By Benita Heath and Michelle Goodman

 

Those who knew him well say former Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr. spent his career making sure justice was served.

Friends and colleagues reflected on the life and career of Collier, 68, who died Thursday morning at his home in Pedro after an extended battle with cancer.

Collier was elected to five four-year terms as prosecutor, more than any other prosecutor in Lawrence County’s history. He was first elected in November 1992 and had just retired in December 2012.

Collier’s successor, Brigham Anderson, said the man was a mentor and a great prosecutor.

“He taught me a lot about what it means to be a great prosecutor,” Anderson said. “The key to being a prosecutor is making sure justice is served, whatever justice may be, and making sure the truth comes out in the proceeding. He was great at that and he taught me how to do that. He’ll be greatly missed in our office.”

Collier was a lifelong resident of Lawrence County, graduating from Ironton High School in 1963. He went to Ohio University and completed his undergraduate degree in 1967. He graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1970.

Collier returned to Ironton to practice law with his father, J.B. Collier Sr. He also followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, James Collier, who was a Lawrence County Common Pleas Court judge and later a judge in the Fourth District Court of Appeals.

Mack Anderson, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, worked with Collier during his entire tenure as prosecutor and said the man was an excellent prosecutor and leader for the office.

“He was tremendous to work with because he gave you a lot of freedom,” Anderson said. “He said, ‘You know what’s right and what’s wrong.’ He over saw things, but he gave his assistants freedom to handle their cases.”

Anderson also said Collier was on the side of justice, not just winning convictions.

“He often said, ‘It’s not just our role to win cases but to do justice,’” Anderson said. “We are not trying to get a notch in our gun like in the old Wild West. We want to make sure we are doing what’s right.”

Collier was also willing to put in long hours to work on high profile cases. He prosecuted the last two capital murder cases in the county. One was against Roger Marshall who was convicted in February 2006 for the murders of three people and multiple counts of arson in connection with the August 2004 fire at the Lyle Motel. The other was against Leon Aliff, who faced the death penalty for the shooting death of his estranged wife in 1999.

Other high-profile cases included the 1997 case against Jack and Mona Volgares. Mr. Volgares was convicted of the murder of his stepdaughter, who the couple buried in a trashcan in the side yard of their North Ironton home.

The couple fled the state with their three other children and was later captured in Oklahoma after an episode of “America’s Most Wanted.”

Collier also prosecuted Megan Goff during the woman’s first murder trial of her estranged husband. She was convicted of the shooting death of her estrange husband.

“That shows the seriousness he took in his work,” said Charles Cooper, Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge. “He didn’t hesitate to take the work on himself. He didn’t make his assistants try all the cases. He was a hands-on prosecutor.”

Cooper said he grew up in the same neighborhood as Collier and that he was a good friend and attorney.

“I tried to model myself after several of the things that I learned from him in that regard,” Cooper said.

Ironton Municipal Judge O. Clark Collins also grew up near Collier and the two were friends.

“He was a consummate professional as an attorney and was an excellent prosecutor,” Collins said. “Jimmy was a classy person. In his professional capacity I admired him. He truly was a good prosecutor. He handled his cases so professionally. He was fair, but tough. He had this news (about his illness) about six months ago. He handled it with such class and grace.”

Collier also made an impression on other county leaders.

“Lawrence County lost a true fighter for its citizens,” said Jeff Lawless, Sheriff. “A man who truly fought for the citizens and gave his life for helping others. He will certainly be missed by the Sheriff’s Office.”

County Auditor and vice chair of Republican Party, Jason Stephens, said Collier’s tenure was one that was well respected and he will be missed.

“He was really good to everybody, a very good attorney,” said Ray Dutey, chair of Republican Party. “J.B. did a tremendous job as prosecutor. It is a shame he didn’t get to enjoy some of his retirement. He worked hard at it. He had a good name as prosecutor. He had a high conviction rate. He had some tough cases. He did a good job as prosecutor. Serving with him in the courthouse I got to know him real well. He was a really fine person.”

Collier was honored at this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner in March and received a commendation from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

“He was a very good friend and excellent prosecutor and a dedicated public servant,” DeWine said. “I had known him for a lot of years. We had some mutual friends from Lawrence County. I had known him for probably 30 years. … He liked to have a lot of fun but when he was doing his job he was very serious and very professional. It was a good combination of someone who was jovial and like to have fun and also who did his job.”

Phillip’s Funeral Home is handling arrangements, which are pending.