HCTC success story: Leslie District Judge Renee Muncy

When Renee Muncy was a student at Hazard Community amp; Technical College, she needed extra help with her classes. She credits the help she received to graduating ninth in her class at law school. She is such a believer in the quality education she received at HCTC, she encouraged daughter Robin Muncy to graduate from the same school, which she did in 2008. Robin Muncy believes HCTC has given her a good foundation as she continues her education at UK.

Mrs. Muncy is serving as Leslie District Judge, a position she s held since 1990. Judge Muncy graduated from HCTC in 1978 but has fond memories of the faculty at the time. I was woefully unprepared for college especially since I left high school early but everyone at the school was wonderful. Everyone went out of their way to see me become successful.

HCTC President/CEO Dr. Allen Goben notes that tradition of helping students is one that continues today. Our faculty members are still very committed to helping students succeed. It s exciting when a parent and alumnus encourages those in their family to attend here. HCTC is transforming lives in Kentucky every day. Judge Muncy and her daughter are two good examples of how we re doing that.

Judge Muncy attended HCTC when Dr. J. Marvin Jolly was president and John Brown taught her history. Besides those memories, she enjoyed having classes with the late Belinda Mason who was a great writer, Dr. James Jolly who went on to become a dentist and John Chaney who became a pharmacist.

Judge Muncy s mother, Helen Madden of Hyden, was influential in her decision to get a college education. With an associate s degree from HCTC, she then graduated from UK with a bachelor s degree in 1981. She then graduated from Chase Law School in 1985. After returning to Hyden, she opened her own law office but then attorneys Pete Gullett and Doug Holliday recruited her to work in Hazard. Her father-in-law, the late Robert C. Muncy (who died Jan. 2) had held the position of district judge for 12 years until his retirement. He was instrumental in her decision to run for the office. She was elected and in January 1990, started serving Leslie, Clay, and Jackson counties.

Serving as judge has been very satisfying for Mrs. Muncy. Highlights of her career were swearing in Richie Farmer twice as Kentucky State Agriculture Commissioner and being the first woman elected as a judge in Eastern Kentucky. Despite the extremely overwhelming volume of cases she sees for Leslie, Clay, and Jackson counties, she s glad of the career she s chosen.

Judge Muncy hopes to see even more students attend HCTC, especially now since the Leslie County Center offers classes. Seeing the addition of the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music is great.

She called HCTC the only place to start a college education. I had a lot of individual attention, she noted.

Become the next HCTC success story. Plan to enroll today.