District attorney enthusiastic about helping crime victims

A random college internship assignment developed into a lifelong passion for Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar.

Before finishing his political science degree at the University of Dayton in Ohio, Gricar said he was required to complete a one-credit community internship. Internships were randomly assigned and Gricar's assignment was in the office of the county prosecutor in Dayton.

At this internship, Gricar said, he met a man who influenced his future. Lee Falke, a young prosecutor in Dayton, showed interns the "ins" and "outs" of the justice system.

"He was very open and sharing and tolerant with a college student who didn't know anything," Gricar said. "That was the turning point with me."

A few years later, Gricar attended law school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, graduating in 1970.

Since then he has made a career of prosecuting criminal cases.

As the bleak winter light streamed through the windows of his fourth-floor office at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Gricar stated right off the bat that he loves his job.

"What we do is enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within the boundary of Centre County," Gricar said. "When the system works for the victim, it's very satisfying."

Gricar has served four consecutive four-year terms as Centre County district attorney. He works with victims to gather information prior to preliminary hearings and appears in court to prosecute for the state.

"My favorite part of the job is trying cases in front of juries, but that's really a small part of what I do," he said. "It's usually like a war between me and the defense attorneys," Gricar said.

However, when the day ends, Gricar doesn't go home to watch court shows on television -- he said they are not realistic.

Pointing past the computer screen to a 5-by-7 photograph on the wall, Gricar said photography is one of his hobbies. A picture of his 20-year-old daughter Lara jumping a horse, along with other Gricar photos, decorate his office.

Gricar said 1985 was the first year he was elected district attorney in Centre Country. Prior to that, he served as assistant district attorney for the county.

"I think that we have a terrific court system from top to bottom," he said. "The system works well and it's because of the people who are part of it.

"I love it here. I am a career prosecutor. Twenty-eight years speaks for itself and I don't have any plans to do anything else."