G. J. "Dutch" Higginbotham

MR. G. J. "DUTCH" HIGGINBOTHAM G. J. "Dutch" Higgin-botham, age 90, passed away on December 5, 2010. He was born February 22, 1920 in Calhoun City, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Higginbotham and his son-in-law, William Conway. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Betty Martin Higginbotham, his daughters Linda Conway and Betty Franklin (Sam), his sons Jon Higginbotham and Nick Higginbotham, four granddaughters, four great grandchildren and loving extended family. In 1941 First Lieutenant Higginbotham of the U.S. Army began his 69 year residency in the Auburn/ Opelika area when he was assigned to serve as commander of the Research and Development Unit at Auburn University. He left the area only to serve in the European Theater during World War II and in Korea during the Korean Conflict. He continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserve and retired with the rank of Colonel. Dutch began his civilian career as a businessman in Opelika where he served as President of the Chamber of Commerce and Exchange Club. In 1966 he was elected to represent the residents of East Alabama and served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1966-70, 1974-1977 and 1986-94 and in the Alabama Senate from 1977-82. During his service in the House, he sponsored major legislation including the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program and became the first non-lawyer to serve as Chair of the State Judiciary Committee. In recognition of his years of public service, Dutch was awarded the honorary Doctorate of Laws from Troy University. Continuing his efforts to improve education for Alabama residents, he loyally supported the two-year college system and worked as Director of Public Affairs for Troy University, Phenix City. He returned to public service in 1995 as a member of the Alabama State Board of Education until his retirement in 2002. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Opelika at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 with burial at Garden Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 7 in the parlor of First Baptist Church of Opelika from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice of Alabama, First Baptist Church of Auburn, Alabama or First Baptist Church of Opelika, Alabama. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory wwwjeffcoattrant.com