Bloomer Rankin Fite began practicing law in Hamilton, Alabama in the 1880's. Four of his sons, Arthur, Fred, Kelly and Ernest, became lawyers. Following in his father's footsteps, Ernest Fite began practicing law in Hamilton and is considered the founding member of the present firm. During his lifetime, he represented Marion County in both the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives. He was also President of Marion County Banking Company, one of the county's oldest banks. His son, Rankin Fite, joined his father's practice in 1939 at the office building at 123 First Avenue, SW, commonly referred to as the "white house," a one-story white wood frame office building which still exists and is being restored on the northwest corner of the firm's new office location.

Rankin Fite

Rankin Fite was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in World War II and flew more than 50 combat missions in the European Theater as a navigator. In 1945, he returned to resume the practice of law with his father. In 1946, he began his career in politics, serving in either the Alabama Senate or House of Representatives except for one brief four year period. He served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1955-1959 and again from 1976-1971. Due to his failing health, he retired from the Legislature in 1974 and died in November, 1980. His remarkable accomplishments are unequaled in the history of Marion County. Out of respect for his accomplishments, Fite remained in the firm name following Rankin's death. On the first floor of the firm's office is a replica of Rankin Fite's law office memorializing his political life.

Past to Present

From its early years as Fite and Fite, Attorneys at Law, the firm has grown. In 1958, Rankin's brother-in-law, Robert H. Thomas, joined the firm and in 1961, Arthur Fite, Jr. joined the firm and the name of the firm became Fite, Thomas and Fite. After Robert H. Thomas left the firm, Jim Davis joined the firm in 1969, thus the name was changed to Fite, Davis and Fite. Bill Atkinson joined the firm in 1981, followed by John Bentley in December of 1984. The firm name was changed to Fite, Davis, Atkinson and Bentley. In 1989, Bill's son, Todd Atkinson, joined the firm. To complete the firm as it exists today, Jerry Guyton joined the firm in 1994 and Daryl Burt followed in 1995. John Bentley left the firm in November, 2002 to become the presiding Judge of the 25th Judicial Circuit of Alabama.

The Future

From the firm's growth, it has developed to serve the commercial, industrial, banking, utility and professional needs of the area. The firm continues to focus on the people of Marion County, with its primary emphasis on plaintiff litigation, the firm's hallmark since its founding. Fite, Davis, Atkinson, Guyton and Burt, the oldest law firm in Marion County, will continue meeting the needs of its clients into its second century.