Green Wix Unthank

Green Wix Unthank (June 14, 1923 – June 25, 2013) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Green Wix Unthank
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
In office
June 14, 1988 – June 25, 2013[1]
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
In office
June 18, 1980 – June 14, 1988
Appointed byJimmy Carter
Preceded bySeat established by 92 Stat. 1629
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Attorney of the 26th Judicial District of Kentucky
In office
1970–1980
Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky
In office
1966–1969
Judge of the Harlan County Court
In office
1951–1958
Personal details
Born
Green Wix Unthank

(1923-06-14)June 14, 1923
Tway, Kentucky
DiedJune 25, 2013(2013-06-25) (aged 90)
Harlan, Kentucky
Resting placeWix Howard Cemetery, Loyall, Kentucky
EducationUniversity of Miami School of Law (J.D.)
Military service
Nickname(s)Wix[1]
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1940–1945
Unit 509th Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsWorld War II
Awards Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart

Education and career

Unthank was born on June 14, 1923[2] in Tway, Kentucky, the son of Green W. Unthank and Estelle Howard Unthank, both teachers in the Harlan County school system.[1] 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 Infantry Regiment.[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.[3] Unthank earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 1950. He was a judge of the Harlan County Court in Kentucky from 1951 to 1958, after which he entered private practice. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky from 1966 to 1969, and was commonwealth's attorney of the 26th Judicial District of Kentucky from 1979 to 1980.[3][4]

Federal judicial service

On December 19, 1979, Unthank was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat on the United States 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. President Ronald Reagan involuntarily certified Unthank as disabled on November 30, 1987, pursuant to 71 Stat. 586.[5] Pursuant to the certification, Unthank assumed senior status on June 14, 1988, but continued to maintain a substantial caseload.[4]

Death

Unthank died on June 25, 2013, in Harlan, Kentucky at the age of 90.[3] He was survived by his wife, Marilyn Ward Unthank.[6]

Honor

On August 14, 2017, the Green Wix Unthank Memorial Bridge was dedicated. It crosses the Clover Fork River in Harlan County, Kentucky.[7]

References
  1. McConnell, Mitch. "Tribute to Judge G. Wix Unthank". Congressional Record. United States Government Printing Office. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  2. "Unthank". Obituaries - June 26, 2013. The Harlan Daily Enterprise. June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  3. "The Harlan Daily Enterprise - Judge decorated WWII veteran dies". Archived from the original on July 20, 2013.
  4. Green Wix Unthank at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  5. "U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Kentucky: Succession Charts - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  6. "The Honorable G. Wix Unthank". Harlan County Public Schools. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  7. "Bridge dedicated in honor of Unthank".

Sources
Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 92 Stat. 1629		 Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
1980–1988		 Succeeded by
Seat abolished
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