Four people will join a list of Atmore’s greatest citizens in April, when they are inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame.

The new inductees of the Class of 2014 are Judy Branum, Wayne Davis, Bill Etheridge and the late James “Peanut” McDonald.

Branum is a longtime educator and former EA headmaster, Davis has worked in the administrations of several major state universities, Etheridge is a former standout athlete who also earned accolades as a sports official, and McDonald was a longtime official who earned several major awards from state and local sports associations.

They will be officially inducted during a ceremony set for Saturday, April 26, at 6 p.m. at The Club on State Highway 21 North. Tickets for the ceremony will be available soon.
A committee of 14 members voted on six potential nominees in this year’s class. In order to be selected, the nominee had to receive at least nine votes.

Judy Branum

Branum was an educator for more than 40 years in Escambia County, and notably served as the headmaster at Escambia Academy for almost 10 years.

She grew up in Atmore and graduated from Escambia County High School in 1963. She began teaching history at Flomaton High School in 1967, then taught ninth-grade history at ECHS before joining the EA faculty in 1971. Over the course of her time at EA, she taught all of the junior and senior high school history courses and served as chairman of the social sciences department, senior class sponsor, cheerleader sponsor and Pep Club sponsor.

Branum became the assistant headmaster at EA in 1994, and then was named the school’s headmaster in 1996. She served in this capacity for 10 years, while continuing to teach American government and economics at the school. During her time as headmaster, enrollment increased 25 percent and the school received the prestigious President’s and Chairman’s Awards from the Alabama Independent Schools Association (AISA). In 2003, Branum became the only EA-affiliated person to be named to the AISA Hall of Fame.

She is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Atmore, where she has been a Sunday school teacher and department director. She also serves as a volunteer with the “We Care” program and is a member of the Atmore Garden Club and Canoe Study Club.

Wayne Davis

Wayne Davis was born in Atmore and graduated from ECHS in 1960. During his career, he spent more than 51 years in the financial administration of several major universities and colleges, including the University of Alabama, Birmingham-Southern College, UAB, and the University of South Alabama.

He received degrees from the University of Alabama in 1965 (Bachelor of Science in Business Statistics) and 1966 (Master of Arts in Business Statistics), as well as from the University of Kentucky in 1970 (Graduate of the Business Management Institute).

While he was at the University of Alabama, he worked as a student employee in the financial division from 1962-1966. After his graduation, he became the chief accountant at Birmingham-Southern College from 1966 to 1968, and then treasurer and controller from 1968-1971.

He was the associate controller at UAB from 1971-1978, before moving to the University of South Alabama. While at that university, Davis had several jobs, including controller (1978), vice president for financial affairs and chief financial officer (1989-2013) and executive assistant to the president (2013).

Davis is married to the former Laura Edwards of Montgomery, and they have two children and four grandchildren. He currently lives in Daphne.

Bill Etheridge

W.W. “Wild Bill” Etheridge made his name as a standout athlete in college and professional baseball, before becoming a sports official in his later years.

He was born in Atmore in 1941 and graduated from ECHS in 1959, where he played football and was a starter for three years. In 1958, the Blue Devils won the state championship. He also played basketball and baseball at ECHS.

After his senior year, Etheridge received a baseball scholarship to Mississippi State University. He was the starting centerfielder for two years and third baseman in his third year. During his time with the Bulldogs, Etheridge was selected as an All-SEC player in 1962 and 1963. He led the SEC with a .412 batting average in 1962, and eventually signed a professional contract with the Milwaukee Braves organization.

In 1964, he led the minor leagues in hitting with a .365 average, and was selected to the minor league all-star team. Unfortunately, an injury cut short his playing career and he decided to apply his spare time to being a sports official.

Etheridge refereed both football and basketball for 35 years.
He officiated in several football championships and basketball playoff games, and also served as an official for the Sun Belt Conference and Alabama junior colleges.

James McDonald

James “Peanut” McDonald is being nominated to the Hall posthumously, as he passed away on March 16, 2013. He worked for Smurfit Stone for most of his life, and also spent more than 33 years as a sports official, earning a posthumous award from the Alabama High School Athletic Association on July 20, 2013.

McDonald was born Sept. 4, 1940, in Atmore, and graduated from ECHS in 1958, where he excelled in several sports. He was quarterback on the football team, second base on the baseball team, and a guard on the basketball team. After his high school graduation, McDonald was employed by the Alabama State Highway Department for four years and Middleton’s Clothing Store for two years.

In 1964, he married his wife Rebecca and went to work for the Container Corporation in Brewton, which later became Smurfit Stone at the time of his retirement in 2009. For more than 33 years, he officiated sports events for high schools, community college, and youth leagues.

In recognition of his dedication, the Brewton Sports Association presented McDonald with a special award in 1996. During the 2013 annual Atmore Hall of Fame meeting, McDonald’s family received a special plaque in recognition of his many years of dedication and service to the community.

Editor’s Note: A photograph of Bill Etheridge was not immediately available.