Claude Prather, former district judge, dies at 71
Claude Randall Prather, who served eight years as a Jefferson District Court judge before losing his seat in the election last November, died Friday at his home. He was 71.
A graduate of Valley High School, Prather worked at General Electric’s Appliance Park from 1960 until 1994, beginning as a tool and die apprentice and leaving as a labor relations specialist. He took night courses for 16 years at the University of Louisville to earn three degrees: a bachelor’s in mathematics in 1966, a master’s in business administration in 1972 and a law degree in 1976.
He opened a general law practice in 1978. By 1983 he was serving as assistant Jefferson County attorney, prosecuting cases in District Court. He held that post until 1998.
Prather ran for District Court judge twice before winning a seat on the bench in the 2002 election.
Prather was a Marine Corps veteran and an officer for the Marine Corps League. He had been president of the Middletown Optimists Club and was a member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the International Association of Machinists Lodge 2409.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Faith, as well as by six sons, a brother, a sister and 11 grandchildren.
I am also adding the remarks from Claude's sons that were published in the paper. Claude loved his family dearly. I remember his hard work, his passion, and his love for family while we were both on the campaign trail nearly a decade ago. Claude taught me some good lessons about life, people, and politics. He was good people. He will be sorely missed by all. Our prayers are with his family.
Our father took great pride in all of his accomplishments. However, he was most proud, and humbled, that the voters of Jefferson County elected him to serve as a District Court Judge. He was a man of intelligence, integrity, compassion, generosity, fairness, and wit; we stand as witnesses to his qualities and wanted to share our insight.
We, his sons, learned the lessons of hard work at the feet of our persevering father. The son of a custodian, our father spent his early childhood in a home without indoor plumbing. After serving honorably in the Marines, he was the first in his family to go to college. We saw our father's dedication and endless drive as he worked full-time at General Electric while attending graduate school and earning his law degree at night. After he was admitted to the Kentucky Bar, he continued working full-time at GE, opened his private practice, and worked as an attorney and prosecutor in the courts where he ultimately presided.
Yet, in spite of all the demands on his time, family was his foremost priority. He was a loving husband of 47 years and a dutiful son who instilled in us the importance of family. He supported our mother's decision to foster three additional children. He was always there for us and took his paternal responsibilities in stride. Once, a neighbor criticized the shabby condition of our well-worn yard. He responded, "I am raising children, not grass." Our father ensured we knew our grandparents with weekly visits. After his father, Vic, died he insisted that his mom, Pearl, spend her last years with us in our home. He was a wonderful and giving grandfather who always had time for our own children.
"Claude Randall Prather was our mentor and our best friend. He is the mark by which we measure ourselves as men," the sons of Claude R. Prather.
Judge Prather is survived by his wife, Mary Faith; his sons, John (Liz), James (Tanya), Joe (Lisa), Jeff (Kim), Jason (Ramona), and Justin (Lesley); his brother Charles (Maxine) and his sister Mary Gilmore; and his 11 grandchildren, Victor, Matthew, Ali, Dalton, Mary, Stephen, Brennan, Kathryn, Sam, Rhyan, and Lacey.
His Funeral Mass will be at noon Monday, May 9, 2011 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 7813 Shelbyville Road, with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Sunday and 10-11:30 a.m. Monday at Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Marine Corps Coordinating Council Semper Fi Fund or Rite to Life.
GUETHLEIN,
WILLIAM O., 81, of Louisville, passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2009,
at Jewish Hospital. Bill Guethlein was born on May 4, 1927 in
Cincinnati, OH. As a youth, he moved to Louisville where he graduated
from high school. Bill was a veteran of World War II and attended the
University of Louisville thereafter, receiving his LL.B degree in 1950.
Before completing his legal education, Bill had worked as a lifeguard,
a bartender, a bouncer, a floor-walker in a lady's store and an
apprentice glass blower. After graduating from law school, Bill took a
job with the Louisville firm of Boehl, Stopher, Graves &
Deindoerfer, where he practiced for 49 years, retiring from the
partnership in the spring of 1999. From 1999 until his death, he was Of
Counsel to Phillips Parker Orberson & Moore, PLC. For many decades,
Bill Guethlein was acknowledged as one of Louisville's preeminent trial
attorneys. Bill defended all manner of civil cases, starting with
low-exposure automobile accident cases but quickly progressing to
multi-million dollar product liability and professional liability
cases. He was almost universally successful in trial against not only
prominent local attorneys but nationally-renowned plaintiff's attorneys
such as Stanley Prizer and Phil Corboy who traveled to Louisville to
try cases against him. Bill was best known for defending medical
malpractice cases, and he successfully defended hospitals in Louisville
and throughout the state as well as physicians and surgeons of all
specialties. It could be argued that no attorney in Louisville has ever
had a civil trial practice for a longer period of time, at a higher
level, with more success, than Bill Guethlein. In 1979, Bill was named
a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was also
repeatedly recognized in Best Lawyers in America and was a member of
numerous local, state and national bar associations. In spite of his
reputation as a fierce legal adversary, Bill was a warm, funny and kind
man. He was a mentor, teacher and inspiration to scores of young
lawyers who had the great privilege to practice with him or, in some
cases, against him. Bill was fond of travel, tennis, skiing, fine food
and good companionship over a glass, or two, of wine. He will be sorely
missed. Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Mary E. Hutchison. He
is survived by his daughter, Julie Guethlein Cotton of Englewood, FL;
son, Robert Morri of Louisville; and granddaughter, Elizabeth Nicole
Saltsman of Pell City, AL. A memorial service of remembrance will held
6:30 p.m. Friday, Ratterman's, 3711 Lexington Road. There will be a
visitation prior to the service 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Louisville Bar Foundation,
600 West Main Street, Suite 110, Louisville, KY, 40202. 