Judge Larry Winfrey has served Laclede County as an associate circuit judge since 2002, following his early career practicing law in Lebanon with the late Jack Miller. Beyond the courtroom, he has remained deeply rooted in the community as a member of the Lebanon Rotary Club, the Lebanon Alumni Association, and as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Lebanon. In 2021, his role expanded even further when he helped develop the Laclede County Drug Court, a program that has had a lasting and measurable impact on individuals, families, and public safety across the county.
In this episode of In The Box, Judge Winfrey reflects on his upbringing, the competitive drive shaped by athletics, and the mentors who influenced his path, especially his mother and Jack Miller. He speaks candidly about being told he could not succeed because of where he came from, and how that mindset pushed him to prove otherwise. The conversation also dives into his perspective on public service, the realities of the justice system, and what an associate circuit judge actually does on a daily basis.
One of the most powerful moments of the interview comes as Judge Winfrey shares the story of his near-fatal medical emergency in 2014, the overwhelming support from the Lebanon community, and the experience that forever changed his outlook on faith, family, and purpose. He also talks about raising his children, opening his home to foster kids, and why legacy is not about titles, but about the people you impact along the way.
This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about leadership, resilience, community, and service, and why Judge Larry Winfrey’s story is inseparable from the story of Lebanon itself.
In this episode of In The Box, Judge Winfrey reflects on his upbringing, the competitive drive shaped by athletics, and the mentors who influenced his path, especially his mother and Jack Miller. He speaks candidly about being told he could not succeed because of where he came from, and how that mindset pushed him to prove otherwise. The conversation also dives into his perspective on public service, the realities of the justice system, and what an associate circuit judge actually does on a daily basis.
One of the most powerful moments of the interview comes as Judge Winfrey shares the story of his near-fatal medical emergency in 2014, the overwhelming support from the Lebanon community, and the experience that forever changed his outlook on faith, family, and purpose. He also talks about raising his children, opening his home to foster kids, and why legacy is not about titles, but about the people you impact along the way.
This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about leadership, resilience, community, and service, and why Judge Larry Winfrey’s story is inseparable from the story of Lebanon itself.