WHITEHALL, Ohio - “You will hold your head high once your service is completed because you know that you’ve done your small part for whatever branch you are serving in,” said Judge Gary Loxley of Springboro, Ohio.
Loxley, a retired Colonel, served 36 years spanning across five decades in the U.S. Army Reserve, Ohio Army National Guard and Active Duty. He continues to serve his community as a judge on the Warren County Court and a member of several community organizations.
Like many service members, Loxley first enlisted right after high school to support his educational goals. He re-enlisted when approached with the opportunity to become an officer in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and pursue a unique legal career path.
“Meeting and working with individuals from all walks of life has been eye-opening for me,” Loxley reflected on his time in service. “The longer I served, the prouder I was to be representing the United States government in the Department of Defense. There’s something to be said for being a part of the greatest military power in the history of the world.”
Loxley observed that the values instilled during Army military training that can be transferred to any civilian career. As a civilian judge, he still prioritizes fundamental concepts such as punctuality and treating everyone in his court with respect.
Since 2013, Loxley has presided over misdemeanor cases, traffic offenses, and civil cases up to $15,000 for the Warren County Court. He also leads the team that hosts the Warren County Veterans Court, which he established in 2015.
This special court docket offers veterans the chance to work with treatment specialists familiar with military affairs in order to fully rehabilitate individuals and face less-adversarial judiciary processes. Treatment plans are customized and might include psychological, mental health and substance abuse counseling, as well as other forms of personal development. Participants are also assigned a veteran mentor who supports them through the 18-month program.
“The results are positive and overwhelming,” Loxley said of the veterans court graduates. “The whole idea is to save time, money, effort and rehabilitate the veterans who have fallen off the wagon but still have certain prerequisites and redeeming qualities.”
Loxley is also an active leader in several veterans interest groups, including the Reserve Organization of America (formerly the Reserve Officers Association), Post 805 of the Department of Ohio American Legion, and the Military and Veterans Affairs subcommittee of the Mental Health Task Force for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
In recognition of his post-military service leadership and community contributions, Loxley was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. Family and friends attended the ceremony on October 20, 2021 in Kettering, Ohio.
“There are many veterans who do great things for our community in the public sector, private sector, volunteer work, and I’m very proud to represent all Ohio veterans as a member of this year’s Veterans Hall of Fame class,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2021 15:38 |
| Story ID: | 408832 |
| Location: | COLUMBUS, OHIO, US |
| Hometown: | SPRINGBORO, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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