By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
After almost three decades on the bench, Trego County Magistrate Judge Richard Flax hung up his robe earlier this month to begin retirement.
Flax, one of 15 children raised on a dairy farm in Ness County near Ransom, never planned to become a judge.
He described himself as “an average student” who didn’t attend college and expected to become a coach like many of his brothers. Several of his sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews have also worked as educators and coaches in school districts across Kansas.
That includes his wife, Nancy, who taught for almost 40 years in Ransom, Hays and at Thomas More Prep-Marian.
After high school, Flax worked in sporting goods sales and at a local co-op before taking a job selling cars at Harry’s Motors in WaKeeney in 1986.
In 1990, he moved with his family to WaKeeney.
Four years later, he was selected to serve on a federal grand jury in Topeka.
There are three federal grand juries in Kansas. Members meet every six weeks for 18 months to hear cases presented by prosecutors and decide whether to issue indictments.
After his service ended, Flax said he was approached by U.S. District Judge Sam Crow, who encouraged him to run for Trego County magistrate judge. With support from Crow and local residents, Flax ran and was elected in November 1996.
“I said, ‘I know nothing about the legal career,’” Flax said. “But I thought I had the common sense, and they thought I had the common sense to run for the position.”
After his election, Flax and newly elected Rooks County Judge Douglas Bigge began what he described as a crash course in the legal system.
Among those who helped were Ellis County Attorney Glenn Braun, who later became chief judge of the 23rd Judicial District.
“He invited myself and Judge Bigge … to come over and watch court, and then he did some mock sessions with us so we could learn,” Flax said.
“I just sat in on court as much as I could until I took the bench so I at least had a little knowledge,” he said.
Flax also credited District Judge Tom Drees, then Ellis County attorney, and retired District Judge Edward Bougher as key mentors.
“Judge Bougher was the chief judge, and that was probably the best thing for me because he was a great mentor,” Flax said. “If I had a question, I could go in and ask him. He didn’t always give me an answer, but he’d tell me if I was going down the right path.”
Flax said early in his tenure, some people told him he would need to change his lifestyle — avoiding social settings or public interaction. He disagreed.
“I am who I am,” Flax said. “I got involved with Lions Club … I’ve probably been president 15 of the 20-some years I’ve been in there. I take tickets at as many home football and basketball games as I can, because that’s where you meet the people.”
He also praised court staff, including clerks, reporters and administrators for the impact they had on his career.
“They were very supportive of me, and I hope I treated them with the respect that they treated me,” Flax said.
He said staff often helped manage difficult situations, including ensuring people who mistreated employees were held accountable.
“The unsung heroes in our system are the clerks of the court,” he said.
Looking back, Flax said he has no regrets. Early in his career, he developed a habit of reflecting daily by asking, “What did I do today that I need to correct tomorrow?”
“I have no regrets,” he said. “It’s been a great career — probably something I didn’t even deserve to do.”
In retirement, Flax plans to return to his family’s farm to help his brothers.
He also plans to travel to Oklahoma to visit his son and four grandchildren and attend an annual family gathering in WaKeeney that draws more than 150 relatives each July.
Flax said he also looks forward to spending more time with his wife, sharing their interests in landscaping, golfing and fishing.
He became emotional discussing his family and said he believes his parents would be proud.
“And I hope that Trego County was proud that I served them,” he said.
“If you think being a judge is about power,” Flax said, “you’re probably not the right person for the job.”