Wyman Westberry

Wyman Westberry (born May 25, 1941) is an American businessman, conservationist, and United States Army veteran, who came to public attention in the 1970s when he raised concerns about the Gilman Paper Company's corporate practices related to environmental pollution, tax evasion, and political corruption. He subsequently provided testimony and materials to federal law enforcement, and his revelations were instrumental in multiple government investigations and federal suit against Gilman Paper Company (United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. George W. Brumley, Sr., Robert W. Harrison, and William Thomas, Defendants-appellants, 560 F.2d 1268). It is the subject of James Fallows and Ralph Nader's publication, The Water Lords. Westberry is also one of the subjects of Fallows' More Like Us and national bestseller, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America. Former United States Senate Press Secretary Stephan Lesher chronicled the events in Media Unbound: The Impact of Television Journalism on the Public.

Early life Born on May 25, 1941, in Wayne County, Georgia, Westberry was the sixth of ten children. He graduated from Wayne County High School and attended college in Savannah, Georgia and the City College of New York (CCNY – also part of the City University of New York), prior to being drafted to the U.S. Army to serve as an engineer.

Gilman Paper Company litigation In 1970, members of Ralph Nader's "Nader's Raiders" were located in the nearby city of Savannah conducting the study regarding the influence of large companies on pollution, tax evasion, and economic peonage of surrounding areas. Harrison also served as the attorney for the St. Marys mill; the attorney for the surrounding cities of St. Marys, Kingsland, and Folkston; the attorney for the local school board and the hospital authority; and the attorney for Camden and Charlton Counties. At its peak, the mill's executive vice president and general manager, George W. Brumley, reported that Gilman Paper Company was the only major Georgia industry south of Brunswick and east of Waycross, estimating 75 percent of the economy of Camden County to be directly dependent on Gilman Paper Company.

Georgia's Democratic Primary of 1970 After his termination, Westberry encouraged his friend and local physician, Carl Drury, to run for the office of state representative from the 66th District, which included Camden, Brantley, and Charlton counties. Using leaked documents provided by Westberry, Drury's campaign became a vocal critic of Harrison's involvement with Gilman Paper Company and received statewide attention. Later that spring, Mike Wallace and the film crew of CBS Evening News 60 Minutes visited St. Marys to interview Gilman Paper Company's executive vice president and general manager, George Brumley, and report on the allegations waged by Westberry and Drury. According to his later testimony, Brown never intended to follow-through with the contract, but instead warned Westberry of the solicitation. The FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation provided Brown with covert listening devices to record his conversations with Gilman Paper Company's supervisor Thomas, manager Brumley, and attorney Harrison. On the evidence gathered, a federal grand jury convened to take testimony about the murder plot in May 1972.

On October 15, 1975, the United States grand jury, sitting at Savannah, indicted George W. Brumley, Vice President and resident manager of the Gilman Paper Company at St. Marys, Georgia; Robert W. Harrison, longtime attorney, former legislator, and local counsel for Gilman Paper Company; and William (Tommy) Thomas, an employee of Gilman. A nine-day jury trial resulted in the conviction of all three defendants on all pending counts, including conspiracy to commit murder. In 1992, he founded ATN, Inc. He serves as chairman of the board of ATN, Inc. and AmTel, Inc. Both companies have been subject to criticism by Prison Rights Movement organizations, such as the Prison Policy Initiative.

Personal life Westberry has remained a resident of St. Marys, Georgia.