Judge celebrates birthday with surprise party

The tables were set with colorful cloths and birthday posters hung on the wall.

A smorgasbord of food awaited and balloons swayed from the railings on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse.

Attorneys, judges, court clerks and personnel, family members and friends waited patiently for the guest of honor, hushing each other as the sign was given that he was about to arrive.

Applause and cheering erupted as Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge D. Scott Bowling entered the room. A look of surprise and a smile spread across his face.

“This is much ado about nothing,” said the man who turned 50 years old on Wednesday.

The crowd laughed but as Bowling continued, the room quieted and tears began to fill some partygoers’ eyes.

“I’m thankful for the 50 years God has given me,” he said. “You all are very much apart of my blessings. … I could never ask for a better life. God is good all the time. I love you.”

Talitha Patterson, Bowling’s assistant, spent the past week organizing the surprise party, with the help of the prosecutor’s office, the adult probation department, the clerk of courts office and others.

“Fifty is a big birthday,” Patterson said. “He is just special to a lot of people and we wanted him to know that. It’s nice to see him surrounded by the people he loves and the people who love him.”