She’s been called &uot;bright&uot;, &uot;unique&uot;, a &uot;stickler&uot;, a &uot;workaholic&uot; and a woman of &uot;quiet integrity.&uot; One of Greenville’s own returns this Thursday, as State Auditor Beth (Killough) Chapman takes the podium at the Greenville Rotary Club meeting at noon.

Chapman has drawn international attention for her stirring speech at a ‘Stand Up For America’ rally in Shelby County prior to the beginning of the Iraqi War, becoming an &uot;overnight sensation&uot; among patriots worldwide. She was given no less than five standing ovations that day and her office received over 4,000 e-mails, phone calls and letters from all 50 states and 18 foreign countries, relating to the speech.

This &uot;dyed in the wool&uot; Republican, staunch Christian and devoted wife and mother of two credits her upbringing in Butler County, particularly her daily visits to her mother’s place of employment, the Butler County Courthouse, with much of the inspiration to enter the public service arena.

Chapman’s earliest political involvement goes all the way back to the third grade when she passed out campaign literature door-to-door for her cousin, long-time Greenville Advocate sportswriter and Greenville City Councilman, OG Holley.

A graduate of Fort Dale Academy, Chapman holds a B.S. Degree from the University of Montevallo, a Master’s Degree Magna Cum Laude from UAB and is a graduate of the Women Executives in State Government Management Institute from Princeton University.

She enjoyed a successful and varied career in public relations and politics before seeking the State Auditor position, including serving as a Governor’s Cabinet member and as Press secretary to a lieutenant governor.

Chapman also organized numerous events and worked on successful campaigns for a number of politicians including George Wallace Jr., Judge Kelli Wise and Judge Glenn Murdock, among others.

In her first race for public office, Chapman defeated her opponent in the General Election by more than 75,000 votes—earning her the second highest vote differential among statewide Republican election officials.

&uot;I look forward to being at home in Greenville,&uot; Chapman said in a recent press release.

&uot;Not only did I win Butler County in my race, but I actually received more votes there than the Governor did.

I am extremely honored and flattered by that,&uot; she added.

The Rotary Club meeting is slated for noon on June 19 at Beeland Park and the public is welcome to attend.

To learn more about Beth Chapman and her vision and accomplishments, visit her website at www.BethChapman.com.

For more information about the meeting itself, contact Jimmy Dunklin at 382-3642.