Senior court officer lauded for service

By Leanne M. Robicheau
VillageSoup/Knox County Times News Editor

ROCKLAND (Aug 13): That commanding cry inside Knox County Superior Court, calling "all rise" as a presiding justice enters the courtroom, will be missed.



Senior Court Officer Larry Grant, who retired July 1, was honored on Aug. 11 by Superior Court justices, Sixth District Court judges, court reporters, court clerks and fellow court officers.



Senior Court Officer Larry Grant retired July 1 after 38 years as a state worker. (Photo by Leanne M. Robicheau)


Some 80 people traveled from near and far to recognize a man who obviously touched many hearts.

Clerk of Courts Penny Reckards hosted the party that drew a crowd to her waterfront home in Friendship, where unrobed judges and courthouse personnel in casual wear weighed in on some serious matters, such as how good was the lobster — and the view.

Grant's towering height — 6 feet, 3 inches — and deep, bellowing voice echoed throughout the stately courtroom for 12 years as an unmistakable signal to all that the judge was entering or departing the courtroom.

Grant retired July 1 after serving 38 years as a state worker.

On Jan. 30, 2007, Grant toppled at the courthouse during a recess in a civil trial, breaking his hip, shoulder and wrist. He's recovering well from the fall, he said on Aug. 11, but it was not his primary reason for deciding to retire.

The previous year, Grant said, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease."

"[ALS] is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord," according to a website. "Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed."



Knox County Court justices, judges, court reporters, court clerks and court officers gather Aug. 11 to honor Senior Court Officer Larry Grant, who retired last month. (Photo by Leanne M. Robicheau)



Grant said the ALS diagnosis is the main reason for his deciding to end his career.

Grant, 64, of Warren began his 38-year tenure in January 1969 as a Maine State Prison guard. After a couple of years there, Grant moved to the Maine Warden Service and worked 24 years as a game warden.

For the past 12 years, he has had a noticeable presence in Knox County courtrooms.

"He not only cared about the courtroom and commanded respect in the courtroom, he also cared about you — all of the staff," said Clerk of Courts Reckards.

Grant was overwhelmed by the turnout at his retirement party, Reckards said. "He thought it was just going to be my office [staff]. People came from quite a distance just to say hi to him."

During the party, Grant took some ribbing from judges and other court staff, Reckards said, noting court reporter Kim McCulloch described an incident involving Grant about seven years ago.

At that time, portions of the movie "In the Bedroom," starring Sissy Spacek, were filmed inside Sixth District Court in Rockland. Grant was the bailiff and Judge Joseph Field was the judge.

"Larry, you were great in the bedroom," said McCulloch.

Grant, who was there with his wife, Doris, thanked everyone for coming. The Grants have eight grown children and five grandchildren, some of whom attended.

"I've always worked with people — the public," Grant said, talking about the high points of his career. "My primary duty was protecting the judges and the clerks."

"The best thing was trying to keep everyone as happy as I could," he said. "Nobody likes to come to court."



VillageSoup/Knox County Times News Editor Leanne M. Robicheau can be reached at 207-594-5351 or by e-mail at lrobicheau@villagesoup.com.