Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-11
uIDGE BLOOMINGTON.

Judge w. s. Thorington. who has been elected dean of the law faculty of the State university is one of Alabama's braiuisst citizens, and it is doubtful if a better selection. could have been made in the stite for the position, or one that would have given more general satisfac- tion.
 Following is a brief biographical sketch of the new dean, given by the Montgom- cry Journal:
 William S. Thorington was born in Montgomery July 30, 1S47. His fath5r was Col Jack 1horlrgton, distinguish ed citizen of Montgomery. Wlllam sew ell Thorington was educated at the prl- vale school of William F. Slaton at Oak BoWery, at Auburn, and at the state university. While he was still the u.i- versity the corps of cadets of which he. was adjutant, teok the field for active r. vice. Col Thorington served about year, being stationed principally at Mo- bile, at Blakely and al points in North Alabama. He was engaged in forming a company of cadets to join the army of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, whsn the war came to close. Immediately after the war he began the study of law under the late Chief Justice Chiffon, and in Janu- ary, 1S6T. was admitted to the bar of the supreme court after passing an examina- tion whose exc sllence is still a tradi1 Of the. court He was associated at various times in practics with Judge w. P. Chil- ton, with Senator John T. Morgan, Hon. W. l.. Bragg, and Hon. Lester C. Smith. Col Thorington has held various offices of dignity ard profit. He was for many years a trustee of the university of Aa- bama. He was judge advocate general on the staff of Gov. ONeal during that governors administration, 1SS2-S6. In 1886 he was e'5oted city attorney of Mont- gomeIy, and by continuous re-elect,ons held the place until 1892 when he res gn- ed to accept much higher post. When Justice David Clopton, of the supr5me bench. died in the early part of 1892, ard Gov. Jones saw fit to appoint Col. Thor ington to fill out his urexpired term the appointment was received everywhere throughout the entire state as an emi- nenltly, proper one to have been made. Judge Thoringtons discharge of the du- ties Of this high office was marked by his customary devotion to a. high ideal of duty and his work marked him out as one who is mere than likely to be ll'e upon to assume judicial honors in the future. He waS-pGt-a candidate to sue ceed himself, and after the expiration in November, 1892 of the term he was fulfilling, he returned to the practice of law in Montgomery. His services on the supreme bench merely followed repeatsd designations of him by various govern ors to act as special judge of the court where one of the judges was disqua'i6ed to hear the particular cause. Judge Thorington was married on October 24, 1867. to Miss Chiffon, daughter of the late Chief Justice Chiffon. He has a large family of children This brief sketch ought rot to be brought to close with ut a tribute to Judge Thorington's Yc7p- tionally high character. He is a man of scrupulously sensitive integrity. and is universally esteemed for the entire prcb- ty of his nature. He has throughout life acted en the knightly prime pie that, when his honor was 7corcerrsd. stain was a wound. No man in Aiab9nra is better entitleF TO the distrct'on ofsbeing the states Chevalier Bayard, sans peur ct sans reUroche