Published January 13, 2010
As we enter the first few days of a new decade, here’s a look back at a few notable losses in the previous decade.
Paul Cooley(March 2000): In a county where basketball is big, theres never been a bigger legend than Paul Cooley. Cooley, 74, passed away in 2000 after battling cancer. He coached basketball for 23 years 17 at Pisgah and six at Scottsboro finishing with 536 wins. His Pisgah teams won three state championships. Cooley had 35 players play college basketball. After retiring, he was elected to the Jackson County Board of Education.
Walt Hammer(August 2000): A former mayor of Scottsboro, Walt Hammer, 72, passed away in 2000. He served the city as mayor from 1988-1992, coining the phrase Scottsboro, Someplace Special. A historian, Hammer published a book in 1967 about Jackson County. He was also instrumental in convincing the Scottsboro City Council to purchase the Proctor House, which is now the Scottsboro-Jackson Heritage Center. Hammer was a traveling pharmaceutical salesman before retiring after being elected mayor.
Dr. Charles Pendley(March 2001): Sadness struck North Alabama in 2001 with the passing of Dr. Charles Pendley, 63, from an apparent heart attack while traveling in his truck. Pendley was named president of Northeast Alabama Community College in 1982, only the second president in school history. After teaching at Bridgeport High School in the 1960s, Pendley began his career at NACC in 1971. He was also a Command Sgt. Major in the Alabama National Guard, where he was a recipent of the Alabama Military Commendation Medal.
Loy CampbellNovember, 2003: Former Jackson County Circuit Judge Loy Campbell died after a lengthy illness in 2003. Appointed in 1975 by Gov. George Wallace, Campbell served as judge for 21 years. Prior to that, he was an attorney, assistant district attorney and served five years as state representative.
Campbell will long be remembered for surviving an assassination attempt in 1972, which was the inspiration for Byron Woodfin’s book, “Lay Down With Dogs.”
Leaving his home on Dec. 4, 1972, Campbell was severely injured when a bomb wired to his vehicle’s ignition switch detonated. He lost both of his legs due to the incident.
Hugh Otis Bynum was convicted of attempted murder and died in prison in 1980.
As judge, Campbell presided over the case of Scottsboro preacher Glenn Summerford, convicted of attempted murder for trying to kill his wife by forcing her to place a hand in a cage with a rattlesnake. That case also spawned a book, “Salvation on Sand Mountain,” by Dennis Covington.
Charles Newton Cook(December, 2003): Charles Newton Cook died at the age of 107 years old in 2003. At the time of his death, he was one of only two people in Alabama to have served in World War I.
Lonnie Webb(June, 2004): Former Scottsboro Fire Chief Lonnie Webb lost his battle with cancer in the summer of 2004. Webb spent 37 years with the Scottsboro Fire Department. He was chief from 1978-2001.
During his tenure, the fire department experienced unprecedented growth adding manpower, equipment and facilities.
Alan Lott(June, 2004): Alan Lott, born with cystic fibrosis, died in the summer of 2004 at the age of 15. Known for his wide smile and winning attitude, the teenager excelled in winning numerous academic awards. He was voted “Kindest Boy in School,” and “Most Likely to Succeed.”
Prior to his death, Lott was honored by the Alabama State Legislature.
Sarah Betty Ingram(July, 2005): A city icon, Sarah Betty Ingram spent her 92 years helping teach people in school and out. Ingram taught home economics at Scottsboro High School for 41 years before retiring. Later, she spent her time promoting beautification in Scottsboro as chairman of the Scottsboro Beautification Council.
Ingram also volunteered at the Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, where she appeared each afternoon like clockwork to answer phones and make sure things ran properly.
Houston Kennamer(November, 2005): A former Jackson County Commission Chairman, Houston Kennamer died at the age of 85 in 2005. Kennamer served one term as commissioner (1972-1976) before spending the next 12 years as commission chairman.
Kennamer began his career as a teacher before World War II stopped everything. He returned to teaching after the war and developed a training program to help war veterans in 1947.
R.I. Gentry(September, 2006): After months of illness, former Jackson County Probate Judge R.I. Gentry died at age 85.
Gentry served 36 years as probate judge, a state record for longest consecutive terms as a probate judge. He was first elected in 1958 and retired in 1994.
Gentry, an Auburn graduate, had a veterinary practice in Scottsboro for 11 years, prior to being elected probate judge.
Roy Owens(June, 2007): Former Scottsboro Mayor Roy Owens died in the summer of 2007. Owens served two terms as mayor (1976-1984). His first term was considered an upset after defeating a list of candidates including five-time mayor John T. Reid. Four years later, however, Owens again beat Reid.
A graduate of Fyffe High School, Owens had a stint in the Army before going to work at Burlington Industries in 1954 in Scottsboro. After the company closed, he moved to a supervisory role with Goodyear Tire and Rubber until taking office in 1976. He returned to the company in 1984 and retired three years later.
The city renamed Akzo Boulevard to Roy Owens Boulevard in 2005, in honor of the former mayor.
Hollice (Shag) Johnson(August, 2007): Long time Scottsboro Street Department Superintendent Shag Johnson died at the age of 78 in 2007.
Johnson had been street department superintendent since 1976.
Prior to that, Johnson served in the Scottsboro National Guard group that served during the Korean War.
He played a large role in the development of the city to this day.
Louis Price(August, 2009): Louis Price became the third former Scottsboro mayor to die during the first decade when he passed away in August, 2009, after a lengthy illness. He was 81at the time of his death.
Price served the city as mayor during two terms, from 1992 until 2000. He ran for mayor after working 37 years at the Scottsboro Electric Power Board, where he was general manager for 20 years.
He was active in many professional, community and civic organizations over the years. Price was an early member of the Scottsboro Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), a past president of the Lions Club and a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Charles Bradford (December, 2009): World War II and Korean War veteran Charles Bradford, 89, died the day after Christmas in 2009.
A graduate of Jackson County High School in 1938, Bradford later graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) in 1942.
Following his education, Bradford served in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge, where he was later taken as a prisoner of war for at least four months in Germany.
In 1949, he was reactivated and served as a platoon leader for Company B, 151st Engineer Combat Battalion in the Korean War.
Bradford returned to Scottsboro following the wars and began a successful business career. He and best friend Mark Scott Skelton were co-owners of General Equipment Company in Scottsboro. They sold the business in 1985 and retired.
Bradford was a member of the Scottsboro Rotary Club for over 30 years, a member of the Scottsboro Civitan Club and former chairman of the Scottsboro City Board of Education.
He was also an active member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church since 1953, serving on the Vestery and in other leadership positions for over 50 years. In 1991, the parish hall of St. Luke’s was dedicated to Bradford and his wife, Ruth.
Allowed: thedailysentinel.com