Re: The Passing of
the Honorable Thomas G. Peoples, Jr.
Judge Thomas peoples died on September 19, 2013, at the
age of 77.
Like most people, and
particularly attorneys, I had the utmost respect for Judge Peoples.
He was a man of utmost integrity, and
unflappable character.
He was very loyal
to his family, staff, and the people he served, i.e., the citizens of Blair
County.
I enjoyed an inside view of Judge Peoples. My mother, Barbara Stoehr, served as his
secretary for many years in the District Attorney’s Office and later as the
Judge’s secretary. I remember Judge
Peoples being mentioned at the dinner table on many occasions during high
school. Judge Peoples could be stern and
seemingly inflexible. However, this
somewhat tough exterior was his way of committing to his own beliefs. If you needed someone to jump in the foxhole
with you, Tom Peoples was definitely in my Top 10.
Later in life I had the good fortune (maybe not, he was a
tough grader!) to be a college student in Criminal Law I and II taught by
District Attorney Tom Peoples. More
often than not I managed an “A” in college.
With Tom Peoples I savored my “B” in both courses! Later I was undecided whether I wanted to go
to law school. I conferred with Judge
Peoples after college, but the timing wasn’t right, and I entered the business
world. I became more serious about law
school at age 30 and discussed this with him in great detail prior to
application. I was living in Virginia at
the time and remember coming home for the weekend. Judge Peoples remained in his office Friday
afternoon until I arrived. We talked for
several hours in his chambers until early evening. Perhaps our talk was not the sole reason for
attending law school, but the insight he gave me was pivotal in my decision.
Finally, I had the opportunity to try my first case as a
civil litigator in a two-day jury trial before his Honor. My mother went to high school with Judge
Peoples and was still his secretary.
Perhaps a cynical person would believe that this relationship would give
me the “inside advantage” with Judge Peoples.
After all, I would merely need to smile and wink, and expect favorable
rulings. It was wise on my part not to
have any such expectations . . . Judge Peoples’ pretrial rulings and rulings during
the trial were very even-handed. In one
instance, Judge Peoples politely listened to my objection, gave me his ice-cold
stare, and overruled me with such emphasis that I wondered why I had opened my
mouth. Fortunately I won this “slip and
fall” case but it had nothing to do with an alleged relationship I had with the
Judge.
I attended Judge Peoples funeral and the Resolutions of
the Blair County Bar. I spoke with Judge
Peoples’ wife, Maureen, who now resides at Garvey Manor. I think she remembers me but it is not
important. What is more important is the
admiration and love she felt from the many mourners. The eulogy given by Court of Appeals Judge
Brooks Smith reminded us that Judge Peoples was a complex man. He was steadfast in his beliefs and
unwavering in his faith. Yet he was a
common man with a dry sense of humor.
Above all, Judge Peoples was respected by all. The Blair County Court has lost its leader
and he will be sorely missed.
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