Community loses several leaders in 2011 [Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.]
By Alan Riquelmy, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
But perhaps one of the most recognized of those who died in 2011 is a
"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
Chappell, the longtime political science professor at
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
Bishop
Edwards, retired as bishop and pastor of
He served at St. Luke from 1988-1996 and was bishop of the
St. Luke's former senior pastor the Rev.
Judge
Johnston, the former Superior Court judge from
A graduate of
Johnston resigned from the bench in
Callaway, whose parents founded
He helped develop commercial property around the former
He once served on the national executive board of the
The Rev.
Girardeau, pastor of
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
Talbott, the former
Talbott served as commander at
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
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
Pyburn, an All-American wide receiver at
He coached the defensive line, linebackers and secondary for UGA head coach
Riddle, a member of the 1943
Riddle played baseball in the
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
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
Janke, a longtime member of the
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
Rawls, a life and health insurance executive, died in
An inductee to the
Bushong, who served three times as interim superintendent of the
Bushong first took the helm after the suicide of friend and boss
Ambrose, principal of
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."
McClung,
He became chief as the city and county consolidated, and served while
After retiring in 1980, he taught criminal justice at CSU.
Tant, president of the Columbus Water Works, died of complications from cancer surgery. He was 65.
Tant worked with Water Works President
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