Hall of Fame
Quarterback and captain of the Ranger squad in 1965, Whitwell led Northwest to its first-ever state championship and bowl appearance - the inaugural Shrine Bowl at Shreveport, La. The Rangers lost the contest 21-20 to Kilgore, Tex., but Whitwell completed four of seven passes for 68 yards and one touchdown.
The Senatobia native finished the season with nine touchdown passes, and he rushed for seven more. After beginning the year 0-2-1, the Rangers went on to win their last seven regular-season games for a record of 7-3-1. Whitwell was named Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
An honor graduate of Senatobia High School in 1964, he attended Mississippi State University, Northwest, and Delta State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree. In 1972, he graduated from the University of Mississippi's School of Law. For 13 years, he was a practicing attorney in Southaven, and for ten years he served as municipal judge in Horn Lake.
He was recommended for nomination as U.S. Attorney by Senator Thad Cochran in 1985, nominated by President Ronald Reagan in October 1985, and confirmed by the Senate in March 1986. He was reappointed in 1991 by President George Bush, reconfirmed by the Senate, and served in that capacity until 1993. In 1992, Whitwell was received the Outstanding Civil Litigation Award in 1992, from then U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr.
Currently, he is associated with the Ashland law firm of Farese, Farese, and Farese, P.A. The author of a number of legal papers and articles, he speaks frequently to legal, civic, and church groups. On May 13, 1990, he was the commencement speaker at Northwest, where he has also served as an adjunct faculty member teaching business law.
Whitwell was also appointed by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant as 18th District Chancery Court Judge in August 2013.
Whitwell is married to the former Martha Veazey of Coldwater, and they have two adult sons, Quentin and Fletcher. The family resides in Oxford.
