JUDGE MATHIS & LINDA REESE – 33 YEARS
Retired Michigan judge George Mathis went from practicing the law to acting in a reality courtroom show when he became one of the lead cast members of the Daytime Emmy Award-winning show called Judge Mathis. Mathis is commonly hailed as one of the leaders of the African-American community, but his life hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
In fact, when Mathis was just 17 years old, he went to jail for being a member of the street gangs. When he got out, he knew things had to change and began pursuing his dreams. Hard work and passion got him where he is, but if you ask Mathis, he would say his wife of 34 years, Linda Reese, was also a major influence in bringing a change in his life and making him the man he was meant to be. They are both activists who work together pretty frequently.