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George C. Carlson
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Supreme Court justice, coach on roster of roasters
By Rupert Howell
A few seats and tables are still available for Thursday night’s banquent/roast honoring retired Mississippi Justice and Voice of the South Panola Tigers George C. Carlson.
The event begins at 6 p.m. with a social time prior to dinner at 6:30 and roast at 7.
Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ann Lamar leads the list of this year’s roasters who will take shots at the local jurist.
Roasters this year also include retired Circuit Judge Andy Baker, Coach Willis Wright, Coach Lance Pogue, and retired Circuit Clerk Joe Reid.
Lamar was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Haley Barbour in May of 2007. She followed in Justice George C. Carlson Jr.’s footsteps to the Circuit Court and then to the Supreme Court. She was appointed as a circuit judge to the vacancy in the 17th Circuit Court District when Justice Carlson was appointed to the Supreme Court on Nov. 1, 2001.
Before her appointment to the trial court bench, she had served for almost two years as district attorney for the 17th district, where she previously served as assistant DA from 1987 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 1999.
Carlson at the time of her appointment to the Supreme Court said, “She is one of the best lawyers in the courtroom I’ve ever seen. During my years on the circuit court bench, Judge Lamar very ably tried many cases before me, both as an assistant district attorney, and as district attorney... She is known for her intellectual honesty and sound judgment.”
Former Circuit Judge Andy Baker retired, taking senior status with only special judicial assignments, in 2010 when he decided not to run for re-election.
From Tallahatchie County, Baker was first elected to the bench in June 1978 for a term which began in January 1979.
He had previously been appointed by Gov. Cliff Finch in July 1978 to fill out the remaining five-and-a-half months of former Judge Dick Thomas’s term. He was re-elected without opposition until he retired.
Willis Wright is known not only in the State of Mississippi, but throughout the region as a legendary high school football coach winning state titles at several different schools with his name now enshrined at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. It was Wright who raised the bar and started the trend that began South Panola’s football dynasty.
A little known fact about Wright is that following one of his retirements he served the 17th Judicial Court District as “traveling bailiff” for then-Circuit Judge George C. Carlson.
When Lance Pogue came to South Panola High School as head football coach, the school had a four year winning streak with state championships to boot. There were only two directions to go and one of them was not good.
Pogue found a close ally in the local play-by-play announcer George C. Carlson for South Panola and put the team in the national spotlight by scheduling more competitive out-of-state games with national powerhouse teams.
That helped bring regional and national TV to South Panola games and that ultimately added a national title along with state championship trophies all while working to improve facilities. South Panola is now a national player.
Retired Circuit Clerk Joe Reid was the subject of last year’s roast and has since been low key.
Reid’s time in the Circuit Clerk’s office and Carlson’s on the Circuit bench coincided and led to a lot of “behind the scenes” occurrences also involving the late Sheriff David Bryan that may be revealed for the first time Thursday night.
The fundraiser is sponsored by Panola County Community Foundation and South Panola Athletic Foundation
A few tickets and tables are still available and those interested should contact Amy at 563-5464. Tickets may be purchased at Panola Partnership, The Panolian, First Security Bank, Bancorpsouth or Pride Hyundai.
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