By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER – Managing editor
Brewton City Council members unanimously appointed William McGhee to serve as the new councilman for District 4.
Mayor Ted Jennings said after the council meeting Tuesday several residents had expressed interest in sitting in the vacant seat. Jennings declined to comment on who the four to five candidates were out of respect of privacy, he said.
McGhee was recommended by outgoing Councilman Walter O. &#8220Jake” Lewis. Lewis submitted his resignation late-February. Jennings said each councilman individually talked with all of the candidates, and it was a unanimous decision that McGhee be recommended to fill the seat.
McGhee was born in Atmore on Sept. 12, 1931. He moved to Brewton and began his schooling at Southern Normal. He graduated from Southern Normal and attended college for a couple of years in Iowa, and he was drafted into service in 1954.
McGhee said he spent 20 years, two months and 17 days in service and &#8220enjoyed every bit of it.”
After he retired from the service, he spent some time working for hotels such as Holiday Inn and Best Western. He moved out of the hotel business and went to work for the Defense Department for four years testing equipment used today in the war in Iraq, he said.
McGhee moved back to Brewton in 1995 and served in several capacities, including president of the alumni association at Southern Normal, a trustee of Second Saint Siloam Church and then he served a &#8220triple” capacity as trustee, clerk and financial secretary at Second Saint Siloam Church. In his spare time he said he likes to read history when he has the time.
McGhee will serve the remaining two years of Lewis' term, and he will fill the vacant seat after he is officially sworn in.
As of Tuesday, no date had been set for the swearing in; however, Jennings said he would like McGhee to be serving at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for April 25.
In other city news: