Old timers will remember Michael Onderdonk as the state representative from Washington and Clarke Counties. Younger folks will remember him as a senior attorney for the Turner Onderdonk Law firm in Chatom and Mobile for over 40 years.
Andrew Michael Onderdonk died June 26 at age 83. He was born in Mobile just 12 days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. What a time to be alive. He lived most of his life in Citronelle in northern Mobile County and nearby Chatom in Washington County.
He lived long enough to produce one son, four daughters and 11 grandchildren so far.
He was in a minority of folks in Alabama by being a graduate of Ole Miss. He made up for that by graduating from law school at the University of Alabama.
He served as municipal judge of the towns of Citronelle, Chatom and Millry. He was assistant District Attorney for Washington County.
Onderdonk served his community as chairman of the Washington County’s Library Board and Infirmary Nursing Home Board. He served on the Board of Trustees of Alabama State University.
He served on the board of directors of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the board of directors of the Washington County Red Cross, a founder and life member of the Washington County Historical Society, and a member of the Citronelle Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Abba Temple Shrine.
He was chairman of the Washington County Wildlife Association and a member of Capt. Leroy Bowing Lodge #1606 Sons of Confederate Veterans. He was a past member of the Washington County and Citronelle Industrial Development Boards.
Onderdonk was a recipient of the Town of Chatom’s “Pillar of the Community Award.” On a state level, he was inducted into the Senior Citizens’ Hall of Fame.
Onderdonk’s dedication to the Washington County Public Library continues after his death. His body lay in state at the library. He asked for no flowers but instead for donations to the library at P.O. Box 1057, Chatom, AL. 36518.
The last name Onderdonk is of Dutch origin and meant “below the hill.” Under the “donk,” a small hill. There is a large population of Dutch heritage in Mobile and Southwest Alabama. The name Onderdonk did not sound unusual or foreign around the life and times of Michael Onderdonk, an Alabama leader.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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