John Byard Swift

February 24, 2013

John Byard Swift, Jr., of Atmore, departed this life on Saturday, February 23rd, 2013.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Byard Swift, Sr., Anna Mallett Swift and his loving wife of 55 years, Helen Dauphin Swift. He is survived by sons John Byard Swift, III (Kathy), David Dauphin Swift, Sr. (Ida), Thomas Mallett Swift, brother Claude S. Swift (Pat), grandchildren Ida Ross Hicks (Brad), David Dauphin Swift, Jr. (Laurie), great grandchildren Jack Hicks, Amelia Hicks, Mary Helen Swift, and devoted companion, friend and partner Nell Wiggins.

He was born in Jackson, MS in 1923. While studying at Georgia Tech he entered the U.S. Navy and was Commander of a LCI ship assigned to the Asia Theater. Upon completion of an electrical engineering degree at Georgia Tech, he worked for a brief period at Louisville Power & Light in Louisville, KY. He returned to Atmore in 1949 to manage Swift Hunter Lumber Company and in 1954 formed Swift Lumber Company with his cousin Robin Swift. The company continues today with a nearly 200 year history in the southern forest products industry. Multiple other entities were started including Swift Supply, Inc., an area building supplier. He was active in the Atmore Lions Club for 64 years, and recipient of their Melvin Jones Fellow Award.

He served on the board of the Gulf Coast Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was awarded scouting’s highest award, the Silver Beaver as well their Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a past member of the Atmore City Council and past president of the Alabama Forestry Association. He was the past Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau as well as the past president of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce and recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award. He served over 50 years on the board of the Bank of Atmore (United Bank) and served as that institution’s co-chairman. In the early 1980’s he founded the Anglican Church of Atmore and subsequently oversaw the construction of a new facility. He was instrumental in the Atmore VFW acquiring and renovating its present facility. He was a longtime member of the Atmore Historical Society and active in numerous lumber industry associations.

Visitation will be Tuesday, February 26th from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Johnson Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m.at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Atmore.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Gulf Coast Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Atmore Historical Society, Wilmer Hall in Mobile, or the VFW organization of Atmore.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries