Community loses several leaders in 2011 [Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.]

Dec. 31--They helped teach our children, lead our police force and fight overseas for our country.

But perhaps one of the most recognized of those who died in 2011 is a Columbus judge known to downplay rumors of his power and stringency. Superior Court Judge John Henry Land died Nov. 30 at the age of 93. On the bench for some 24 years, Land became a senior judge upon his retirement and remained a prominent and powerful figure.

"The only power you have here is in the courtroom, and that involves very few people," Land told a reporter in 1989. "It's a prestigious position, but the word 'power' is questionable. I never had any power. I just do my job in there."

A former Army major, state senator and district attorney, Land had no problems voicing his opinions. He was a kingpin of a local group called "The Fish House Gang" and had a reputation for pulling strings in the political world.

The youngest of 10 children, Land was the last of them to die.

The following is a list of other notable people in the Columbus area who died in 2011:

Bill Chappell, Jan. 7

Chappell, the longtime political science professor at Columbus State University, died after a heart attack. He was 62.

Chappell, who once said he should have been a traveling raconteur of the Middle Ages, was known for his storytelling. For most of the past decade he served as the dean of the College of Arts and Letters, regaling colleagues and visitors with personal anecdotes and long passages from iconic Southern author William Faulkner.

Bishop Marion Edwards, Jan. 24

Edwards, retired as bishop and pastor of The United Methodist Church, was 71 when he died.

He served at St. Luke from 1988-1996 and was bishop of the North Carolina Conference, based in Raleigh, from 1996-2004.

St. Luke's former senior pastor the Rev. Hal Brady called Edwards "a banner-carrier for God."

Judge Robert G. Johnston III, March 12

Johnston, the former Superior Court judge from Columbus who served almost 30 years on the bench, died at the age of 62.

A graduate of Columbus High School, Johnston presided over hearings in the Carlton Gary Stocking Strangler case.

Johnston resigned from the bench in February 2010 for health reasons, though he'd also come under scrutiny of the Judicial Qualifications Commission.

Cason Callaway Jr., March 20

Callaway, whose parents founded Callaway Gardens, died at his home. He was 86.

He helped develop commercial property around the former Columbus Square Mall, donated 50 acres in Russell County for Chattahoochee Valley State Community College and founded Callaway Blue Springs Water Co. in Harris County.

He once served on the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Rev. Robert A. Girardeau, March 20

Girardeau, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Americus and former pastor of Our Lady Of Lourdes in Columbus, died at the church rectory. He was 48.

Charles Wright, April 10

Wright, a famous local softball player, died during practice for a softball reunion. He was 59.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Wright was among the best players in the world, and Sports Illustrated even covered one of his games in Columbus. In 1986, he hit 503 home runs.

Orwin C. Talbott, April 26

Talbott, the former Fort Benning commander who chose to try Lt. William Calley in the 1968 slayings of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai, died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington of a heart attack. He was 92.

Talbott served as commander at Fort Benning from 1969-1973.

Municipal Court Judge Haywood Turner, May 8

Turner was known for his eccentricities and sense of fairness. Serving 20 years over the county's small claims court, Turner died at age 67.

An attorney for Stocking Strangler Carlton Gary during one of his earlier appeals, Turner was first elected Municipal Court judge in 1988. He was defeated in 2008 -- about a year after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving for flashing a gun at another motorist.

George C. Woodruff Jr., May 12

Woodruff, a longtime real estate developer and businessman, died two weeks shy of his 83rd birthday.

Known as "Bumpsy," Woodruff was the president of the George C. Woodruff Co., which developed many subdivisions including Windsor Park, Beaver Run and Coco Lake.

Jim Pyburn, May 21

Pyburn, an All-American wide receiver at Auburn before coaching stints at Columbus High and the University of Georgia, died after a long illness. He was 78.

He coached the defensive line, linebackers and secondary for UGA head coach Vince Dooley, a teammate of Pyburn's at Auburn.

Chase Riddle, June 12

Riddle, a member of the 1943 Jordan High state basketball championship team, died at his home in Troy, Ala. He was 85.

Riddle played baseball in the Boston, Detroit and St. Louis organizations. Later as a scout for the Cardinals, he signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton.

Eddie L. Roberts, July 6

Roberts was a retired Army command sergeant known for helping soldiers and the needy throughout the community. He died of cardiac arrest at 64.

Roberts worked with civic organizations including the Retired Sergeants Major Association of Columbus, 100 Black Men of Columbus and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He served as board president for the House of Restoration in Phenix City, which assists veterans and the homeless.

Susan M. Cochran, July 14

Cochran, known as a tireless fundraiser for the arts, died after a battle with cancer. She was 65.</p>

Cochran served on the boards of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Museum and The Human Experience Theatre. She was also race day director of the Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens.

Kenneth S. Janke, Sr., July 23

Janke, a longtime member of the Aflac board of directors, died after a heart attack. He was 77.

He had served on the supplemental insurance firm's board from 1989 until 2010. He also was a retired chairman and chief executive officer of the National Association of Investors Corp.

Sam Rawls, Aug. 31

Rawls, a life and health insurance executive, died in Savannah, where he'd been in the hospital. He was 81.

An inductee to the National Life Group Agents Hall of Fame, he had 50 years of service in the industry. He and his wife were heavily involved in the Wynnton Arts Academy violin program.

Bob Bushong, Sept. 6

Bushong, who served three times as interim superintendent of the Muscogee County School District, died after a recurring battle with cancer. He was 75.

Bushong first took the helm after the suicide of friend and boss Braxton Nail in 1989, then again after the 1992 slaying of Jim Burns. The final time was in 2002 after a divide developed between the school board and the administration during Guy Sims' tenure.

Carolyn Ambrose, Oct. 11

Ambrose, principal of Waddell Elementary School, was on medical leave and recovering from surgery when she died of natural causes. She was 56.

The vice president of the Waddell PTA called Ambrose "one of the best principals ever.

She knew every child, and she cared about them. She worked hard to make this a great school."

Curtis McClung, Nov. 15

McClung, Columbus' police chief for almost a decade, died after a lengthy illness. He was 83.

He became chief as the city and county consolidated, and served while Columbus was gripped by the Stocking Stranglings.

After retiring in 1980, he taught criminal justice at CSU.

Bob Tant, Dec. 19

Tant, president of the Columbus Water Works, died of complications from cancer surgery. He was 65.

Tant worked with Water Works President Bill Turner some 20 years and had considered retirement in 2008 when Turner stepped down, but the Water Board talking him into the president's job.

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