By NANCY KARRICK
Special to Atmore News
On Thursday, June 9, the South Alabama Chapter of Military Officers Association of America held a joint meeting with the Mobile and Baldwin County chapters to honor one of Alabama’s own, Senator Greg Albritton, who represents District 22 in the Alabama Senate.
Senator Albritton’s military career began when he was in Naval ROTC at Woodham High School in Pensacola and continued when he joined the Air Force right out of high school and completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Following tours at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle and Hill Air Force Base in Odgen, Utah, he decided to leave the active military and go to school, which he did in Odgen. While in school, he was part of the National Guard. Following college, Albritton went to Navy Officer Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island. He had assignments in Philadelphia, Thompson, Maine to Jacksonville via ship, 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, Virginia Beach, Charleston, and shore duty at the Naval Marine Company Reserve Center in Mobile. He went into the Naval Reserves in 2005. Following military retirement, he attended the Thomas B. Goode Jones School of Law and a 20-year law practice in Monroe and Conecuh counties followed.
Albritton was elected to the Alabama Senate in the general elections held in November 2014. He had previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006.
SAC-MOAA current secretary Col. Jerry Steele presented the Jim Eubanks Award to Senator Albritton, saying in his remarks, “Senator Greg Albritton has been a champion for veterans in the Alabama Senate. He has successfully proposed and led the passing of several legislative efforts to further veteran causes in Alabama. He personally sponsored a $1 million dollar state allocation to help fund Veterans Recovery Resources program in Mobile.”
This award is made to a currently serving Alabama State Legislator on an annual basis. It is reserved for those legislators who have made truly outstanding contributions affecting our military communities in the State of Alabama. Additionally, Senator Albritton has secured funds to provide a new teak deck on the battleship Alabama, helped fund a $6 million dollar package for a new VA hospital to be built in Enterprise, and has been the leading force behind the growth and development of the mental health facility for veterans in Mobile. His award was an eagle made of Alabama Clay in Wetumpka, atop a wooden base with an engraved plaque.
Attending from Atmore to support and congratulate fellow Atmorean Senator Greg Albritton were Dale Ash and Nancy Karrick.