▁who ▁earned ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁He ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁B irmingham , ▁Alabama , ▁and ▁graduated ▁from ▁Ens ley ▁High ▁School ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 7 , ▁before ▁going ▁on ▁to ▁ear n ▁degrees ▁at ▁T roy ▁State ▁University ▁( 1 9 7 2 ), ▁S out he astern ▁Bible ▁College ▁( 1 9 7 4 ), ▁and ▁the ▁Dallas ▁Sem inary ▁( 1 9 8 1 ). ▁ ▁Er win ▁broke ▁into ▁broadcast ing ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁and ▁served ▁radio ▁and ▁TV ▁stations ▁in ▁Dallas , ▁Texas , ▁and ▁B irmingham , ▁Alabama , ▁for ▁almost ▁ 3 5 ▁years . ▁He ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Alabama ▁Senate ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁and ▁re - elect ed ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 . ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Southern ▁Bapt ist ▁Church . ▁ ▁Er win ▁and ▁his ▁wife , ▁She ila , ▁have ▁two ▁sons , ▁Andrew ▁and ▁Jon ▁Er win . ▁Before ▁their ▁sons ▁could ▁drive ▁a ▁car , ▁they ▁wanted ▁to ▁make ▁mov ies . ▁Er win ▁and ▁wife , ▁She ila , ▁bought ▁those ▁video ▁cam eras ▁and ▁Er win ▁Brothers ▁Mot ion ▁Pictures ▁began . ▁Er win ▁says ▁his ▁two ▁sons , ▁four ▁years ▁apart ▁in ▁age , ▁were ▁only ▁in ▁junior ▁high ▁school . ▁As ▁te en agers , ▁Jon ▁and ▁Andy ▁Er win ▁hon ed ▁their ▁skills ▁by ▁shooting ▁short ▁films ▁for ▁a ▁youth ▁camp ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁and