Here are a few highlights from the distinguished career of our 2003 Man of the Year, Roy Moore.
Born: Feb. 11, 1947 in Gadsden, Ala., the oldest of five children and the son of a jackhammer operator. Moore was raised in poverty, helping to support his family by bagging groceries at a local Piggly Wiggly.
Age: 56
Married Kayla Kisor in 1985.
Father of three sons and an adopted daughter: Ory, Caleb, Micah, and Heather
Religion: Baptist
High School: Graduated from Etowah High School in 1965. Served as president of the high school student council and was voted by his graduating class as the most likely to succeed.
College: Graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1974. Was a captain in the Military Police Corps and a battalion staff officer at Ft. Riley, Kan. Served as a company commander during a tour of duty in Vietnam.
Graduated from the University of Alabama law school in 1977.
Served as Deputy District Attorney in Etowah County, Ala., from 1977-1982.
Ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for Etowah County Circuit Judge in 1982.
Studied kickboxing and karate in Texas and lived in Australia for five months fighting in kickboxing matches and working on a cattle ranch during early 1980s.
Began private law practice in Gadsden, Ala., in 1984.
Elected Etowah County Circuit Judge in 1992.
Elected Chief Justice of Alabama Supreme Court, November 2000.
Removed by fellow justices from Alabama Supreme Court in November 2003 over alleged "ethical violations" in his refusal to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama State Courthouse.
Chief Justice Moore has received the George Washington Honor Medal from the National Freedom Foundation, Valley Forge, Pa.; the Christian Citizenship Award from Stamford University; the Bill of Rights Award; the God and Country Award from the American Family Association; the Spirit of America Founders Award; the Family, Faith and Freedom Citation from the Family Research Council; and a Doctor of Divinity Ecclesiastical Degree from the Methodist Episcopal Church USA.
