Stephen Ray Conklan grew up in Mobile. He received the B.A. and M.A. from the University of Alabama. His undergraduate majors were history and political science. His graduate degree is in Spanish and he had the opportunity to study in Madrid.  He was initiated into the Sigma Delta Pi honorary and was active in College Republicans.

Steve taught high school and college courses in Spanish and U.S. history for thirty-one years. In 1994, during his tenure at Marion Military Institute, he received the Board of Trustees’ Excellence in Classroom Teaching award.  In 2007, he was Bibb County’s nominee for the Alabama Teacher of the Year. Steve also served as a technology coordinator for Bibb County schools and was twice named a Microsoft MVP.

Steve coached academic bowl for fifteen years. His teams usually advanced to State competition. He served as president of the Alabama Scholastic Competition Association and was for many years director of the Alabama Scholastic Challenge, the State’s academic bowl tournament.

Steve is married to Linda Rinehart of Marion. He joined Lewis, Smyth & Winter in January 2008.