It was his junior year of college when he decided on a career path — sort of.
“I grew up on a small farm where we raised ponies and (grew) loads of vegetables,” said Greg Frost. “My father was an oil and gas drilling contractor. My mother was a registered nurse, though she had no time for nursing duties while raising the family. We took up all her time.
“I enjoyed raising ponies and attending 4-H meetings,” he added.
“I can remember in snowy winters, my father hitching up the ponies to a sled and taking all the neighborhood kids on sled rides. I was also a Boy Scout. I had a wonderful childhood.”
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In high school and college, Frost worked several summer jobs — including at the oil fields and driving trucks. His dream was to attend college. “But,” he said, “I had no idea what I would do after college.”
Now, years later, Gregory L. Frost is retired after more than three decades as a judge — including a federal judge.
“I looked at a federal judgeship as the top position for a trial judge,” he said. “I was not disappointed.”
Now 75, Frost grew up in Licking County, graduated from Newark High School in 1967, Wittenberg University in 1971, then Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law in 1974. He then practiced law in Newark and became a Licking County assistant prosecutor.
“During my time in court, I started to get the idea that being a judge would be a good profession,” he said. “In 1983, I was appointed by then-Gov. James Rhodes to the Licking County Municipal Court. I served on that court for seven years.”
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Following that, Frost was elected to the Licking County Common Pleas Court and served 13 years.
Then came the appointment to the federal bench in downtown Columbus.
“There was an opening on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and I applied for the position,” he said. “During the selection process, I appeared before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. Gov. Mike DeWine was a senator during that time and he sponsored me through the process. In 2003, I was appointed by President George W. Bush to the federal court bench.”
Frost served the federal district court for 13 years, “adjudicating both civil and criminal matters,” one of 677 district court judges in the U.S. — a number set by Congress.
Algenon Marbley is chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
“As a jurist, Judge Frost was possessed of keen intellect and astute pragmatism,” said Judge Marbley. “He was adept at solving complex problems and had a certain charm and wit about him that enabled him to persuade lawyers and litigants alike to reach the reasonable resolution that he urged.
“As a colleague,” Judge Marbley continued, “Greg was as loved by staff (members) as he was by his judicial colleagues. He will always be remembered for that wicked sense of humor, which made us all gravitate toward him.
"While we’re happy for him in retirement, we miss his infectious personality, his ability to galvanize the court around thorny issues and his commitment to our mission to do justice.”
“I enjoyed all the years I served as a judge,” Frost said. “But after a total of 33 years, I decided to retire. I now enjoy hunting, playing golf and traveling with my family. My wife, Kris, and I decided to move to South Carolina where we now live, but frequently visit family and friends in Ohio.”
Drew Bracken grew up in Upper Arlington, was a TV news anchor for years and is a longtime freelance writer for Gannett newspapers. If you have a suggestion for a future inspirational profile, email Emily Rohozen, entertainment and things-to-do editor, at erohozen@gannett.com
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