Hundreds attend memorial for Atchison
From staff reports

Roy Atchison's family and friends paid their last respects to the man they remembered as a family man, community leader and federal prosecutor.

Hundreds of people attended the memorial service Tuesday, Oct. 9 at St. Ann Catholic Church.

"We all know what happened in the last month," Monsignor Luke Hunt told those assembled. "To ask why is useless ... there is no answer. Up to a month ago, Roy was doing everything right. That's what we're here to remember, the goodness and hard work that Roy gave to his community in many ways."

Randall Hensel, a co-worker of Roy's for 20 years in the Assistant U.S. Attorney's office, said Roy was a very respected attorney, who recently argued a novel theory in a fraud case which set a precedent to assist in asset forfeiture.

Additionally, he remembered how Roy "played Santa Claus," passing out generators to coworkers left powerless after Hurricane Ivan.

J.B. Schluter told how Roy led the Gulf Breeze Sports Association like a Chief Executive Officer during his tenure as president.

"He had an innate way of going straight to the point," Schluter said, making sure no one manipulated the rules of the organization, which serves 800 families, to his or her benefit.

Sam Atchison spoke of his father. "I'm very proud to be his son. He was a good father, there when we needed him."

The service was an opportunity to remember Atchison, who reportedly was found hanged to death last week in Michigan jail, after allegedly being caught in an internet child sex sting. The FBI is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

"Judging is not our job," Msgr. Hunt said. "To judge you have to have all the evidence. Only God has all the evidence."