James C. Wood C/O ‘57
Judge James C. Wood is a man who has represented his high school well in many facets of life.
While at Murphy, Jim was active in football all 4 years, earning membership in the M Club a group consisting of Lettermen in one of the 4 major sports with the purpose to advance interest in athletics and promote school spirit. The club’s activities included putting on sock hops and faculty basketball games during lunch periods and cleaning the campus. He also foreshadowed his law career with his membership in club with the catchy name of Argument, Inc., which advocated all types of speaking-debate, oratory, radio & television work. His membership in the NHS speaks to his academics.
The University of Alabama was his next stop, and he was active in the student government there, serving as the vice president his senior year. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business, Jim then entered the United States Army serving as a 2nd lieutenant in the 8th Army division in Korea, 1st Lt. 13th Quartermaster Battalion at Ft. Bragg, NC; and as a captain in the Active Army Reserves, 4th Corp. He attended law school at The University of Alabama and graduated in 1962.
In 1966 Jim continued his adventures in public service, this time in the field of politics. He ran for and was elected to the Alabama House of representatives and served there through1974 (he was a member of the Judiciary and the Local Legislative Committees). During this time he was also serving as an assistant county attorney, a position he filled until 1981. In 1983 he moved up to the position of Chief Counsel for Mobile County Probate Judge, and in 1999 he assumed his position as a Circuit Court judge. Jim has been an outstanding jurist over the years and has a reputation for fairness and careful attention to the law.
Jim Wood is deeply immersed in blue and gold. His parents and his children are also Panthers. He keeps MAA membership applications on his desk. We appreciate the way the he has represented Murphy in his military service, in the state legislature, and as a judge for Mobile County’s Circuit Court, and have no doubt that his service to Murphy and the community will continue. We are pleased to induct him into our Hall of Fame.