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Jeff Heck’s desire to help others with civil cases stems from his former career as a Marshall County Sheriff’s deputy and the values of his faith.
After resigning from his sheriff’s deputy post in his late 30s, the now 70-year-old was torn between two career possibilities: becoming a preacher or a lawyer. He chose the latter, to his wife’s satisfaction.
“I think my wife says, ‘Thank God,’” he said after receiving the Randall T. Shepard Award for excellence in pro bono service, Friday morning during the Indiana Bar Foundation’s Civil Legal Assistance Conference. “She didn’t want to be a preacher’s wife. She was willing to but really didn’t want to be.”
The award was established in 2002 to recognize the impact made by someone who played a role in providing low-income individuals with access to legal services. The award is named after Randall T. Shepard, who served as chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court from 1987 until his retirement in 2012.
Shepard played a role in making Indiana’s pro bono program what it is today, according to a tribute published by Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Heck said he was honored to receive the award, especially considering he will retire at the end of February. He currently serves as general counsel and pro bono director for Indiana Legal Services which provides civil legal assistance to low-income individuals.
The organization recently named Tavonna Harris Askew its new CEO. Askew’s first day will be Nov. 9, and Heck said he wants to help make her transition as smooth as possible.
“It’s time for me to step back and enjoy (post-retirement) life),” Heck said.
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