SoKY’s Choice: “A Lasting Legacy” – Metcalfe County honors Judge Tom Emberton with bronze statue

EDMONTON, Ky. (WNKY) — Under a cloudy November sky, the people of Metcalfe County gathered Sunday afternoon to honor one of Kentucky’s most respected public servants, Judge Tom Emberton, with the unveiling of a life-sized bronze statue outside the courthouse that bears his name.

The ceremony drew family, friends, and state leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Congressman James Comer, and former Kentucky Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter. Each spoke not only of Emberton’s long career in law and public service, but also of the quiet strength and integrity that defined his life.

“Tom Emberton was a great man who dedicated his life and career to public service,” McConnell said. “He was the quintessential southern gentleman and a true Kentucky statesman. He acted with integrity in all aspects of his life.”

Born in Monroe County and educated at Western Kentucky University, Emberton served in the U.S. Air Force before beginning a law career that led him to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, where he eventually became chief judge. He was also known locally as a mentor, veteran, and devoted family man, someone who never forgot where he came from.

Comer, who has long admired Emberton, said the location of the monument was fitting.

“I can’t think of a better way to honor him than right here in his beloved Edmonton, Kentucky, right here downtown with the statue in front of the judicial center, which symbolizes so much of what he stood for in his public service,” Comer said.

The bronze statue, designed by Kentucky sculptor Amanda Matthews, depicts Emberton in his judicial robe holding the U.S. Constitution. Matthews said the piece is more than a work of art; it’s a reminder of values that endure.

“This statue stands not only as a work of art, but as a lasting symbol of Judge Emberton’s contribution to the rule of law that he embodied throughout his life,” Matthews said. “His legacy is shaped not just in bronze, but through the memories and actions of those his life affected.”

VanMeter, who served alongside Emberton, remembered him as a leader who inspired respect through kindness and example.

“I’ve had a number of wonderful mentors in my career,” VanMeter said, “but I feel like I learned something more from Tom… how to carry oneself with honor, grace, and dignity.”

For Emberton’s son, Tom Emberton Jr., the day felt like coming full circle.

“Even though he was from Monroe County, he called this home,” he said. “He wanted to raise his family here in Metcalfe County, and that’s what he did. We’re proud to call this home.”

As the cloth fell away from the sculpture, applause echoed across the courthouse lawn, a community’s tribute to a man who built his life on service, faith, and heart.

On a cloudy day in Edmonton, the bronze statue of Judge Tom Emberton shone bright, a reminder that true leadership leaves a light that doesn’t fade.