The Honorable Richard T. Kettler has served as a Massillon Municipal Court Judge since January, 1990.
A native of Stark County, Judge Kettler is an alumnus of CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL and a cum laude graduate of the KENT STATE UNIVERSITY HONORS COLLEGE (K.S.U.) in 1966. He received his Juris Doctorate from the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW in 1974. In addition to fifteen years of private practice, Judge Kettler brought previous experience to the court as a police prosecutor and village solicitor.
A distinguished military graduate of K.S.U., Judge Kettler also served his country as a UNITED STATES AIR FORCE pilot from 1966 - 1971. His Air Force duties included flying the KC-135 Jet Tanker in Strategic Air Command and one year in Vietnam flying an O-2 as a combat Forward Air Controller. He was honorably discharged as a captain.
Active in many CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, Judge Kettler is a trustee of the Ohio Society of Military History and was chairman of the United Vietnam Veterans of Stark County. He is also a member of Perry Rotary; the American Legion; Amvets; and the Knights of Columbus.
Married since 1966 to MARGIE, an elementary school teacher, Judge Kettler and his wife have four adult children and two grandsons. His children are: Brian, graduate of Cornell ’89; Kevin, graduate of Notre Dame ’91; Kristen, graduate of Miami ’95; and Brent - Florida Gulf Coast University - ’02.
A member of the executive committee of the Stark County Bar Association, Judge Kettler is also associated with the Ohio State Bar Association. In 2000 he was honored by his colleagues in the Municipal Court Judges Association with its "JUDGE OF THE YEAR" award. A graduate of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, Judge Kettler is on the faculty of Ohio’s Judicial College and has lectured at national N.H.T.S.A. conferences on drinking and driving.
