A man once described in court as the "best meth cooker in Hixson" was a proud graduate of Drug Court on Monday afternoon.
Ricky Lynn Murr was among those celebrating with family and friends at the Courts Building. County Mayor Jim Coppinger and Sheriff Jim Hammond were among those in the overflow audience.
The new graduates, after the formal ceremony, enjoyed snacks and cake in the hallway outside the courtroom.
Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern said Murr "has been an inspiration. He shows good leadership and we've decided to name him director of our alumni program."
The longtime owner of a tree cutting business said he may be joining the CADAS staff soon - helping others try to deal with the temptations of the drug lifestyle. He said he has been clean for two years and 17 days.
He advised those in the audience, "Don't go back to your old friends. Make some new ones."
He added, "I just want to say, 'Thank you, God, and thank you, Drug Court."
Judge Stern said completing Drug Court "is not an easy journey. It requires a lot."
The program recently added a feature that includes surprise monitoring visits by two county drug officers. They were sitting in the front row on Monday.
At a hearing in May of last year, Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman said it was "the last stop" for the 45-year-old Murr before he was sent away to serve an eight-year prison sentence.
Witnesses at that hearing said Murr earlier went through Teen Challenge, CADAS and county community corrections, but could not get off his meth addiction.
Murr told the judge at the time he thought he could turn his life around with long-time structure.
He spent 11 months at the workhouse in 2007 after drug convictions.
He said he began using drugs when he was 18 and was introduced to meth when he was 40. The father of five said at the earlier hearing, "I have lost my wife and my daughters over it."
Judge Steelman called him "a poster child for where this road leads you."
At the graduation rites, Murr held a new daughter in his arms. They kissed and the crowd cheered. "She's what keeps me going," he said.