FOLEY, Ala. - Thomas Wright “Tommy” Underwood Jr. — Foley judge for 27 years — died May 30 at the age of 66.

The Foley native and Foley High School graduate was devoted to his family, friends and profession, and Tim Russell — former mayor of Foley and current probate judge for Baldwin County — was a long-time friend of Tommy and served as mayor during Tommy's final three years as city judge before retiring.

"When I took office, we were in our early days of exploding and growth. (Tommy) helped take us through a lot of that early growth…I could not have been happier with him as my judge," Russell said about his tenure as Foley mayor. Russell joined Governor Bob Riley's cabinet in 2006.

"He was the judge most of the time for Mayor Holk. Mayor Holk was the mayor for 20 years before me."

Russell called Tommy a "devoted husband and father, grandfather and a wonderful friend.

"He also did a lot of work for me in my different business ventures over the years. He was truly an outstanding person. He was very humble, very hardworking and very devoted to his family and everyone else."

Tommy was a local Foley boy, growing up in the city and graduating from Foley High School. He and Russell played football together at FHS, and Tommy graduated from law school and continued to live in Foley as he became well known, practicing law for 35 years in "The Forward City."

"He had to put in a lot of long hours when he started practicing law," Russell said.

Tommy also participated in other Foley community events and organizations, being a member of the Foley Rotary Club and serving on the South Baldwin Hospital — now called South Baldwin Regional Medical Center — Board of Directors.

He also had a deep love for Harley Davidson motorcycles, which Russell calls one of his hobbies.

"Yes, he loved motorcycles," Russell said. "His hobbies were primarily motorcycles and being with his children and grandchildren."

He is survived by his two children, Gavin Underwood and Ashley McDonald, and his four grandchildren, Lynsey and Anna Underwood and Cecilyn and Garrett McDonald. He was preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart and bride of 40 years, Dorothy “Junie” Chason Underwood. A memorial service was held June 6 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Foley.