Toombs DA Dennis Sanders named as Georgia's District Attorney of the Year

SANDERS

Dennis Sanders, district attorney for the Toombs Judicial Circuit, was named Georgia's "District Attorney of the Year" for 2006 by his fellow district attorneys at their annual summer seminar held recently on Jekyll Island.

Sanders began his career in the district attorney's office in 1973 as an assistant district attorney, serving under the late Kenneth Goolsby. In 1984, he was elected district attorney for the Toombs Judicial Circuit which is comprised of Lincoln, Glascock, McDuffie, Taliaferro, Warren, and Wilkes counties.

Apparently, Sanders was one of the few prosecuting attorneys in the state who had no knowledge of the award prior to the event. His staff, along with his wife, Kay, and the leaders of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council, all worked to ensure that he would be present at the awards ceremony.

It did not end there. After getting Sanders to the ceremony, the members of his staff were forced to hide in a nearby room so their presence would not make him suspicious. As he approached the stage to accept the award in front of an audience of approximately 1,000 prosecutors, his co-workers were quickly retrieved from their hiding place so they could watch their boss receive the prestigious honor.

"It surprised me so much that I was literally shaking when I accepted the award," said Sanders. "I'm not exactly sure what I said, but I did attempt to pay tribute to the many outstanding men and women I've worked with over the years."

One of the top prosecutors in the state, Sanders is well known for the manner in which he approaches his job.

According to attorney Freddie Sanders, who bears no relation to the district attorney, "I don't think I've ever heard anyone say a bad word about Dennis."

This same sentiment was echoed by Pete Theodocion, another attorney, who said, "I knew I would be treated professionally by Dennis and his staff whenever I visited the Toombs Circuit."

Active in his community, Sanders is known by many as a Little League coach and by even more as the voice of the Thomson High School Bulldogs for over two decades. Last year, the Georgia Bar presented him with the Justice Robert Benham Award in recognition of his contributions to the community.

District Attorney David Miller of Valdosta nominated Sanders as the 2006 District Attorney of the Year and was on stage during the awards ceremony. In his comments, he pointed out that Sanders was a past president of the District Attorneys' Association as well as chairman of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council.

"I've worked with Chairman Sanders as a member of the organization's long-term planning committee, which under his leadership has accomplished so much during the last few years," said Miller.

In further remarks on being named the state's District Attorney of the Year, Sanders said, "It is a lot easier to have success when you have a staff like I have. I would put my staff up against any in the state. These people are simply the best."

As far as Sanders' staff is concerned, Chief Assistant DA Woody Davis, who has been a prosecutor since 1993, heads up the attorneys; whereas, office manager Vivian Hixenbaugh, who has worked with Sanders since 1976, leads the clerical staff.

When asked if there is a secret to his success, Sanders replied, "There certainly is. I just remember what Sheriff William Swan (of McDuffie County) taught me years ago. He said, 'Always remember that you are no bigger than anyone else, you're just in a big job.'"

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