J. Robert Elliott

J. Robert Elliott January 1, 1910 - June 27, 2006 COLUMBUS, GA— J. Robert Elliott, 96, of Columbus, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 29, 2006 at First Baptist Church of Columbus with the Reverend Helen Berenthien and Dr. James C. Elder officiating, according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Macon Road. A private burial will follow at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 28, 2006 at Judge Elliott's residence. Judge Elliott was born January 1, 1910 in Gainesville, Georgia. He was the son of Dr. Thomas M. Elliott, a Methodist minister, and Mamie Glenn Elliott. He graduated from Emory University College of Arts and Sciences (1930) and Emory University Law School (1934). He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1934 and began his practice of law in Columbus at that time. From 1936 through 1948, with the exception of time spent in military service, he represented Muscogee County in the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1941, he was the State President of the Georgia Junior Chamber of Commerce and was named "Outstanding Young Man of the Year" in Columbus. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific Theater in the United States Navy with a rank of Lieutenant. He was the Democratic National Committeeman for Georgia from 1948 until 1956 and was a delegate to the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia in 1948 and Chicago in 1952. With the exception of time spent in military service, he was engaged in the active practice of law in Columbus for 27 years, having a general corporate and trial practice. On the joint recommendation of Senators Richard B. Russell and Herman E. Talmadge, he was appointed United States Judge for the Middle District of Georgia by President John F. Kennedy in1962 and assumed the duties of the office at that time. In 1968, he received an award made annually by the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to individuals "who have promoted a better understanding of the American way of life through the things they have written, said or done during the current year". During the year 1971, he tried more cases than any other federal district judge in the country, per statistics published by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. In 1985, at the annual convention of the Georgia Bar, he was presented the "Tradition of Excellence" Award, this being an award made annually by the General Practice and Trial Section of the Bar. The citation which accompanied the award stated that this was the first time the award had been presented to a judge and that the selection was "based on recognition of years of commitment to excellence in the profession and fairness, integrity, dedication and sacrifice as examples to the entire Bar. He is a hard-working judge who conducts his court in a highly efficient manner." In 1989, he was awarded the "Law Enforcement Commendation Medal" by the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution. Judge Elliott occupied his position as federal district court judge for nearly 40 years. He was the only federal judge who did his job without the assistance of any law clerks. He retired from the bench on December 31, 2000 and at that time he was the oldest active district court judge in the entire United States federal judiciary. He was a member of the Georgia Bar Association, the American Bar Association and was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha Social Fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Fraternity, Tau Kappa Alpha Forensic Fraternity, the Country Club of Columbus, the Big Eddy Club and the Candun Club. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus for over 71 years and St. Luke United Methodist Church for over 72 years. His wife, Brownie Buck Elliott, preceded him in death. His survivors include his two children, Susan Elliott Rich of Chattanooga, Tennessee and J. Robert Elliott, Jr. of Columbus, and two grandchildren, J. Stephen Rich, Jr. and Emily L. Elliott. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 867, Columbus, Georgia 31902, First Baptist Church of Columbus, P.O. 828, Columbus, Georgia 31902 or your favorite charity.