95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Remembering Judge Benjamin Logan

Grand Rapids continues to mourn the loss of retired 61st District Court Judge, Benjamin Logan.  Judge Logan died September 24th at his Grand Rapids home.  Funeral services were held on Thursday.

WGVU looks at his life and his legacy speaking with those who knew him well. 

“We’ve lost an icon in this community, someone who really felt, and worked hard to make it a better place for everybody.”

More like family than friend, Clif Charles, reflects on the life of Judge Benjamin Logan, whose personality many say, was larger than life.  His work, on and off the bench was impactful, especially for the African American Community.

“Ben was always a go getter and didn't know how to stop. He was so involved, and when I say involved, not just in name only.  His committment, to being part of the community was only demonstrated by what he did being inside the organization.  Always coming back with ideas about how to make it better. But he was also a strong advocate for the African Americans in the community. And it showed in everything that he did. ”

Attorney Steven Drew, of Drew, Cooper and Anding, has also known the Honorable Benjamin Logan for many, many years.  He also witnessed Judge Logan’s commitment in the courtroom and in the community.

“I got to know him quite well.  I got to know his personality, his legal skills, he was a very good and aggressive, general practitioner lawyer.  He represented the people before he became a judge.”

Judge Benjamin Logan had a long and distinguished career on the court, spanning close to 30 years.  He retired in 2014 from the bench after suffering a heart attack while in court. 

“People will tell you and the doctors that knew him. He had a massive heart attack on the bench, and most people would not have even survived that. Ben did. And still had a mind, still had energy, still was going to things, still volunteering. It was part of that personality that very few of us have.”

He had served as district judge since 1988, winning the seat following the shooting death of Judge Carol Irons.  Attorney Drew says he leaves a great legacy for us to remember:

“That legacy is going to be of a person that stood up for the underdog, stood up for what was right and fought in his own way.”

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.