River Region Magazine

Huey Thornton

“The people of this region have a tremendous amount of tenacity, and are generous, Despite the serious economic hardships, the people and agencies I’m associated with have continued to find ways to strive and help those who are less fortunate in the communit.”—

Some of the best advice a person can receive is to “think of serving not as a duty, but as a privilege.” Huey Thornton perfectly exemplifies these words of wisdom, and believes he was born to serve the River Region. “I’ve known since I was a small child that I would have a career as some sort of public servant,” he says. “What I have always found most meaningful about my career is it provides me the opportunity to meet and help lots of people. My passion comes from seeing that look of frustration or despair change to hope or contentment in the face of people who I was fortunate enough to provide assistance to. I have always strived to make all my contacts with the public significant.” And significant it has been. An Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel assigned as the 3rd Brigade, 75th Training Command Personnel Officer, Huey graduated from Auburn University Montgomery with a degree in pre-law, and received his master’s degree in criminal justice from Faulkner University. He spent several years of his life as a major with the Montgomery Police Department, and “retired” in 2010. He was then named chief of police for Alabama State University. In December 2012, he accepted an offer from the Southern Poverty Law Center where he now serves as the director of security. A native of Barbour County, he says, “I came to Montgomery with most of my worldly belongings in the back seat of my 1987 Nissan Sentra. And I have been blessed to have a great church family, a great family and a great career. I have also had the opportunity to meet lots of great people and that is what I feel is best about this area, the people.” Although he is focused on ensuring the safety of our community, he is a devoted husband to his wife, Dr. Parichart Thornton, and father to their two children, Mary and Robbie. He is grateful for the city that Montgomery is, and has enjoyed raising a family here and having a bird’seye view of the revitalization of downtown. “The people of this region have a tremendous amount of tenacity, and are generous,” Huey says. “Despite the serious economic hardships, the people and agencies I’m associated with have continued to find ways to strive and help those who are less fortunate in the community. From the downtown growth and revitalization, the transformation on our college campuses, and the recruitment of major industry to this area, we are blessed.” He is an active citizen of the area, and has been a valiant member of several civic organizations including Leadership Montgomery, Crime Stoppers, the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery, United Way Community Council, River Region United Way, and Montgomery Public Schools Career Academy. He has also been the recipient of several coveted awards including Montgomery Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Citizen of the Year Award (2011), Troy University’s Excellence in Leadership and Community Service Award (2010), Crime Stoppers Officer of the Year (2003), the Army Commendation Medal (2001), and Meritorious Service Medal (2001).