Judge Joe L. Price
Written by Justin D. Lamb
Family of John P. Price and Elizabeth Price. Judge Price is pictured in the top row, second from right.
Joseph (Joe) Llewellyn Price was born in a log cabin on February 12, 1877 in the Price community located on Capp Springs Road in Marshall County to John Powell Price and Elizabeth (McLeod) Price. His father was a veteran of the War Between the States having served with the Confederate Army in the Third Kentucky Infantry.
As a young boy, Price attended school at nearby Fairdealing and he would later enroll at Farmington Institute in Graves County and Benton Seminary School. After graduating from Benton Seminary, Price enrolled at school at Southern Normal School in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and after two years, he enrolled at Bowling Green Business School. Price returned home in 1903 and on October 17, 1907, he married Maude Lee Brandon, daughter of J.T. and Anna Brandon of Benton. Together they would have four children: John Brandon Price, George Norman Price, Susan Elizabeth Price, and Sterling Judson Price. In order to provide for his new family, Price began teaching in the local schools of Marshall County. He would eventually teach at Locust Grove, Birmingham, Benton, Sharpe, and Maple Springs.
While teaching, Joe Price became greatly interested in politics, and in August of 1904, he was elected Marshall County Circuit Court Clerk in the Democratic Primary. While serving as Circuit Clerk, Price took interest in studying law during his free time, and he was admitted to the bar in 1907. Also, during the same year Price was one of the founding members of the Bank of Marshall County, and he would serve as President of the organization until 1949. In the summer of 1909, Price entered the race for County Judge of Marshall County where he was easily elected. With the completion of his term in 1914, Price focused on his private law practice until he was asked by Governor Augustus Stanley to serve as Food Administrator in Marshall County during the duration of World War I.
With the retirement of Judge William M. Reed in 1921, Price entered the Democratic Primary for Circuit Judge of the 2nd Judicial District which comprised of Marshall and McCracken Counties. Known as one of the most respected lawyers in the Purchase Area, Price was easily elected and would be re-elected with little or no opposition in 1927, 1933, and 1939. During his time as Circuit Judge, Price became a heavyweight within the Democratic Party where he served as Marshall County Democratic Chairman and he built a long lasting friendship with Congressman Alben W. Barkley, who would alter go on to serve as United States Senator and Vice President of the United States.
In 1945, Judge Price would face his stiffest primary opposition when he was challenged by fellow Marshall Countian, Malcolm O. Wallace. During the campaign, Wallace attacked Judge Price for changing his residency from Marshall County to McCracken County which resonated with many in Marshall County who felt that Price had “abandoned” his native county. On Election Day, Judge Price lost Marshall County by 112 votes, but won heavily in McCracken County which allowed him to retain his position on the bench.
Judge Price was very involved in several community organizations. He was member of the Masonic Lodge, Odd Fellows, and Modern Woodmen of the World. He was a lifelong member of the Baptist Church, holding membership at Benton First Baptist Church and he was Deacon of the Kentucky Baptist Foundation.
On the morning of January 1, 1949, Judge Price suffered a massive heart attack and died at his home in Paducah. Upon hearing of his death, the Bar of the 2nd Judicial District stated in a written memorial, “Judge Price’s conception of justice and honor made him an ideal judge and his presence upon the bench and his dignity in presiding has added luster to the esteem for the judiciary in the State of Kentucky.” Judge Price returned home and was laid to rest in the Price Family Cemetery which is located four hundred and twenty feet from his birthplace. The words of Deuteronomy 1:16-17 are inscribed on his tombstone: “And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.”