Judge Rodney Victor Ahles, Icon of jurisprudence in the City of Lebanon, died from a stroke at his home on Sunday, June 30, 2013, at the age of 82. Rodney Victor Ahles was the City judge for Lebanon, TN, beginning in 1970, serving for almost four decades of unprecedented consecutive terms in office with former Mayors Tex Maddox, Jack Lowery, Bobby Jewell, and Don Fox. A native of St. Cloud, MN, Judge Ahles received a Bachelor of Law Degree from Cumberland University, and the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Samford University. He entered private practice of law in Lebanon in 1967 and, as part of his practice, drafted legislation for the State of Tennessee Legislative Council, in both the House and the Senate, for five sessions of The General Assembly. He was appointed City Judge of Lebanon in 1970, and served as Juvenile Court Judge for the City of Lebanon and Juvenile Referee for Wilson County, TN. Judge Ahles served also on the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners from 1972 to 2003. Judge Ahles served as Moderator of the Board of the University Medical Center and of Humana McFarland in Lebanon. He helped to organize and to establish the Charter of the Wilson County Museum and Fine Arts Building. He served as its first Chairman of the first Board of Trustees and served as attorney for the same. Judge Ahles was an active member of and held leadership positions in both the Nashville and Lebanon Lions Clubs. He served as President of the Lebanon Civitan Club, the Wilson County Historical Commission, and the Lebanon Rotary Club. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International awarded Judge Ahles the Paul Harris Fellow recognition for his diligent efforts to promote peace among all peoples of the world. Judge Ahles was elected to the Board of Trust of Cumberland University in 1981; and served on the Board's Executive Committee as Secretary-Treasurer for twenty years. Cumberland University honored Judge Ahles for his superior qualities in leadership with the coveted Phoenix Award, and in May of 2003, he received the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion Award for excellence of character and service to humanity. Judge Ahles has chaired the session and has been active in other leadership positions of his church; serving as Elder and Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Lebanon since 1970. He taught fifth and sixth grade Sunday School Class for thirty years. As its Moderator, he led the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Synod of the South and of Middle Tennessee. Judge Ahles continued to be active in the Lebanon City Court until his retirement from the bench in 2005. He maintained his private law practice after retirement from his thirty four years of service as the Lebanon City Judge. The body of Judge Ahles has been donated to Vanderbilt Medical Center for research and for organ donation. Judge Ahles is survived by his wife, Georgeann Robison Ahles; two Robison sons by marriage, David McGill Robison III (Elizabeth) and James Andrew Robison (Colyer); sister-in-law, Marjorie Nelson Jennings, and five Robison grandchildren: Haley, Summer, Allie, Andrew, and Luke Robison. Because there have been so many beautiful tributes honoring him during the period of his retirement from the Bench, Judge Ahles has requested that no additional local Memorial service or visitation be held at the time of his death. A dedication ceremony will be planned for the near future. A private family prayer service is being held in Thousand Oaks, CA where his parents and only brother are buried. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be sent to First Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, TN. Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home of Lebanon, TN (615) 444-2142
Published in The Tennessean on July 3, 2013