Judge Head celebrated for years of service
Missouri State Senator David Sater presents Judge Head with a resolution from the Missouri State Senate, praising Head for his accomplishments and congratulating him on his retirement.
December 24, 2014
Steve Chapman
Barry County’s Judge Victor Head was honored for his eight years of service as an associate circuit judge at a ceremony that was attended by over 100 people on Friday, December 19. Judge Head’s retirement, which takes effect on January 1, caps off a 37-year career in the law.
Head’s retirement ceremony was a combination of humor and some tears. Several of his family members were present, including his wife, Becky; mother, Jane; his brother Heno, Jr.; his children Jennifer Head-Steingraber and husband, Jason, and Nathan Head, and his wife, Julie; and his grandchildren, Emma, Kate, Sara Beth, and Jake.
Those who spoke at the ceremony told of how pleasant and considerate Head was as a judge, and also praised him for his role in helping to establish the Barry County Drug Court. Shara Martin, assistant public defender in Monett, told Head, “We will miss the way you made a person think he won the lottery, when in fact he was going to jail” and Barry County Prosecutor Johnnie Cox, who will succeed Head as associate circuit judge in January, praised him as, “A gracious and considerate judge, even when he ruled against you.” During his speech, Cox presented Judge Head with a retirement gift, a handsome wooden rocking chair engraved with the Seal of the State of Missouri.
Sharon Sater sang “Better than a Hallelujah” at the ceremony while accompanied by Scott Stearns on guitar. A volunteer at Celebrate Recovery, an outreach that many Drug Court participants attend, Sharon told those gathered that the Drug Court participants she meets think very highly of Head. “They speak so respectfully of him,” she said. “He doesn’t realize what an impact he’s made on their lives.”
Marty Stearns, a clerk at the Barry County Courthouse, grew slightly emotional as she spoke of how honored she was to have worked with him. “He has shown respect to all who enter his court room. And by this display of respect, he has earned the respect of all of us, the clerks, the attorneys, other judges, and even the defendants who have stood before him. I have actually heard defendants say ‘thank you’ after he has sentenced them to DOC. He is a kind man and a true gentleman,” she said.
Other speakers included Missouri Senator David Sater and Missouri Representative Scott Fitzpatrick, who both praised Judge Head on his work in Drug Court. Each man also presented Head with resolutions from their respective legislative houses, which praised him for his accomplishments and congratulated him on his retirement. Jack Goodman, presiding judge of the 39th Circuit Court, also praised Head and presented him with a marble plaque in recognition of his years of service.
When it was his turn to speak, Head thanked all of the well-wishers who came to his retirement ceremony and spoke of what a blessing his family was to him. During his speech, he also greeted those present he had worked with during his time in the 39th Circuit. When he had finished speaking, Judge Head received a standing ovation from those in attendance.
Though he is retiring as a circuit court judge, Head is not leaving the law. He will continue to serve as a senior judge and preside over extra cases in the 39th Circuit. Head also plans to continue serving on the Drug Court, though he will eventually transition out of that role.
Head said he will continue to make his home in Monett, and plans to spend more time doing the things he and Becky enjoy, including boating on Table Rock Lake. “We have a little place at the lake by Shell Knob where we spend about every weekend,” he said. Head also said he would take golf back up, and maybe fishing as well.
Head was born on April 10, 1948, the second son of Heno Head, Sr. and his wife, Jane. He graduated from Mississippi State College in Starkville, Miss. After he graduated from law school at the University of Mississippi in 1977, Head and his wife, Becky, whom he married in 1972, moved to Shell Knob, where he practiced law while Becky taught. They remained there until 1980 when Head joined the United States Air Force, where he was a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. He served for four years, earning the rank of captain.
After leaving the Air Force, Head joined the Garrett and Woods Law Firm in Monett. He remained with the firm until 1989, when he became the District Public Defender for the 39th Circuit. Head served as public defender until January 1, 2007, when he took office as Associate Circuit Court Judge.
Despite all he has accomplished during his time as an attorney and a judge, Head remains most proud of Drug Court, which he helped to establish in 2008. The program provides alternative sentencing and intensive therapy to those convicted of drug or alcohol-related offenses. “When you turn somebody around and they become a clean, productive citizen, that means more than any one case,” he said.
Steve Chapman
Barry County’s Judge Victor Head was honored for his eight years of service as an associate circuit judge at a ceremony that was attended by over 100 people on Friday, December 19. Judge Head’s retirement, which takes effect on January 1, caps off a 37-year career in the law.
Head’s retirement ceremony was a combination of humor and some tears. Several of his family members were present, including his wife, Becky; mother, Jane; his brother Heno, Jr.; his children Jennifer Head-Steingraber and husband, Jason, and Nathan Head, and his wife, Julie; and his grandchildren, Emma, Kate, Sara Beth, and Jake.
Those who spoke at the ceremony told of how pleasant and considerate Head was as a judge, and also praised him for his role in helping to establish the Barry County Drug Court. Shara Martin, assistant public defender in Monett, told Head, “We will miss the way you made a person think he won the lottery, when in fact he was going to jail” and Barry County Prosecutor Johnnie Cox, who will succeed Head as associate circuit judge in January, praised him as, “A gracious and considerate judge, even when he ruled against you.” During his speech, Cox presented Judge Head with a retirement gift, a handsome wooden rocking chair engraved with the Seal of the State of Missouri.
Sharon Sater sang “Better than a Hallelujah” at the ceremony while accompanied by Scott Stearns on guitar. A volunteer at Celebrate Recovery, an outreach that many Drug Court participants attend, Sharon told those gathered that the Drug Court participants she meets think very highly of Head. “They speak so respectfully of him,” she said. “He doesn’t realize what an impact he’s made on their lives.”
Marty Stearns, a clerk at the Barry County Courthouse, grew slightly emotional as she spoke of how honored she was to have worked with him. “He has shown respect to all who enter his court room. And by this display of respect, he has earned the respect of all of us, the clerks, the attorneys, other judges, and even the defendants who have stood before him. I have actually heard defendants say ‘thank you’ after he has sentenced them to DOC. He is a kind man and a true gentleman,” she said.
Other speakers included Missouri Senator David Sater and Missouri Representative Scott Fitzpatrick, who both praised Judge Head on his work in Drug Court. Each man also presented Head with resolutions from their respective legislative houses, which praised him for his accomplishments and congratulated him on his retirement. Jack Goodman, presiding judge of the 39th Circuit Court, also praised Head and presented him with a marble plaque in recognition of his years of service.
When it was his turn to speak, Head thanked all of the well-wishers who came to his retirement ceremony and spoke of what a blessing his family was to him. During his speech, he also greeted those present he had worked with during his time in the 39th Circuit. When he had finished speaking, Judge Head received a standing ovation from those in attendance.
Though he is retiring as a circuit court judge, Head is not leaving the law. He will continue to serve as a senior judge and preside over extra cases in the 39th Circuit. Head also plans to continue serving on the Drug Court, though he will eventually transition out of that role.
Head said he will continue to make his home in Monett, and plans to spend more time doing the things he and Becky enjoy, including boating on Table Rock Lake. “We have a little place at the lake by Shell Knob where we spend about every weekend,” he said. Head also said he would take golf back up, and maybe fishing as well.
Head was born on April 10, 1948, the second son of Heno Head, Sr. and his wife, Jane. He graduated from Mississippi State College in Starkville, Miss. After he graduated from law school at the University of Mississippi in 1977, Head and his wife, Becky, whom he married in 1972, moved to Shell Knob, where he practiced law while Becky taught. They remained there until 1980 when Head joined the United States Air Force, where he was a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. He served for four years, earning the rank of captain.
After leaving the Air Force, Head joined the Garrett and Woods Law Firm in Monett. He remained with the firm until 1989, when he became the District Public Defender for the 39th Circuit. Head served as public defender until January 1, 2007, when he took office as Associate Circuit Court Judge.
Despite all he has accomplished during his time as an attorney and a judge, Head remains most proud of Drug Court, which he helped to establish in 2008. The program provides alternative sentencing and intensive therapy to those convicted of drug or alcohol-related offenses. “When you turn somebody around and they become a clean, productive citizen, that means more than any one case,” he said.