Judge Bernard J. Mulherin, Sr, 80, of Augusta entered into rest on Sept. 17, 2012, at his residence. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at Saint Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with the Rev. Gerald Ragan and Rev. Robert D. Fain officiating. Interment will follow in Westover Memorial Park.
He is the son of the late Mrs. Mary Clare Mulherin and Mr. James B. Mulherin. He is the grandson of the late Capt. P.H. Rice, Former Director of the Knights of Columbus and last Supreme Director from Georgia. Judge Mulherin was a native of Augusta and attended Boys Catholic High School, Spring Hill College and earned his law degree from the University of Georgia where he graduated Cum Laude. His honors include Editor of the Law Review, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Fraternity, Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges, Outstanding Senior ROTC Cadet and Elected as a Member of the Honor Court. After graduation from Law School he served as a commissioned officer in the Infantry Corps of the United States Army, and was stationed in Germany. Judge Mulherin is a member of the American Legion Post #205 and a member of the Association of the United States Army.
Upon termination of his tour of duty with the military, Judge Mulherin became a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, during which service he received a letter of recognition for bravery from Director J. Edgar Hoover.
Upon leaving the Bureau, he joined the prestigious law firm of Hull, Towill, Norman, Barrett & Johnson, where he practiced law as a partner for 20 years, until he was appointed as a Superior Court Judge of the Augusta Judicial Circuit in 1980. He acted as sitting judge for the Superior Court of the Augusta Judicial Circuit until his appointment to Senior Judge for the State of Georgia Superior Court system. This appointment was made by the Governor of Georgia on January 4, 1999, which appointment is a lifetime appointment.
Judge Mulherin’s personal affiliations include American Bar Association, American College of Mortgage Attorneys (Charter Member), American Judicature Society, Augusta Bar Association, of which he has served as Treasurer and on the Executive Committee, Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia, and the Georgia Bar Association.
He was very active in his church, St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church where he served as a Charter Member of the Parish Council, Chairman of the Finance Committee and Lecturer. He served in all twelve elected chairs of the local Knights of Columbus Council #677 since 1953 and was Grand Knight (President) from 1968 – 1969. He served as the State K of C Secretary, as State Deputy (President) and Immediate Past State Deputy. Additionally, he served as President of the Aquinas Boosters Club as well as other positions and was the Play-by-Play Announcer for Football. Judge Mulherin also served as President of the Irish American Heritage Society and was selected Grand Marshal in 1998. In 2012 the Bernard J. Mulherin, Sr. family was recognized as the Irish Family of the Year. He was also awarded the Exchange Club of Augusta “Book of Golden Deeds” Award in 1995.
Judge Mulherin was a member of the Development Authority of Richmond County since its inception in 1971 to 1980 and served as its first Chairman. He also served as 7th Ward Councilman of the Augusta City Council from 1973 to 1980 until his appointment to the Superior Court Bench by Gov. George Busbee. His City Council Committee assignments included Water Works Committee Chairman, Public Transit, Community Development and joint city-county Building and Grounds Committee. Additionally, he has been a member of the City of Augusta Housing Authority and served as a member of the Government Study Committee for a Unification Charter and of the CSRA Planning Commission.
In 1966, Judge Mulherin began organizing trips for underprivileged boys, many from broken homes, to University of Georgia Football games. For 27 years, this program accepted donations of tickets, food, drinks, candy, transportation and spending money and served over 3000 young boys with the help of over 650 volunteers.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Boy’s Club of Augusta for over 25 years and served as its President in 1984. He was co-originator of the Club’s “Steak and Burger Dinner”, a special treat for the members, who on that night eat steak, while prominent members of the community eat hamburgers. To challenge the boys, he initiated a year-round community service competition at the Boy’s Club through which these boys could become eligible for the football game trips. There were typically 120 participants with 35-40 from the Boy’s Club each year, many of whom anonymously received clothing and/or money from Judge Mulherin to help support their education.
Judge Mulherin was very active in supporting the Paul Anderson Youth Home for Boys in Vidalia, Georgia. In a similar fashion as his activities in Augusta, in 1986 he began taking youths from PAYH to Georgia Southern University Football Games. The 27th Anniversary of this game will be November 10th and will be continued by his sons.
Judge Mulherin was preceded in death by his son Bernard J. Mulherin, Jr. and is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara Grealish Mulherin; two daughters Ashlyn M. Hutto (James) and Mary Anne M. McCollum (John), both of Augusta; two sons, Edward G. Mulherin (LeAnne) of Atlanta and John G. Mulherin (Debbie) of Statesboro, along with grandchildren Bernard J Mulherin III, Walter and Camilla Hutto, Clare and Patrick Mulherin, Mary Catherine and Carson McCollum, Hannah and Matthew Mulherin; great grandchildren Joseph and Pamela; sister, Betty Logan; sisters-in-law, Louise and Elizabeth Mulherin.
Judge Mulherin was also preceded in death by his brothers, Patrick, Matthew, and Jimmie Mulherin, and also by his sister, Mary Dunaway.
The Holy Rosary will be recited at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church. The family will greet friends following the Rosary until 8:00 PM in the Narthex.
Pallbearers will be Sean Burke, Edward Dorr, Matthew Pursley, Turnbull Pursley, Danny Walter and Michael Walter. Honorary pallbearers will be Dick Brotherton, Jack Burke, Ferris Dorr, Jack Markwalter, Patrick Rice and Buck Tinley.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Paul Anderson Youth Home in Vidalia, 1603 McIntosh Street, Vidalia, GA, 30475, (912) 537-7237, or(800)559-PAYH, or on their website: www.payh.org, or to St. Mary on The Hill Catholic Church,1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta GA, 30904.