Former Circuit Court Judge Roger Perry has a new bench dedicated to his impactful time as judge outside of the Logan County Courthouse in downtown Logan.
Robert Fields | WVOW News
LOGAN Courthouse officials honor Judge Roger Perry’s time in office and his impact on the communities of Logan County
Thursday morning, friends, family and staff of former Logan Circuit Court Judge Roger Perry gathered with umbrellas in hand to celebrate the dedication of a new bench outside of the Logan County Courthouse. Roger Perry served as Circuit Court Judge from his election in 1992 until he chose to retire in 2015. After more than 22 years as judge and over 30 years as a lawyer, Perry said during the dedication ceremony that he hopes the impression he left behind was a positive one.
“I’ve had three major mentors in my life, and one of them said, and this was my Health Department mentor when I was in Health Department and Sanitary, he said, ‘put your hand in a bucket of water and pull it out. That’s the impression you’ll leave when you’re gone.’ And I thought about him and I thought, ‘no, it wasn’t that way for you and I hope it hasn’t been that way for me.’ So, I think some of the good that’s been done here kind of keeps going.”
Perry’s bench in the courthouse square in downtown is the latest commemorative to be installed. Retired Judge Eric O’Briant and former Magistrate Leonard Codispotti have their own benches at different corners of the courthouse building.
Several former colleagues and members of Perry’s staff stood beside the former judge and shared the impressions he left on them. Logan Circuit Court Chief Judge Joshua Butcher, who served more than eight years as Law Clerk to Perry, he told attendees that there was no shortage of lessons he learned under the guidance of Judge Roger Perry.
“Judge Perry taught me to treat people with compassion, even when you’re entering judgment against them. He taught me to be prepared for court and to read what the lawyers file and to research it beforehand because the parties deserve that,” Butcher said.
He spoke of what Judge Perry taught him about the importance of a lawyer’s credibility and of how crucial it was remain independent and never take political favors.
“He taught me to let everyone be heard and to have their day in court. He taught me to not consider myself so powerful that I’m not bound by those books that are on the shelf of the West Virginia Code. He taught me that lunch is important.”
Roger Perry was born in Logan and grew up at Neibert. He graduated from Logan High School in 1967 and obtained a degree in chemistry and science from West Virginia Institute of Technology and Marshall University in 1971. He worked for two years as a teacher in public schools and as a public health inspector for five years, at which point he attended West Virginia University College of Law, graduating with a law degree in 1982.
Roger and his wife Susan are still active in the community through their roles at the First Presbyterian Church of Logan and as members of the Logan Lions Club, which is hosting a roadside cleanup on Saturday, April 13 at 9:30 a.m. The cleanup will begin at the bridge which begins the new WV 10 towards the town of Man and proceed along the road. All members of the community are invited to participate and supplies will be provided.