Retired Presiding Judge in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Montgomery County.
The Honorable Charles Price is a long-time community leader and retired Circuit Judge. He has worked in our state’s justice system for over five decades as an Alabama Assistant Attorney General, Montgomery County Deputy District Attorney, Montgomery’s first African American City Judge, and finally, as a Presiding Judge for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Montgomery County before retiring. Beyond the courtroom, Judge Price served as Senior Advisor to former Montgomery Mayor, Todd Strange, and spearheaded the city’s Small and Minority Business Initiative. He has a passion for improving the community’s quality of life and promoting inclusivity and equality. We asked Judge Price to impart some of his vast wisdom on the future workforce and community leaders within Central Alabama.
What would you tell your younger self?
I would first tell myself that the world is full of opportunities; to take advantage of the various opportunities, one must set achievable goals based on his mental capacity and ability. Additionally, I would be more charitable and empathetic in my approach to others.
In retrospect, would you change your path?
As we grow older and more mature, we tend to look backward. I, like others, often benefit from the lessons I learned. I would be more studious, set more realistic goals and be more passionate about my future.
What practical business advice do you have for young business owners and operators in Central Alabama?
Business owners need to set more realistic goals and not just focus on making a lot of money. I would also tell them to be prepared to seek guidance from others who have been successful. Likewise, I would suggest that they hope their business could benefit society. I would also ask them to research to see if there was a need for the service their business would render. Finally, they must have realistic expectations for the viability of their success.
What are your proudest achievements?
I began my career as a private in the United States Army, and I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. I graduated from a Historical Black College and secured a law degree from a top-tier law school, George Washington University. Further, I retired as a successful lawyer and as an esteemed Presiding Judge.
What pivotal moments or decisions played a role in your success?
In the eleventh grade, I had the fortunate experience of meeting a fellow female student, an academic scholar. At that moment, I realized if I wanted to continue my friendship with her, I needed to start manifesting a different attitude toward my academic pursuits. That different attitude prepared me to be a more serious student, thus obtaining success. That student became my wife.
JUST FOR FUN:
Go to Tunes
My favorite forms of music are spirituals, hymns, and Delta blues.
Guilty Pleasure
Too many sweets.
If You Could Have Dinner with Anyone (Dead or Alive) Who Would It Be and Why?
If I could have dinner with anyone, my choice would be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First, I would praise him for his moral and mental strength in writing his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail.” Then, I would praise him for having a dream and using that dream to inspire a nation and change the world.
