Robert Terry Everett

Robert Terry Everett (February 15, 1937 – March 12, 2024) a native and lifelong resident of the Wiregrass, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning at his home in Rehobeth. Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey Robert and Thelma Mae (Fowler) Everett, his brother Jerald Everett, and his sister Bobbie Jean Smith.  He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara Pitts Everett.  He is also survived by his brother, Ronnie Everett (Sally) and several nieces and nephews. 

Terry was born at Moody Hospital in Dothan, grew up in Midland City and graduated from Midland City High School. Afterwards, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served four years, from 1955 to 1959, as an intelligence specialist (eventually gaining top-secret clearance) in West Germany. After leaving the Air Force, Terry lived for 31 years in Enterprise, and the remainder of his life in the Dothan area (Rehobeth).

Following his military service, Terry returned to Dothan, where he worked as a sports and police beat reporter for the Dothan Eagle. He married Barbara Pitts in 1969. Together, they embarked upon publishing and owning numerous daily and weekly newspaper publications in several states before selling the remaining paper, the Union Springs Herald, in 2003.  Terry served as chair of the board of the Alabama Press Association and the board of directors of the Dothan Federal Savings Bank.  He was also an active small businessman serving as president, owner, and operator of Everett Farms, Premium Home Builders, and the Everett Land Development Company in Enterprise.

Following the retirement of Alabama Second District Congressman Bill Dickinson in 1992, Terry ran for the open congressional seat and defeated State Senator Larry Dixon in the Republican primary.  He went on to beat State Treasurer George C. Wallace, Jr. in the general election. While in Congress, he served on the Agriculture Committee, Armed Services Committee, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.  He was one of only a handful of House members to serve on four major committees simultaneously.

During his 16 year tenure in the U.S. House, he took a leading role in protecting southeast peanut farmers, chairing the Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture Programs subcommittee where he authored portions of the 2002 Farm Bill in support of peanut growers. On the Armed Services Committee, he stood firmly behind southeast Alabama’s military bases, including Fort Rucker (now Fort Novosel) and Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery. While on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he investigated the abuse of veterans in VA hospitals and nursing homes, and secured increases in veterans’ health care spending.

As the first chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, he became a recognized advocate for protecting and advancing U.S. military space capability.  Upon his retirement from Congress in 2009, Terry was chosen as the first member of Congress to participate in the Air Force space war games, where he played the role of president. He was also appointed by President Obama to serve on the U.S. State Department’s International Security Advisory Board.

Visitation will take place at 10 a.m., followed by services at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Rehobeth Baptist Church. Burial to follow at Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Headland.

Flowers will be accepted or charitable gifts may be made to Felines Under Rescue, Dothan, AL or Save our Strays (SOS) Animal Shelter, Enterprise, Alabama.

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