ATLANTA, Ga. – Newton County Superior Court Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. serves Newton County both in and out of the courtroom and Leadership Georgia, one of the nation's oldest and most successful leadership-training programs for young business, civic and community leaders, recognized him for that service during its annual gala earlier this year.

Johnson was the recipient of the Frederick B. Kerr Service Award. It is an award presented in memory of Frederick B. Kerr to Leadership Georgia members who have demonstrated enthusiastic and active support of Leadership Georgia on a continuing and consistent basis.

Johnson said service, to him, is about “remembering always that it’s not about me but seeking to be of help whenever, wherever I can.

“That means I may or may not get any recognition for it and that’s alright.”

Johnson is an alumni of the 2002 Leadership Georgia class and served as the 2009 president of the organization and 2010 chairman of the board of trustees.

“I was surprised when I got the called and honored to join the long list of great Georgians who have received the award previously,” he said.

Johnson, an Emory University and University of Georgia School of Law graduate, has served as a superior court judge for the Alcovy Judicial Circuit since 2002. The Newton County native serves over the veterans court and parental accountability court on top of his responsibilities within the regular court system.

Johnson is a past president of the Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia, incoming president of the Kiwanis Club of Covington, board member for the Washington Street Community Center and founder of Newton Mentoring.

“Everybody ought to find a place and plug in and find something where you will not find a direct benefit, but an indirect benefit outside of your own home,” he said.

Leadership Georgia’s primary purpose is to identify, train and inspire a network of emerging young leaders, whose ages typically range from 25 to 45 years old.