Native son named magistrate judge
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 3, 2007
A Butler County native, Terry Moorer, has just been named a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Montgomery.
And it wouldn't be a surprise to the woman who raised him, his oldest brother, Timothy “T-Bear” Moorer, head coach of the McKenzie High basketball team, says.
Timothy, Terry and James (a state trooper in the county), were brought up by their great-aunt, Queenie Powell.
Widowed when the boys were young, Powell did an excellent job raising the three siblings, Timothy says.
“We didn't have a lot materially; I guess you'd have to say we were poor. But my aunt raised us with strong principles. She raised us in church and tried to always teach us to treat others like we wanted to be treated ourselves.”
The three boys also developed a strong work ethic along the way.
“Before she passed away in 1982 from cancer, Mama told us all to stick together and look out for one another. Since I was the oldest, it was my responsibility to set the example,” Timothy says.
From the age of 12, he began working to raise money for clothes and other necessities, cutting yards during his school breaks.
“And I have been working ever since.”
All three of the boys graduated from Greenville High School and went on to obtain their college degrees. James graduated from Huntingdon; Timothy, from Alabama State, and Terry received his associate's degree from Marion Military Institute, his bachelor's degree from Huntingdon and his law degree from the University of Alabama.
“He's always wanted to be a judge. Back years ago when he worked in the circuit clerk's office in Butler County, Terry got to work with Judge Arthur Gamble and that really had an influence on him,” Timothy says.
Terry and his wife Sheri have been married for 20-plus years, and met in Marion during their college years.
Their daughter Susie is a student at Alabama and son Terry Jr. is a junior at the LAMP school in Montgomery, where youngest son Gabriel is a 5th grader.
Timothy knows his beloved aunt would be proud of the accomplishments of her three “sons.”
“She envisioned we would all be successful and make it in life. She died at peace, knowing we were all going to be O.K.”