree and, of course, certainlya professional degree during
law school.
My hope is that my children andmy grandchildren and children
after that will feed off of that, not necessarily because I'm
the greatest thing since slicedbread, but feed off of that to
(36:33):
do even more and better thingsin their lives.
We as African-American folkdon't have that built-in wealth
and what have you.
Maybe you know we can pass on alittle something that will
(36:54):
start that also, so that ourchildren and our children's
children will be better off thanwe were.
My legacy is hopefully folkwill say he contributed while he
was here.
He made things better by whathe did and what he tried to do.
(37:17):
And I think if I can do thatthen I know my dad did and he
was a sharecropper but he didsomething to make it better.
My mother, you know.
She primarily raised the kids.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Yeah, that's moms Primarily raised the kids yeah
that's moms.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
That's moms Primarily raised the kids.
So if I can add to that, then Iwill have done something.
Maybe that's beneficial,especially if I look at my
children and grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Praise God, this brings us to the end of today's
episode.
I want to thank our specialguest, judge Guy Reese, for
sharing this incredible lifestory of commitment to serving
our country and community.
Judge, thank you for alwaysbeing an advocate for the common
person.
Your life is one that's a modelof encouragement to so many.
Thank you for being that rolemodel of excellence.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
Thank you, coach Brown, for having me here today.
You know, one of the thingsthat I never do is introduce
myself as Judge, so-and-so.
I just don't feel I need to dothat and I don't do that.
But thank you for having me andI accept that opportunity to be
(38:35):
here today.
And thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Well, thank you to the Be A Baller audience for
joining us for this episode.
As always, please share withothers, keep being a baller and
building a lifelong legacy ofsharing wisdom.
Thanks, judge, for being on theshow.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
If you've enjoyed this episode, please share it
with family and friends.
The Be A Baller podcast isavailable on all major podcast
platforms.
This podcast was created byCoach Tim Brown and recorded and
edited by the video productionclass of Worthington Christian
High School.
Be sure to come back next weekas we continue to discuss on how
to build a lifelong legacy.
(39:15):
Until then, don't forget to bea baller.
I always feel that, no matter what you do, if you do
your best there can be noquestions.
You know, if you do your best,you don't have any more to give.
You've done your best andthat's what I always try to do,
whether I'm assisting someone orwhether I'm not.
(00:22):
I try to do my best.
But it's all a matter of beingaccessible and realize that if
you plant that seed, thatpotentially it'll grow.
You know, potentially it'llgrow.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome to Be A Baller where we're building a
lifelong legacy for our families, communities and the world.
Your host, coach Tim Brown, isexcited for you to join him on
this journey.
On each episode, we'll betalking about how to be
intentional about building alasting legacy.
We'll be exploring what itmeans to leave a mark that goes
beyond just our lives but has apositive impact on those around
(01:00):
us and even generations to come.
So if you're looking forinspiration, guidance and
practical tips on how to build alasting legacy that makes a
difference, then you're in theright place.
So grab your earbuds, getcomfortable and let's dive in.
It's time to Be A Baller.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Welcome to Be A Baller podcast.
I'm your host, tim Brown.
Thanks for joining me today aswe sit down with my good friend,
judge Guy Reese.
Judge Reese will share hisinspiring story from being born
in Mississippi, where his fatherwas a sharecropper, and being
raised in St Louis.
Judge Reese, a Vietnam Warveteran, went on to become a
(01:37):
second lieutenant in the US Army, earning a Bronze Star, and is
a graduate of United States AirWar College.
Judge Reese has a distinguishedcareer as a judge in Franklin
County for over 20 years.
Judge Reese, welcome to Be ABaller podcast and thanks for
your service to our country.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Thank you for inviting me.
I'm looking forward to beinghere with you, Coach Brown.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah, coach Brown.
You know, those are the peoplethat don't even know my name,
they just say Coach.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
They just say, coach, they do, man, what a blessing
we come a mighty long waytogether.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yes, yeah, and it's been a blessing just watching
our children grow, just watching, and you've always been a model
of excellence for me and justour family and just the
community on how to do things ina professional manner.
You know, and I alwaysappreciate that about you,
appreciate that about you.
(02:34):
Thank you, tim.
Let's talk about your familygrowing up and the impact your
dad and your family had on yourlife growing up.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Sure, well, I was born in Mississippi, macon,
mississippi, and while we werein Mississippi there were
initially seven of us we lost myoldest sister, who was right
after me, when she was six yearsold.
(03:03):
She had appendicitis and itruptured on her and she died.
Then my dad, of course he was asharecropper in Mississippi,
raising corn and what have you,but in the early 50s decided to
(03:23):
move from Mississippi and wemoved to St Louis, missouri.
I certainly remember that moveand the opportunity that it
presented to us.
Things were not the best inMississippi during those times
and Dad, we moved.
He went up first and then latermy mother and all of the kids
(03:45):
got on a train and we went to StLouis.
I remember distinctively livingin St Louis.
Initially we lived in abasement apartment.
There was three rooms, frontroom, middle room, in the
kitchen, oh yeah, and there wasa lot of us there.
(04:07):
But we survived and it was good.
You know much better thanthings were in Mississippi.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Now, when you went to St Louis, was the family
already there, or Dad, just kindof?
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Dad went there.
My uncle was there, matter offact, the uncle that I'm named
after, kai, he was there.
Matter of fact, the uncle thatI'm named after, guy oh, okay,
he was there.
My grandmother was there, andwe had aunts and uncles there
also, and my mother's brother.
He was there also with hisfamily.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
You know, I know you love to cook.
I do Love to cook.
Where'd that come from?
Was that mom or dad?
How'd you figure that out?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
That started with my mother when we were growing up.
I was the second oldest.
I had a brother that was olderthan I but I was the second
oldest and my mother would tellme go in there and do this, this
and this to cook cornbread orsomething else.
And that got me startedcornbread or something else.
And that got me started.
(05:06):
And when I attended high school, I attended a technical high
school and I took commercialcooking.
My intent at that time was tobecome a chef someday.
I did every after high school,which during high school, I was
a good student.
I had A's and B's.
I really applied myself and didwell.
(05:29):
In high school I intended to goto the Culinary Institute of
America.
All right, man Got all of thepaperwork, all right, but never
submitted it.
Wow, and the amazing thingabout that is my uncle and
several other family members hadtold me that if you get in
we'll sure help you make itthrough.
(05:51):
But I never submitted it.
But that love of cooking stayedwith me and is still there
today.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I know you can get a good meal
from you.
I know that.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I know that in that church basement, yes, yes, as a
matter of fact, we are preparinga repast for Saturday and our
pastor's anniversary is Sunday,so we will have prime rib and a
few other things.
All right, man?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yes, you were involved in the military.
I was During a challenging timein our country in the 60s.
What were some of those lifelessons you learned from that
military experience?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
You know, it's sort of amazing.
I was drafted.
I did not.
I was drafted in and so I wentthrough basic training and
advanced training.
I was supposed to be an armoredcab person riding around on a
Jeep or what have you, shootingat folk.
But I took some tests and Iscored well and then I had an
(06:52):
opportunity to attend officercandidate school and I did that
and I completed it and became anofficer, second lieutenant in
the Army, and I think one of thethings that it initially taught
me is that that was duringVietnam and to be drafted in was
(07:14):
not necessarily something thatfolk wanted to do, but I felt an
obligation.
I had to fulfill myresponsibilities as a citizen
responsibilities as a citizenand I applied myself and by
doing that I had the opportunityto not ride around on a Jeep or
a personnel carrier.
I became an officer and Ibecame a quarter rest officer
(07:36):
supplying services, and thattaught me that, no matter what
situation you're in, if you takeadvantage of the opportunities
that are available to you, youhave an opportunity to excel at
what you're trying to do.
Now I did that.
I got married while I was thereand sort of amazing I went to
(07:58):
Vietnam.
That occurred sort of amazing.
I married my wife's pregnantand I ship off to Vietnam and,
amazingly, during my stay inVietnam I became a graves
registration platoon leader,which meant that I was
(08:20):
responsible and the soldiersthat were under me were
responsible for collecting theAmericans that had been killed
in Vietnam and taking them tothe facility there so they could
be prepared and shipped back tothe US.
I was assigned to the 25thInfantry Division, which saw a
(08:42):
lot of action division, whichsaw a lot of action.
I shipped a lot of Americansback home during that one year I
spent in Vietnam.
But again, while I was there Idid earn some medals and all of
that which basically doing myjob and trying to do my best and
(09:04):
that was recognized and Iappreciated that.
But that the military, I think,afforded me an opportunity to
not only serve my country and dowhat I felt was the right thing
to do.
It offered me an opportunity togrow I felt was the right thing
(09:25):
to do.
It offered me an opportunity togrow.
Being in the military, being anofficer.
You have an opportunity todirect people and to accomplish
missions, set goals, setrequirements, ensure that people
have the things that they needto accomplish those goals and
tasks and then monitor to makesure that they're doing those
things that they need toaccomplish those goals and tasks
(09:46):
.
And then monitor to make surethat they're doing those things
that they need to do and if theydon't, you coach them up.
If they can't, then you findout what you need to do to get
the mission done.
One of the things that I feltit taught me is that I can't do
everything.
If you're in a position, you'rethere to enable those folk that
(10:08):
are with you an opportunity todo their job, because if they
can accomplish what they'resupposed to do, then my mission
will be fulfilled.
I will get it done by allowingthem the ability to do what they
need to do.
So my thing in the military ittaught me a lot about leadership
(10:29):
and how you get people thatfrom all different walks of life
and you get them together on acommon goal and you try to
accomplish that mission that'sbeen established for you Sounds
like a good Ohio State footballteam.
Well yeah, they were definitely,you know.
(10:50):
And the amazing thing that'ssort of significant when you
mention the Ohio State footballteam things don't go the way you
think they should.
All the time the loss toMichigan, everybody was ready to
say, yeah, they don't have it,they can't do it, but you're
going to run into obstacles.
The big thing is that ifeverything is going smooth, you
(11:14):
don't need to be there.
It's when you hit those hiccupsthat you need someone to assist
you and to direct you, so thatyou know that, by working
together with a common purpose,you can overcome those hiccups
and be able to accomplish yourmission.
And that's what they did thisyear.
(11:36):
They had those hiccups, butthey overcame those missions.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
You know you are a proponent of education.
You were determined to get acollege degree.
Can you talk about thatexperience?
Speaker 1 (11:48):
You know I mentioned about wanting to attend the
Culinary Institute and get adegree, and what have you?
One of the things that I didafter graduation from high
school, I wound up getting a job, and that you know.
You start making a little moneyand you think this is where
(12:08):
it's at.
You know, and I had a prettygood job.
Initially I worked for a shoecompany, a wool shoe company.
Then I went to work for the StLouis Police Department.
I was doing offset printingwork for them.
They don't do that anymorebecause they used to print all
of those police reports and whathave you?
Using a printing press.
(12:29):
From there, I got a job at thepost office and so I was going
to be a postal clerk.
Then the draft came no college.
And you know, I became anofficer in the Army and I still
didn't have any college.
But in order to progress it wasnecessary for me to get a
(12:49):
degree.
So I started attending collegeat night and weekend, university
of Maryland, their overseaswork, and what have you?
And I achieved up to almostthree years of college by doing
that, and the Army selected meto attend the University of
(13:11):
Nebraska at Omaha to get myundergraduate degree.
So the Army.
My duty assignment for onewhole year was to go to school
in Omaha, nebraska, and get mycollege degree, and I did that.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Nice, nice nice.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
That was a blessing.
That was truly a blessing theopportunity to get my
undergraduate degree that way.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
What led you to law school?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Well, when I was in the Army, I decided hey, I'm a
career person, you know I'mgoing to stay here.
So the Army allowed individualsthat were not lawyers to serve
as trial counsel or defensecounsel in low-level court
(13:57):
marshals, and doing that, I hadthe opportunity to serve as a
trial counsel and a defensecounsel, and that perked my
interest in law.
Perked my interest in law and,after spending 13 years on
(14:19):
active duty in the Army, I tookthe LSAT, the law school
admission test, and I scoredwell enough.
I guess I was planning on goingback to Missouri to attend law
school, but I received a letterfrom the Ohio State University
requesting that I apply there,and I did.
I was accepted at Ohio Stateand then I came here to attend
(14:41):
law school and while I was doingthat, I remained in the Army
Reserves and continue to do mymilitary part also.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Nice, you know, I know you're a deacon at Second
Baptist Church.
I am.
Can you share with the audienceyour faith journey and how
important faith is to you?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Well, you know, if we go back those years ago, when I
was a kid growing up in StLouis, there was no option, no
option.
You had no options at least Ididn't anyway.
When it was Sunday to go tochurch, you put on your best and
(15:24):
you were at church on Sunday,and if something else was going
on at church, you were theredoing those times also, and so
that was instilled in me at anearly age.
The importance of being—yourreligious life was very
important to you.
Even in the military, where youhave chaplains and what have you
(15:45):
, I attended chapel serviceswhenever I could.
If I was overseas it was alittle bit different, but you
still had services.
And of course, back in the US,when I was stationed there, we
went as a family every Sunday,we attended church and we were
engaged into what was going onwith the chapel services, with
(16:07):
the chapel services.
Amazingly, after I came here toColumbus I started attending
Second Baptist Church and Iattended and I attended.
I went to Indonesia and I cameback and I attended and I
(16:37):
attended and finally, onDecember 1st 1998,.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I got up and joined Second Baptist.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Church and, amazingly , a number of people felt I was
already a member of the churchand that's been important to me,
because I think your spirituallife and that portion of your
being is critically importantand for me it's important to
maintain that portion of my life, because a lot of things can
(17:04):
fade away, but that should bethe core that holds you there.
Keep you there, man.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
That's the foundation .
We know that you know you do alot of work in the community as
well.
Why was serving your countryand serving the community so
important to you?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
You know, serving my country.
I think everyone has aresponsibility to do what they
can to make sure that ourcountry is what it should be.
I'm not going to make anypolitical statements about this
person or that person, but as anindividual, you should have
(17:45):
some commitment or somededication to your country, some
commitment or some dedicationto your country With respect to
community involvement.
Our community will only be asgood or as great as we make it.
If we sit back and criticizeall the time and do not engage
and ensure that we're doing whatwe should do to make our
(18:07):
community better, then all we'redoing is complaining and not
contributing.
I believe that I have a uniqueperspective on community,
especially when it comes toyoung people.
I feel that it's criticallyimportant that they see me as an
(18:28):
example of some barefooted kidrunning around in Mississippi,
not having any college until Iwas in the military, but still
went ahead, got a law degree,became a judge, retired as a
colonel from the Army, that theytoo have that opportunity as
(18:51):
long as they apply themselvesand are willing to commit and
work hard at it.
And from that perspective, Ithink it's critically important
for me to be engaged in thecommunity because I need to pay
it back and not just think aboutmyself.
I need to also think aboutthose that are out there that
need some guidance, someassistance, and make sure that I
(19:14):
do that, and that can bethrough resources, but I think
personal involvement is moreimportant than anything else.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
How was that first day on the bench?
Oh, it's sort of amazing.
First, day on the bench.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
That was 1990.
I replaced a judge here JudgeGlasgow on municipal court
initially, and prior to takingthe bench, it's sort of
interesting I went down and Isat with him and he allowed me
to sit up there and go throughthe process with him for a month
(19:53):
or two to get the feel of whatwas going on and it was very
interesting.
When I took the bench I was notafraid.
I realized that you know you'regoing to make a few errors here
and there and that's why youhave courts that are above you
to ensure that you don't doanything totally out there.
(20:14):
But I really enjoyed doing mywork as a judge and I still
enjoy doing it.
But you know, you come to thebench and you bring all of your
life experiences, all of yourlife experiences and one of the
things that I always tried to doand I still try to do that, is
(20:34):
to realize that those folk thatare appearing in front of me
that is the most important thinggoing on in their life at that
time.
To it, what should go intomaking decisions, meeting out
punishment where appropriate,but make sure that I maintain
the integrity of the office towhich I was elected.
(21:07):
You know one of the things thatI think is critically important
as a judge is that you have tomake sure that you understand
who's in front of you and theauthority that's vested in you
as a judge.
You don't necessarily want todevelop a reputation as being a
hammer or being even a ball ofcotton.
You want to be in therelistening to the cases, making
(21:29):
the appropriate decisions thatyou can at the time that you
have to make them and then beprepared to move on, because in
municipal court you have a lotof cases so you can't have it
carrying over to someone elseand common pleas.
That was a little bit moreimportant.
After two years on municipalcourt I was appointed to the
(21:52):
common pleas court and then Iran and was elected to the
common pleas court and that wassignificant because I was the
first African-American electednot the first one to serve, but
elected in Franklin County tothe common pleas court and that
was significant to me.
(22:13):
I enjoyed that work and that'swhat I do now primarily as a
visiting judge is serving on theCommon Police Court and the
Municipal Court.
I do both.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
You know it was a big deal.
A big deal and a dispatch onyou, and you resigned from the
bench to support your wife,shirley, for a corporate career
opportunity in Indonesia.
What did your family learn fromthat experience one, and what
were some of your favoritememories there?
Speaker 1 (22:40):
In Indonesia.
You know, I thought in makingthat decision to move to
Indonesia was significantbecause I, from a perspective of
being a judge, I was on thecommon pleas bench, which was
significant, and you don't wantto give up something lightly for
(23:04):
that.
I was a colonel in the ArmyReserves with the potential
probably of getting promotedagain.
I had commanded a battalion, Ihad commanded a group, I was a
director, so I had significantpositions in the Reserves, in
the Army.
But one of the things that Ifelt was important was that I
(23:28):
had accomplished quite a bit.
From when I think of myself asa poor country boy, well yeah, I
thought that I'd had theopportunity to accomplish a lot.
And for Shirley, this was anopportunity for her to do
something that no other personhad done female, for her company
(23:51):
and her executive position.
So I felt that it wasbeneficial for me to be willing
to say, since I had done all ofthis and I didn't do it by
myself, your family is therewith you and you have supporters
out there that may be a littlebit disappointed in me making
that decision, but I felt sheshould have that opportunity
(24:14):
also to go and pursue somethingthat no one else had done so.
That's why I made that decisionthat I would resign and go to
Indonesia Now.
In Indonesia, initially, Iserved as a legal advisor with
an Indonesian law firm for abouta year and a half, which was
(24:34):
revealing because Indonesia ahuge country, acapella, a lot of
islands, 16,000 islands and itis a country that's a developing
country with a lot of naturalresources.
So you have a lot of differentcountries, different businesses
(24:55):
going there and pursuingopportunities there, some of it
good, some of it bad, becauseyou wind up taking advantage of
people when they are in a lowerposition than you are.
A country with a lot of supersuccessful people with a lot of
money, but many, many, many morethat are very poor, in
(25:16):
subsistence type living.
So for me, it was anopportunity to go and develop.
Also, for the last year and ahalf that I was there, I pretty
much just volunteered myselfwith some legal advice for
businesses that requested it,and I played a lot of golf and
(25:39):
got myself in shape too.
So the last year and a half itwas a lot of fun.
You know you think aboutIndonesia.
Most people don't think, butwhen you say Bali, that brings
it home and that is a part ofIndonesia.
There was a lot of good timesthere and a lot of anxious times
(26:01):
also.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Your son Floyd, was there as well.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Yeah, he was.
It was very interesting.
But it was very interesting.
Floyd went there and he spentthe last part of his middle
school time was at JakartaInternational School, where you
had people from over I think itwas almost over 50 different
(26:24):
countries children thereattending school.
So he had that ability tointeract with folk from
everywhere and it wassignificant.
I thought it helped him and italso just rubs off on the family
also.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
That's good.
That's good, you know.
I know you have been a mentorto so many young lawyers and
judges.
Can you talk about some mentorsin your life?
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Ooh yeah, you know I think about my military time and
there are some folk from myinitial assignment as a
lieutenant there was a colonelwho was the post commander at
Fort Campbell, kentucky.
The post and the division the101st Airborne Division totally
(27:13):
separate entities and operations, but this colonel was really
significant in allowing me todevelop myself.
I was the post-S-4 as a secondlieutenant and he allowed me to
develop myself a lot with hisguidance and everything and part
of that.
He even gave me a medal when Ileft and I had only been there
(27:35):
for a year and a half, two yearsbefore going to Vietnam and
throughout my military career.
There are those that want tokeep their thumb on you.
Being an African-American,you're going to hit some bumps
here and there, but there arealso folk that you latch on to
that gives you some assistanceand know your capabilities and
(27:59):
assist in developing you, givingyou opportunities to develop
yourself.
I went to spent three years onOkinawa as the executive officer
of a petroleum depot there,where we provided petroleum for
the military units on Okinawa,as the executive officer of a
petroleum depot there where weprovided petroleum for the
military units on Okinawa.
(28:20):
That was a revealing experiencefor me, to give me an
opportunity to look at things ona larger scale and be able to
do that.
I attended the command andgeneral staff college there and
after coming here and being inthe reserves, I was a commander
of a battalion and I didn't haveto have that.
(28:43):
But someone saw something in meand gave me an opportunity.
I commanded a group, attendedthe Army War College and
graduated from that.
So I've had people that havepushed me on, graduated from
that.
So I've had people that havepushed me on as a judge.
You know who you can talk toand who's going to give you
(29:05):
sound advice and not just tellyou something to lead you astray
or what have you.
And there were judges that Icould go and talk to and get
advice from.
You know and you use thatadvice to make yourself better
and know who you can trust andwho you can't trust, based upon
their track record and notnecessarily on what I do or what
(29:28):
I can't do.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
That's awesome.
You know we talk a lot on thepodcast about mentors.
We also talk about sponsors.
Yes, you know it's good to havethose mentors.
I think Jordan Miller sharedthis.
Good to have mentors, but yougot to have a sponsor.
It sounded like you had thosewho were pounding the table.
Give them a chance.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Yeah, you know, significant.
I mentioned that.
Maybe I didn't, but this was mysecond marriage.
My first wife died of a heartattack at 39.
And at the time I had an18-year-old son and a
20-year-old daughter.
(30:09):
We went through hiccups there.
But there was one person thatreally I thought you mentioned,
sponsor Dorothy Teeter, who wasa city councilwoman at the time
Columbus City Council.
(30:29):
She was running for electionand she selected me to be her
campaign manager.
Now, really, she didn't need acampaign manager, but she gave
me that opportunity and Iremember at the celebration
after she was elected, one ofthe things that she said is that
(30:50):
he should be a judge in frontof all of those folks there.
And she pushed that in sayinghe should be a judge.
You know, and even after that,when Judge Glasgow was getting
ready to retire, I was selectedto run for his position.
(31:10):
She set up a number of peoplewith money that would be able to
help my campaign.
So she, you know, was a truesupporter and sponsor of me when
I initially ran for judge Wow,and I will always be grateful to
her for what she did for me atthat time.
(31:31):
But one of the things that Ifelt was significant in my
running I mentioned her as aperson that initially said
something, but you can't relyjust on that when you're talking
about getting people's support.
I think it's important for meto be out, and I did this in the
(31:53):
community.
I think it's important for meto be out, and I did this in the
community, meeting people,letting them know who I am and
what I stand for.
Critically important to do thatso that folk will know who I am
.
People run up to me now andcall my name.
I don't know who they are, but Idon't remember who they are.
(32:14):
Let me put it that way.
But they remember who I am andyou know, that sort of makes me
feel good because at least maybeI did some good as I was going
through and meeting.
You do your best, there can beno questions.
(32:40):
If you do your best you don'thave any more to give.
You've done your best andthat's what I always try to do.
Whether I'm assisting someoneor whether I'm not, I try to do
my best.
I still mentor law students.
I still mentor young lawyers.
(33:01):
A young lady calls me all thetime she works in Indianapolis.
Now How's my favorite judge?
I say where is he or where isshe?
But it's all a matter of beingaccessible and realize that if
you plant that seed, thatpotentially it'll grow.
You know, potentially it'llgrow.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Well said, you know.
Speaking of that for some younglawyers or some young people
who may be listening to the show, what words of wisdom would you
share with them?
Speaker 1 (33:33):
the show.
What words of wisdom would youshare with them?
Well, I always tell someonenumber one do your best, know
who your friends are.
Everyone that run up and sayI'm your friend, they're not
your real friend.
They're looking at what's in itfor them, and it's perilous
(33:59):
times right now for young people.
They don't know who to trustand they're getting a lot of
their information from theircell phones and computers and
they're not getting it fromtheir parents or from folk that
really are looking out for theirbest interests.
They need to know who to trust.
(34:27):
They need to know that do yourbest.
Do your best, don't be ashamedof doing your best.
And so many of our young men,young boys.
Peer pressure enters in andthey decide that do I want to
get along with my friend or do Iwant to do my best?
Do your best.
We're depending on it.
I'm going to move off the stageeventually and you're coming on
(34:52):
the stage, so be ready to stepup and do your best.
Boy, that's a good word.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Do your best, do your best.
That's the bottom line.
It is Nobody can take that fromyou.
They can.
We had a thing at our school.
My mother would always sayeducation is something no one
can take away from you.
Correct, nobody can take thatfrom you.
Correct, nobody can take thatfrom you.
Nobody can take that from you.
Correct, nobody can take thatfrom you.
But do your best, do your best.
You know this is a legacypodcast.
(35:19):
What does the word legacy meanto you and what is the legacy of
Judge Guy Reese?
Speaker 1 (35:27):
That's a toughie, I think, legacy for me if I look
at my dad and my mother.
They didn't have the education,they were just common folk, but
they worked hard and theyshowed love and they cared about
(35:49):
what was going on with theirchildren and their community was
going on with their children intheir community.
A legacy from them isinstilling, maybe in me and my
sisters and brothers the desireto do your best and to work hard
, no matter where you are.
You know, I'm the first one inmy family to get a college
(36:12):
degree and, of course, certainlya professional degree during
law school.
My hope is that my children andmy grandchildren and children
after that will feed off of that, not necessarily because I'm
the greatest thing since slicedbread, but feed off of that to
(36:33):
do even more and better thingsin their lives.
We as African-American folkdon't have that built-in wealth
and what have you.
Maybe you know we can pass on alittle something that will
(36:54):
start that also, so that ourchildren and our children's
children will be better off thanwe were.
My legacy is hopefully folkwill say he contributed while he
was here.
He made things better by whathe did and what he tried to do.
(37:17):
And I think if I can do thatthen I know my dad did and he
was a sharecropper but he didsomething to make it better.
My mother, you know.
She primarily raised the kids.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Yeah, that's moms Primarily raised the kids yeah
that's moms.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
That's moms Primarily raised the kids.
So if I can add to that, then Iwill have done something.
Maybe that's beneficial,especially if I look at my
children and grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Praise God, this brings us to the end of today's
episode.
I want to thank our specialguest, judge Guy Reese, for
sharing this incredible lifestory of commitment to serving
our country and community.
Judge, thank you for alwaysbeing an advocate for the common
person.
Your life is one that's a modelof encouragement to so many.
Thank you for being that rolemodel of excellence.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
Thank you, coach Brown, for having me here today.
You know, one of the thingsthat I never do is introduce
myself as Judge, so-and-so.
I just don't feel I need to dothat and I don't do that.
But thank you for having me andI accept that opportunity to be
(38:35):
here today.
And thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Well, thank you to the Be A Baller audience for
joining us for this episode.
As always, please share withothers, keep being a baller and
building a lifelong legacy ofsharing wisdom.
Thanks, judge, for being on theshow.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
If you've enjoyed this episode, please share it
with family and friends.
The Be A Baller podcast isavailable on all major podcast
platforms.
This podcast was created byCoach Tim Brown and recorded and
edited by the video productionclass of Worthington Christian
High School.
Be sure to come back next weekas we continue to discuss on how
to build a lifelong legacy.
(39:15):
Until then, don't forget to bea baller.
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