It is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of our brother, Assistant Public Defender, Porter Louis Merriwether. Portor was an attorney at 26th Street and had been a public defender since April 16, 1984. He passed away on November 13, 2009. Anyone that knew him truly appreciated his charm, wit and passion for justice.
Portor was born to the late J.B,. and Shirley Kendric Meriwether on March 16, 1940. Portor was 1958 graduate of Lincoln High School in Evansville, Indiana, where he was an award winning basketball player.
He went on to attend Tennessee State A & I University on a basketball scholarship. While there, he made the first team in his freshmen year and was team captain for 3 years; he was a 3 time All-American; a United Press International All-American; a Chuck Taylor Converse All-American team member; and an alternate on the 1960 U.S.Olympic Basketball team.
Portor was inducted into the Tennessee State University Hall of Fame in 1984 as a member of the 3 time NAIA championship basketball team (1958 – 59) led by legendary coach John B. McClendon. He was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Portor was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1962 draft to the Syracuse Nationals. After retiring from professional basketball, he graduated from Howard University School of Law.
Portor is survived by his devoted wife of 39 years, Marlene; daughter, Dr. Pippa Meriwether; one granddaughter, Teilei Hall; brothers, Lawrence (Garnette), Lee (Carol); sisters: Arrelia Coleman, Joan (Lewis) Lyons; sister-in-law, Alicia Peck; dedicated surrogate family, Aleen Donaldson, Jimmie Covington, Phillip Beverly,Pierre Jones, Brandon (Ice) Heard, Daniel Willis and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Portor is, posthumously, our member of the month.
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