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Alabama Clerk Who Served 60 Years Dies in Prattville
12/3/2007, 6:33 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Fred Posey, who set a record for public service in Alabama by spending 60 years as Autauga County circuit clerk, died Monday. He was 95.
Posey died from natural causes at an assisted living home, said his successor, Whit Moncrief.
Posey served as circuit clerk from 1941 to 2001. He was in office so long that people still call the courthouse in Prattville looking for him, Moncrief said.
"I don't think we'll ever see anybody who holds a constitutional office that long," said Ted Hooks, circuit clerk for Calhoun County.
Hooks said all circuit clerks have their favorite stories about Posey. For Hooks, it's one about how Posey always carried lots of keys.
"He'd say, 'People think judges run the courthouse. Whoever carries the most keys runs the courthouse, and I run this courthouse,'" Hooks said.
Moncrief said Posey really did run the Autauga County Courthouse. "His daddy was probate judge, so he grew up playing in the courthouse," Moncrief said.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Ridout's Funeral Home in Prattville, with a graveside service following at Oakhill Cemetery.
Prattville Mayor Jim Byard said flags on all city buildings will be flown at half staff on Wednesday.
"The court system of Autauga County, and in fact our entire state, are better because of the lifelong service of Mr. Posey," Byard said.
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