SOUTH POINT — The man who has the distinction of being Lawrence County’s longest serving prosecutor was honored for his work by colleagues and fellow Republicans at this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner.

J.B. Collier, who retired last year, was praised for his work as a five-term prosecutor.

“J.B. has been a real friend of mine,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine told the audience at South Point High School. DeWine made a special trip to Lawrence County to provide his tribute to Collier before going to Scioto County to appear as the keynote speaker there.

“One of the important things that he did and that I admire is the victims’ program,” he said. “His compassion for the victims and helping them. What J.B. has done in Lawrence County is a lasting legacy.”

Also offering a tribute was the current Prosecutor Brigham Anderson who served under Collier for eight years.

“What he taught me was to be fair, firm and make sure you find justice,” Anderson said. “The role of the prosecutor is to determine what the truth is. He was an excellent trial lawyer, an excellent boss.”

Then Collier took the podium to accept the honors.

“Where did 20 years go,” he said. “It was been one heck of a run. The most rewarding part of my legal career was serving as prosecutor. I always tried to do what the community would want.”

Keynote speaker for the dinner was Ohio Supreme Justice Judith French who shared what she called lessons from the namesake of the dinner, Abraham Lincoln.

“He was a self-taught lawyer …. with frumpy clothes … and that man had a face for radio,” French said. “But he had a message of compromise and unity. Stand firm but be nice. He had the ability to win people over. He was an example for modern leaders to form coalition.”