Marlboro Man, Supreme Court Justice And Teacher Honored, Inducted Into Area Hall Of Fame

November 23, 2009

hallinductatm.jpg

Three new members were inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame this weekend.

The new inductees are:

Justice Lyn Stuart, an Atmore native and graduate of Escambia County High School. Upon graduation from law school Justice Stuart worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alabama under former Attorney General Charles Graddick. She also served as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner and Special Assistant Attorney General for the State Department of Corrections. Upon moving to Baldwin County, she became an Assistant District Attorney for Baldwin County on the staff of District Attorney David Whetstone. Stuart was elected as district judge in 1988 and 1984. Gov. Fob James appointed her to the Circuit bench in 1997 an was elected without opposition in 1998. She has served a justice on the Alabama Supreme Court since 2001. Justice Stuart and her husband, George, have two sons, Tucker and Shepard, and a daughter, Kelly.

Annie Ruth Whitten, a teacher who passed away in June. Whitten moved to Atmore with her husband Thomas Whitten in 1944. She was a 1933 graduate of Huntington College, where she majored in math and English. Whitten was in the classroom for 35 years, including 29 years at Atmore’s Escambia County High School.

Paul Smith, who was known on stage as Paul Birch. Born in Atmore in 1912, he was the original Marlboro Man in television and print commercials. Birch appeared in well over 100 movies and television shows, including support roles on Bonanza, The Virginian, and Wagon Train. Smith died in May, 1969, at the age of 57.

Pictured top: Justice Lyn Stuart, Annie Ruth Whitten and Paul Smith were inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame. Submitted and courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

Comments are closed.