Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. broke barriers and was known as a fair judge, a brilliant man and a leader in the community.

Leaders in Orange and Osceola counties came together to honor Perry at his retirement party, which took place Friday afternoon at Jones High School in Orlando.

During the ceremony, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs also shared with the crowd that the mental health and substance abuse facility, Judge Perry helped create in Orlando, will be re-named the Belvin Perry Jr. Central Receiving Center.

The Central Receiving Center is primarily used for Baker Acted patients and other emergency mental health situations.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer also named August 22 Judge Belvin Perry Jr. Day.

"I am exceedingly blessed by my lord and savior to have an opportunity to grow up in this community, and to serve this community for 36, going on 37 years," Perry said.

Perry also said he was happy to be at Jones High School, his alma mater, and how seeing fellow classmates in the audience took him back to his school days, where he learned hard work and preparation. He also honored his parents, including his father, Belvin Perry Sr., one of Orlando's first African-American police officers.

"I owe something to my parents," Perry said. "My dad has gone on, my mom is still with me. But they instilled in each of us hard work, sacrifice and dedication. But most importantly of all, love. And they also instilled in each and every one of us a love of community and a desire to give back."

Perry Jr. became the first African-American judge in Orange County in 1989.

However, Judge Perry received his initial opportunity in 1977 when as a young lawyer, he became an Assistant State Attorney in Orange County.

Judge Perry continued to do the same for countless others.

“[I’ve] always loved him for that, for giving me that chance,” shared Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Bob LeBlanc.

“He is a guiding light… when I decided I wanted to run for judge, one of the first people I went to speak with was him to seek his advice, to find out if he thought it was appropriate for me and here I am,” Judge LeBlanc added.

Judge Perry became nationally known in 2011, while presiding over the Casey Anthony murder trial.

“The Anthony case was like many cases that I’ve tried before, expect it had garnered a lot of national attention and headlines. The Casey Anthony case really doesn’t define me, what defines me is what I’ve done over my entire legal career,” Judge Perry said.

Meanwhile, Judge Perry wants to set the record straight about his retirement plans.

“There will be no Judge Belvin Perry Show. What I do in the future, you will have to stay tuned for that. I’m just going to rest for a few days and then I’ll be back at it,” Judge Perry said.

Judge Perry’s last day on the bench will be August 31, 2014.