Green Wix Unthank

Hon.
Green Wix Unthank
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
In office
June 14, 1988  June 1, 2012[1]
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
In office
June 18, 1980  June 14, 1988
Nominated by Jimmy Carter
Preceded by Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 (temporary)
Succeeded by Seat abolished on June 14, 1988 (temporary judgeship expired)
Judge, Harlan County Court, Kentucky
In office
1951–1958
Personal details
Born (1923-06-14)June 14, 1923
Tway, Kentucky, U.S.
Died June 25, 2013(2013-06-25) (aged 90)
Harlan, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place Wix Howard Cemetery, Loyall, Kentucky, U.S.
Nationality American
Spouse(s) Marilyn Ward Unthank
Parents
  • Green W. Unthank
  • Estelle Howard Unthank
Alma mater
Occupation Judge, prosecutor
Religion Presbyterian[2]
Awards Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Military service
Nickname(s) Wix[1]
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1940-1945
Unit 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
Battles/wars World War II

Green Wix Unthank (June 14, 1923  June 25, 2013) was a United States federal judge.

Early life and education

Unthank was born on June 14, 1923[3] in Tway, Kentucky, the son of Green W. Unthank and Estelle Howard Unthank, both teachers in the Harlan County school system.[1]

Military service

After graduating from Loyall High School in 1940, Unthank enlisted in the United States Army, serving during World War II as a paratrooper in the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion.[1] He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart as a result of injuries sustained from a German hand grenade while in enemy territory in 1943. He was honorably discharged in 1945.[2]

Career

Unthank earned a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1950. He was a judge on the Harlan County Court, Kentucky from 1951 to 1958, after which he entered private practice. He was an assistantU.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky from 1966 to 1969, and was a Commonwealth's attorney of the 26th Judicial District of Kentucky from 1979 to 1980.[2]

On December 19, 1979, Unthank was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky (created by 92 Stat. 1629). He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 18, 1980, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status on June 14, 1988.

Death

Unthank died on June 25, 2013, in Harlan, Kentucky at the age of 90.[2] He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Ward Unthank.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McConnell, Mitch. "Tribute to Judge G. Wix Unthank". Congressional Record. United States Government Printing Office. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 The Harlan Daily Enterprise - Judge decorated WWII veteran dies
  3. "Unthank". Obituaries - June 26, 2013. The Harlan Daily Enterprise. June 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  4. "The Honorable G. Wix Unthank". Harlan County Public Schools. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
Legal offices
Preceded by
new seat
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
1980–1988
Succeeded by
seat abolished
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.