Magistrate Arthur V. Doster of Chester, S.C., was a big man-over 300 pounds. That’s why they called him "Fat Doster." But to his face they called him simply, "Judge."

I met Judge Doster during a Chester city election in the early seventies. I was a reporter for the Rock Hill (S.C.) Evening Herald.

I took a series of photographs of Judge Doster with his feet up on his desk. The best angle for the picture was from up high, so I stepped onto a nearby office chair.

The Judge was wearing a Panama hat, white shirt, gray pants, white socks, and black shoes. His vintage rolltop desk was covered with memorabilia, including a candlestick telephone, and what looked like a tintype of his parents.

As I snapped pictures, Judge Doster barked at me, "hatchu doing up on my chair, boy?" Immediately I stepped down, apologizing for my rudeness. But I’d gotten the pictures.

Weeks later I got a call from Life magazine where I’d submitted the judge’s picture for Life’s 1971 Professional Photographer’s contest. Editors needed a photo release.

I drove back to Chester and asked Judge Doster to sign the release. He toyed with me, but finally signed the form. He seemed pleased with my photo. It came in number 17 among some 78,000 entries. Although not a world class win, Judge "Fat" Doster’s photograph has hung on the wall in my office for 30 years.

Judge Doster’s brand of justice was unique, as in the case of a litterbug who was arrested for tossing lunch leftovers on the highway.

The judge sentenced the man to go back out and clean up the mess he’d made. To be certain the sentence was carried out, the judge sent a patrolman along to make sure the cleanup "was done right."

I recently learned that Judge Doster died several years ago following a lengthy illness. I feel honored to have known this man who had such a keen sense of justice.