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County court administrator T. Gordon Welsh remembered
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: March 7, 2024
Dubbed “ambassador of the court” by those who knew him well, Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Administrator T. Gordon Welsh was known for his dedication to and defense of the U.S. justice system.
As the first person to serve as court administrator in the general division, Welsh laid the groundwork for the position, adhering to the highest principles of professionalism in his dealings with judges and staff and providing top-notch customer service to the public, said Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Jack Durkin.
“Gordy was both court administrator and our ambassador of the court,” said Judge Durkin. “He had a great deal of respect for the law, especially the judicial branch. He believed in the court system and would come to the defense of any judge he thought might be the subject of unjust criticism.
“But Gordy was much more to me than just our court administrator,” said Judge Durkin. “I considered him to be family. We were very, very close.
“I believe he loved four things—his faith, family, heritage and the courts,” said Judge Durkin. “He lived his life cherishing these things and adhering to his firmly held beliefs.”
On Jan. 11, the retired court administrator passed away at the age of 87, following a brief illness.
Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum described Welsh as “a remarkable man with remarkable talents” and “as good of a man as I’ve ever known.”
Judge Krichbaum said Welsh was a big promoter of the courts, the practice of law and the judiciary.
“He truly believed in our system of justice and the ethical way in which the people involved in it should conduct themselves,” said Judge Krichbaum.
Welsh’s son Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Timothy G. Welsh said his father was “the best friend” he ever had.
“My dad was a major inspiration for my becoming an attorney,” said Tim, who serves as Judge Krichbaum’s magistrate. “As a non-lawyer, he had a very sophisticated knowledge of the operation of the courts.
“My dad had a lot of faith in the court system and the judges and lawyers he served while in the general division.
“We spent a great deal of time together,” said Tim. “He was a very devoted father to me and my brothers.”
Born in Youngstown on Sept. 12, 1936 to Charles P. and Gertrude Poppineau Welsh, he was the youngest of their four children.
Welsh went to St. Patrick Elementary School and graduated from Ursuline High School in 1954. He also attended Youngstown University.
It was while in grade school that he met his future wife Joan Langley. They were married on June 30, 1956.
Welsh enlisted in the U.S. Marines after finishing high school.
His son Tim said he considered his two years in the Corps to be the most formative time of his life.
When he returned to Ohio, Welsh started a position as a Mahoning County deputy sheriff, working under his father-in-law the late Sheriff Paul J. Langley for four years.
He then served as an agent for the Mahoning County Humane Society for nine years.
“At the time, the agency was responsible for enforcing child support and alimony payments,” said Tim. “They also investigated cases involving neglected children as well as animal cruelty.”
Welsh began his court service as a bailiff to his close friend the late Judge Charles J. Bannon, who was on the county court bench in Boardman at the time. When Judge Bannon was elected to the common pleas court general division, he asked Welsh to continue in the role as his full-time bailiff.
In 1979, Welsh was appointed as the first court administrator in the general division of the common pleas court, continuing in the position until his retirement on Jan. 2, 2000.
It was while serving as a common pleas court bailiff to Judge Bannon that he first met Judge Krichbaum, who was Judge Clyde Osborne’s bailiff at the time.
“Gordon became one of my best friends,” said Judge Krichbaum. “As we progressed through our careers, his influence always served me well. When I ran for judge,
Gordon was a great supporter of mine. He was active in my campaigns, posting signs for me and making appearances on my behalf. He was my treasurer for one or two of the campaigns.
“Gordon was dedicated to the principles of justice and the honor and dignity of the courts,” said Judge Krichbaum. “As our first court administrator, he got the office up and running, coordinated it and set a great example for those who came after him.
“He was the court administrator for over 20 years and when he retired I had the great honor of speaking at his retirement function,” said Judge Krichbaum. “I also had the solemn honor of giving the eulogy at his wife’s funeral.
“Gordon was admired by a great number of people, many of whom filled St. Patrick’s cathedral to honor him and pay tribute to the memory of the great man that he was.”
During his time at the courthouse, Welsh worked with his daughter-in-law Mahoning County Chief Deputy Clerk of Courts Kathi McNabb Welsh.
“Gordon was larger than life,” said McNabb Welsh. “Personally, he was a wonderful father-in-law and grandfather to Tim’s and my son.
“Professionally he had a wonderful personality,” said McNabb Welsh. “I learned a great deal from him as far as how to treat people. I would compare him to Walt Disney, whose motto was to exceed expectations when it came to customer service.
“He was not a lawyer, but he had a great deal of love and respect for the profession. He was very active in the court administration association and had friends statewide.
“Ironically when the clerk of courts office moved about ten years or so ago to the assignment office, I took over Gordon’s office,” said McNabb Welsh. “I’m sure that Gordon--who loved Frank Sinatra--would be disappointed that I have a quotation from Bruce Springsteen on my wall.”
Although he didn’t have a law degree, Welsh was known for mentoring and helping young lawyers, introducing them to the judges and assisting them with business development, including adding their names to the list of court-appointed criminal defense attorneys.
Jeff Kurz, a sole practitioner in downtown Youngstown, is among those who benefited from Welsh’s mentoring.
“Gordon went out of his way to help me set up my practice in the Mahoning Valley,” said Kurz.
“He introduced me to the judges and helped me get my first criminal defense appointments. He connected me with other experienced attorneys who showed me the ropes. He helped me find office space.
“Gordon never asked for a thing in return,” said Kurz. “He took such pride in the profession and helping younger attorneys to settle in the Valley because he understood the spirit of camaraderie that existed here.
“Gordon had a knack for knowing what people needed and he went out of his way to lift them up,” said Kurz. “Gordon was just an exceptional man.”
An honorary lifetime member of the Mahoning County Bar Association, Welsh served on its grievance and memorial committees. He also managed the bar association’s softball team for a number of years.
In 2007, he received the Mahoning County Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award.
Welsh was also a member of the National Center for State Courts and a past president of the Ohio Association for Court Administration.
Outside of the legal profession, he was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. Six, where he served as a trustee and chairman of its Catholic action committee. In 2009, he was named Irishman of the Year.
A lifelong and devoted member of St. Patrick Church in Youngstown, Welsh sang in the choir for many years.
“The choir was one of my dad’s favorite places,” said Tim. “He loved music and was especially fond of the big bands, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Johnny Mathis.
“For the last several years, my dad lived across the street from us with my brother Paul who was his caretaker. He would go to St. Charles almost every morning for mass, which was nearby. On Sundays, he always attended mass at St. Patrick.”
A funeral mass was held for Welsh on Jan. 19 at St. Patrick Church in Youngstown.
Welsh is survived by his sons Paul, Magistrate Timothy G. (attorney Kathi McNabb) and Kurt (Lisa Antonini) and his grandson Timothy P. (Anna) Welsh of Beavercreek.
He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Carol Langley Crawford and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Welsh was preceded in death by his sister Alice Sheffield and his brothers Chuck and Ben.