Loggins paved way for female professionals in Covington County

Two locals will be inducted into the Opp Hall of Fame next month at the annual induction banquet hosted by the Opp and Covington County Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s inductees are Eugenia “Genie” Lee Loggins and Waylon Lamar “Billy” Jones.

Loggins shattered glass ceilings for women in Covington County by becoming the first woman attorney here and first female district attorney.

Loggins was born March 20, 1947, to Kinston residents Braxton and Sara Williams Lee.

She graduated valedictorian of the Opp High School class of 1965.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Auburn in 1968 and earned her juris doctorate from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in 1978.

She married Tim Loggins in September 1968, and they have one daughter, Katie.

After passing the state bar in February 1978, she began practicing law with her husband under the firm name Loggins and Loggins.

She became the first woman to practice law in Opp and Covington County.

From 1979-1986, she served as the municipal court judge for the City of Opp. She was also the first person to serve in that capacity locally.

She received the Alabama Municipal Judge’s Association Thespian Award in recognition of her accomplishment.

She and Tim served as part-time assistant district attorneys from 1982-1986. She was also the first woman to assume that position.

In 1986, she was elected district attorney of the 22nd Judicial Circuit and became the first woman in the state of Alabama to be elected as district attorney. She served as district attorney for 18 years, which made her the longest serving district attorney in the local circuit.

After she retired in 2005, she served as a partner with the Loggins Firm LLC from January 2005 to her retirement from law at the end of 2013.

She had served the community in various other ways, as well.

She has been a member of the Opp Chamber of Commerce for at least 20 years. She was a member of the board of directors and served as president of the board.

She has been involved in the Opp Cultural Arts Center and served as a board members.

She’s also a member of the Three Arts Club, where she serves as president.

She is a lifelong member off the First United Methodist Church in Opp where she is a trustee, administrative board member and serves on the FUMC leadership committee.