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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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