ASU Honors Outstanding Alumni

Sheriff named Distinguished Alumnus

The Athens State University Alumni Association honored eight individuals including its Distinguished Alumnus of the Year as part its annual Alumni Awards Banquet on Saturday. The Alumni Association selects award winners who have contributed successfully to their professions, their communities and to the University.

Lydia Malvina Hammerly Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

Sheriff Mike Blakely

Mike Blakely was born Nov. 1, 1950, to James and Jewell Blakely. He grew up on a family farm in the Pleasant Grove Community of northwestern Limestone County. He is married to his college sweetheart, Debbie McElyea. They have one son, Andy Blakely, and two grandchildren, 7-year-old Luke Johnson and 20-month-old Ben Blakely.

Mike graduated from West Limestone High School in 1968. In 1969 he was appointed as an Alabama State Trooper Cadet. He attended Calhoun Community College until May of 1971 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp Reserves. Upon graduation from boot camp in Parris Island, S.C., in 1971, Mike received a meritorious promotion and graduated at the top of his class. In May 1972 Mike graduated from the Alabama State Police Academy and served as an Alabama State Trooper until January 1983 when he was sworn in as Sheriff of Limestone County. While serving as an Alabama State Trooper, he served as a sniper with the Troopers Special Operation Group. In 1974, he organized the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 62 in Limestone County and served as its first president. While working as a State Trooper, he attended Athens State College and graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Mike enlisted in the Alabama National Guard and graduated in 1981 from the Alabama Military Academy in Ft. McClellan, and received a commission of 2nd lieutenant. He also served as Company Commander of Delta Company of the 1343rd Engineering Battalion. The Athens Jaycees selected him in 1982 as “Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.”

In 1983 he established the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo, which has raised over a half-million dollars for the purchase of equipment for the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. As well as serving on many state boards and committees for law enforcement and juvenile interests, in 2002 he received the “Glenn Blackwell Person of the Year Award” from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Limestone County. Mike’s free time is spent trail riding with his friends.