On Tues., Jan. 22, 2009, my brother passed away while hunting in the Conecuh National Forest. He was an avid hunter and loved the outdoors more than anyone I know. He will surely be missed by all that knew him.

My family and I would like to thank all those people that helped remove my brother from his tree stand — Sheriff Dennis Meeks, Weldon Griggs and the sheriff’s reserves, Advanced EMS, the Alabama Game and Fish Wildlife Management Division and the U.S. Forest Service to name a few.

The friend that was hunting with him told my family that he had never seen a group work as diligently and professionally as when they were recovering my brother.

Thank you so much for handling my brother with the care and compassion that his hunting partner described. Covington County is surely a better place having these people in it.

Sincerely,

Gary Grogan

Vestavia Hills, Ala.