By By Adam Prestridge
Retired teacher and coach Cornell Torrence will fill the District 2 Atmore City Council seat vacated by the death of Mayor Pro-Tem Eldred Pritchett who died in early December following a battle with lung cancer.
Torrence, 76, said Tuesday morning that it is an honor to be chosen to serve the people of the Atmore community.
Torrence taught and coached basketball and football at Escambia County Training School for 14 years and Escambia County High School for 25 years. He was named Pritchett’s replacement during a special called council meeting Monday morning.
Mayor Howard Shell believes Torrence’s understanding of working with people will be an asset to the council.
Filling the seat left by Pritchett will be a tough task, according to Torrence.
Shell said Torrence was chosen to serve out the four-year term, which began October 2008, after being highly recommended by members of the community.
Shell added that the mayor pro-tem position would be addressed at the city’s first council meeting of the year at 4 p.m. on Jan. 12.
Torrence serves as a steward at Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church and is the past president of the Progressive Civic and Recreational Club. He is married to the former Mavis Banks. The couple has three children, Dr. Marian Torrence, Connie Yvette King and Jeffery Torrence.
As for his first order of business, Torrence said he just wants to get familiar with the council and the projects the city currently has under way.