Saturday, November 18, 2006
The name of the award refers to the law of Christ.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Judge R.R. Denny Clunk of Alliance, retired probate judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, received the Lex Christi award Oct. 27 at the 10th annual Red Mass at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St.
The term Lex Christi means the law of Christ, which is God's standard of truth and justice.
Bishop Thomas J. Tobin established the award in the Diocese of Youngstown to honor members of the legal profession who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to the best ideals of the profession and who show unselfish devotion to the needs of the community.
Monsignor Robert J. Siffrin, diocesan administrator, celebrated the Mass. The St. Thomas More Society was the sponsor.
His background
Judge Clunk has been admitted to the Supreme Court of Ohio, the U.S. District Court, the U. S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals (Sixth Circuit).
He was a practicing attorney for 30 years before becoming a judge in Alliance Municipal Court in 1978 and then becoming Stark County probate judge in 1985, a position he held until his retirement. He has served terms as president of the National College of Probate Judges and the Ohio Probate Judges. He has served his community as treasurer of the city of Alliance, a member of the Alliance Board of Education, and of the board of Alliance Community Hospital.
He is a member of the Knights of Columbus; a former board member of the House of Loreto Retirement Home, Canton; and former chairman of the board of Emmaus House for Retired Priests, Louisville. He was honored by Pope John Paul II in 2000 with the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice Award at the request of Bishop Tobin.