Birmingham producer/director Jonathan Barbee receives four Telly awards
Birmingham-based producer/director Jonathan Barbee announced that he and the Barbee Media Group had been awarded two silver Telly awards and two bronze Telly awards for their work on behalf of two Republican political campaigns during the 2022 elections in Alabama. Barbee received these awards for political commercials and a biography he produced during the 2022 election cycle for State Auditor candidate Andrew Sorell and Gubernatorial candidate Lindy Blanchard. The categories were: Best Craft – Directing, Best Craft – Cinematography, Best Biography, and Best regional commercial. “The Telly Awards are a symbol of excellence in production, and I am deeply honored to have received these awards,” said Barbee. “I want to thank my parents, friends, and my wife, Joanne, for their support and encouragement throughout the years. I also have a great team at Barbee Media Group and couldn’t do great things without them.” Barbee posted on Facebook, “4 Telly Awards! I’m so thankful and blessed. I have wonderful parents, family, friends, and amazing support from my loving wife, Joanne. 💕God is Good!” Barbee made his comments Thursday evening at a reception at The Club in Birmingham. Barbee is the CEO of Barbee Media Group. He has 25 years of experience in the film, television, and marketing industries. The Sorrell ads helped Sorrell, who had served just one term as a state representative representing the northwest, to win the highly competitive Republican primary and then steamroll his Libertarian opponent in the 2022 general election. Blanchard was a complete political newcomer in 2022, but her ads helped vault her into statewide name recognition and a second-place finish despite a crowded field. Blanchard ultimately fell short to incumbent Governor Kay Ivey, but no incumbent Alabama governor has lost their party’s primary since 1970 when then Governor Albert Brewer narrowly was defeated in the Democratic primary by former Governor George Wallace. “We currently have a national TV show in production, a statewide weekly show, various video projects, Livestream productions, and videography for the Miss Alabama program,” said Barbee. “Our clients believe in us, and we deliver amazing results for them. The proof is in the Telly, so to speak.” Barbee is a former elected Jefferson County Constable and a former Republican candidate for the Alabama Public Service Commission. Since 1979 the Telly Awards have recognized excellence in video and television across all screens. They are judged by esteemed leaders from renowned organizations such as Adobe, BBC World Service, Netflix, and National Geographic Society. With a record-breaking number of entries—nearly 13,000—from around the globe, the 44th Annual Telly Awards was highly competitive, featuring submissions from top content producers such as Disney, Netflix, and Paramount. The Tellys are judged by the Telly Awards Judging Council, an esteemed panel of over 200 leading experts representing advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks. The competition celebrates the diverse and dynamic nature of the multiscreen industry. This year’s winners include some of the most prominent global brands and companies alongside smaller and independent production houses, including Cut+Run, Netflix, Disney Parks, Media.Monks, Paramount, National Geographic Society, and the dynastic NBA team, the Golden State Warriors. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Judge Richard Minor campaigns in Etowah County
On Saturday, Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Richard Minor addressed the Etowah County Republican breakfast meeting in Rainbow City. Minor is serving his first term in the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. “I am one of the five judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals,” Minor said. Minor said his legal career began “As a clerk as a senior at Auburn for then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.” Minor then got his law degree from Cumberland Law School at Samford University. He worked as a prosecutor in Tuscaloosa and Jefferson County before becoming an assistant district attorney in St Clair County. Minor was elected as District Attorney of St. Clair County. Minor explained that when Alabama became a state, there were five judicial circuits and five judges. “The five judges met together to comprise the Supreme Court to decide matters of law,” Minor said. “Today, there are 41 circuits and Bessemer,” Minor said. “Judges were appointed by the Legislature until after Reconstruction then became elected.” Minor explained that the first Supreme Court could consider points of law, not points of facts, as they ruled in the 1821 Fleming case, which was the first capital case before the Alabama Supreme Court. The Court of Criminal Appeals is similar. “If it is a question of fact, we can’t hear the case,” Minor said. The Criminal Court of Appeals can consider “just questions of law.” The (Alabama) Supreme Court can consider appeals based on fact. “The appellate rights we have today come from the legislature,” Minor said. “After Reconstruction, the Supreme Court went from 5 to 7 judges. In 1911 the Legislature created the Court of Appeals. Minor said that the modern appellate court structure was set in 1969 by Governor Albert Brewer and the Legislature. There is a Court of Criminal Appeals and a Court of Civil Appeals with nine justices on the Supreme Court. “Mary Windom is the presiding judge on the Court of Criminal Appeals,” Minor explained. “Amy Lola Price was the first presiding judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals,” Minor said. “She was a judge before women could serve on a jury.” “We handle between 1,100 and 1,600 appeals a year,” Minor said. “We are the fourth most active mid-level appeals court in the nation and the 11th most active appellate court in the country.” Minor explained that 11 of the 18 appellate court judgeships will be on the ballot in 2024. “I am on the ballot in March. So is Bill Cole,” Minor said. “There is an open seat on our court because Judge (Chris) McCool is running for Supreme Court.” “Two individuals out of the AGs office are campaigning for the (open) seat,” Minor said. Minor said that the Court of Criminal Appeals has such a large caseload because everyone convicted of a crime has a right to appeal in Alabama. “We don’t have the right to deny them the right to appeal like the Supreme Court does,” Minor said. “We have a 4 or 5% reversal rate.” “Sometimes the judge did something wrong,” Minor said. “Sometimes the sentencing is wrong.” Minor explained that there is an issue when a judge finds a defendant guilty of both a major felony and a Class D felony in how the sentencing of that felony is allowed to be run. Minor said it is important for defense counsels to raise an objection on a matter of law during the trial. “If defense council doesn’t make an objection, there is nothing you can do about it,” Minor explained. “Words mean something,” Minor said. “If the legislature put a certain word in a statute, it means something.” “At the Court of Criminal Appeals, even though if I don’t like the law, we can’t change them,” Minor said. “At the Supreme Court, they can change them.” An example of that is the year and a day rule. “That came over from England in the common law,” Minor explained. If a victim lives for a year and a day after the attack, the attacker cannot be charged with murder, but medical technology has changed a lot since then. “In 1986, the Supreme Court upheld the year and a day rule,” Minor continued. In a more recent case, the Alabama Supreme Court struck down the year and a day rule and allowed a murder trial to occur. “The Alabama Supreme Court can change it, but our court can’t,” Minor said. Another example occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. You have a right to face your accuser. “The judge allowed the witnesses to wear masks,” Minor said. “It was a 3 to 2 decision, me and McCool,” voted that it violated the right to face your accusers principle. “They only take about 3% of the cases that come out of the Court of Criminal Appeals,” Minor said of the Alabama Supreme Court. “They will normally take capital cases.” “Eleven of the eighteen appellate judges will be on the ballot in March,” Minor said. “I hope that you will consider voting for me, Judge Cole, and also Judge McCool, who is running for Supreme Court.” Minor was asked about soft-on-crime district attorneys who make unilateral decisions not to enforce certain Alabama laws. “There are certain things I can and can’t say because of the rules for judges,” Minor said. “The district attorney is elected. The people of the county elected whoever that individual is. If that is what they want, then that is what they get. Things that are done here and in St. Clair County are done very differently than in other counties because that is how we are set up.” “It does cause concern when someone has sworn an oath to follow the Constitution, both the U.S. and Alabama, and that individual says they won’t enforce a law that is on the books. If you want to change it, then run for the Legislature. Not enforcing it is bad law.” “In February 2025, we will elect a new presiding judge because we will have a new judge,” Minor said. “It won’t change Mary
Steve Flowers: Alabama has a host of outstanding political leaders under 45
It may appear to you and most casual observers of Alabama politics that our Alabama elected officials are old. That observation is accurate when you observe our current leaders in the highest offices. The governor’s office has been held by mature folks in recent years. Our current Governor, Kay Ivey, is 78 and has been the object of national media humor for appearing to be a pistol-toting great-grandmother. Dr. Robert Bentley, her predecessor, was in his 70’s, but he may have been sprier than he appeared. Bob Riley was no spring chicken while governor at age 65, although he looked younger. Our iconic senator, Richard Shelby, retired in January at 88 after a record-breaking 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Our new Senior Senator, Tommy Tuberville, is 68. This was not always the case in the Heart of Dixie. In the period from 1930 through 1970, we elected the youngest political leaders in the nation, beginning with our legendary tandem of United States Senators Lister Hill and John Sparkman, who served together close to 30 years. Lister Hill was elected to Congress from Montgomery in 1923 at age 29 and was elected to the U.S. Senate at age 44. John Sparkman was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1946 at 46 after serving as the Congressman for the Tennessee Valley. If you think Hill and Sparkman were young when they went to Washington, you have not seen anything like the governors we elected from 1946 -1966. James E. “Big Jim” Folsom was 38 when he was elected in 1946. John Patterson was 37 when he was elected in 1958. Patterson was referred to as the “Boy Governor.” When George Wallace was elected to his first term in 1962, he was only 43. When his wife Lurleen Wallace was elected in 1966, she was 40. She died in office of cancer less than two years later at 41. Lurleen Wallace was succeeded by Lt. Governor Albert Brewer, who had been Speaker of the Alabama House at 34, Lt. Governor at 38, and was 39 when he became governor. Bill Baxley was the youngest Attorney General in America when he was elected Attorney General of Alabama at 29 years old in 1970. He had been a 25-year-old District Attorney in Houston and Henry Counties. Baxley still practices law in Birmingham at 81. Well, folks, a cursory look at our current top elected officials may appear old. However, we have a generation of young political leaders arriving on the scene in Alabama. We already have superstars on the horizon and already on the scene who are under 45. Our new United States Senator, Katie Britt, is only 40 years old. She has the ability and youthfulness to be one of Alabama’s greatest senators. She has gotten to the Senate at a younger age than Hill, Sparkman, or Shelby. Marshall County has become the hotbed and breeding ground for the next generations of Alabama political leaders. This beautiful pristine lake area of North Alabama lays claim to Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, age 41, State Senate Majority leader Clay Scofield, age 42, and State Representative Wes Kitchens, who is 35 and is Vice Chairman of the House Republican Caucus. Andrew Sorrell, the newly elected State Auditor, is only 37. He has a bright future. The brightest star in the Democratic ranks is Huntsville State Representative Anthony Daniels. At age 40, Daniels is a superstar. He is in his third term in the House from Huntsville. He is the Minority Leader in the House. This gentleman is also a successful high-tech businessman in Rocket City. There are several other stars under 45 in the Alabama House of Representatives besides Daniels and Kitchens, including Kyle South of Fayette, Matt Simpson of Daphne, Joe Lovvorn of Auburn, Ben Robbins of Sylacauga, Scott Stadthagen of Madison, Corey Harbison of Cullman, and very young newcomers James Lomax of Huntsville and Brock Colvin of Albertville. Joining the affable and accomplished 42-year-old Senate Majority Leader, Clay Scofield in the powerful State Senate in the under 45 superstar group are Senator Chris Elliott, 42, of Baldwin, Senator Andrew Jones, 38, of Cherokee, and newly elected Senator Josh Carnley from Coffee County who is 44. Alabama has a host of under 45 political leaders. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column is seen in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the legislature. He may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
Hearing on voting machine lawsuit is today
A judge will hear a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the use of vote counting machines today in Montgomery at 9:00 a.m. The lawsuit was originally brought by Republican primary candidate Lindy Blanchard and State Rep. Tommy Hanes. The candidates had originally sought to bar the use of the vote tabulation machines in the May 24 Republican primary. Both Hanes and Blanchard lost in the primary. Hanes, the incumbent, lost to challenger Republican Mike Kirkland 3,707 48.4% to 3,950 51.6%. Kirkland is unopposed in the general election. Blanchard finished second to incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey, but the popular incumbent received 54.8% of the vote in the primary, besting Blanchard and seven other primary opponents combined to avoid a Republican primary runoff. No incumbent governor in Alabama has lost their party primary since George C. Wallace beat incumbent Gov. Albert Brewer in the 1970 Democratic primary. Three incumbents have lost general elections. Failing to block the machine tabulation of both the primary and primary runoff votes, the lawsuit is now just challenging the use and accuracy of the machines in general. Blanchard has left the lawsuit, which is being supported by My Pillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell. Former Gov. Don Siegelman has taken Blanchard’s place in the lawsuit. Siegelman, the last Democratic governor in Alabama history, maintains that he actually won the 2002 general election to then-Congressman Bob Riley. The Republican Party has won the last five gubernatorial elections, and incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to win re-election on November 8. The Alabama chapter of the ultra-MAGA group Focus On America (FOA) is continuing to support the lawsuit. Supporters and members of the group are being asked to attend Tuesday’s hearing to show support. Signs will not be allowed in the courtroom. Secretary of State John H. Merrill has maintained that the vote counting machines, which do not connect to the internet, are both safe and accurate. Merrill said in a statement after meeting with Lindell, “Every Alabamian should be proud that Alabama was recognized as the gold standard for election administration for the first time in our state’s history by the Concerned Women for American Legislative Action Committee. We will continue to work with those like Mr. Lindell and other concerned citizens to provide complete transparency.” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit citing a lack of grounds. If the motion to dismiss is denied, the case could move forward to the trial stage in the coming weeks. Merrill maintains that replacing the vote tabulation machines with hand counts by poll workers, like Russia and some countries still use, will slow the vote counting down and add an opportunity for potential fraud as well as mistakes by the human vote counters. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Bill Baxley
The 1970 Governor’s Race between George Wallace and Albert Brewer overshadowed every other political race in the state that year. However, one of Alabama’s legendary political figures burst on the scene in 1970, when Bill Baxley was elected Attorney General of Alabama. The Attorney General’s race was below the radar screen of the titanic war waged by Brewer and Wallace. Bill Baxley’s victory was a major upset. Baxley was a 28-year-old district attorney from the Wiregrass. He beat a veteran Attorney General MacDonald Gallion in a close race. Baxley became the youngest Attorney General in the nation when he was sworn in at the January Inauguration. He had just turned 29. His historic rise at such a young age made him fodder for national publications like Time Magazine, who featured him as one of the brightest rising stars in the nation. His brilliance gave new meaning to the word prodigy. It was not immediately apparent to the voters of Alabama that they had elected a true progressive liberal as their Attorney General. They soon did when Baxley began aggressively attacking the Big Mules in Birmingham and throughout the state and consistently fought for the downtrodden in the state. He sued every Big Mule in sight, including U.S. Steel, for pollution and other environmental concerns during his 20-year career in state politics. Baxley never deviated or backed down from his progressive Democratic ideology, even when it might have been politically expedient to do so. He could not be bought. He was his own man and a true Alabama political statesman. When Baxley won the 1970 Attorney General’s race over MacDonald Gallion, he openly and unashamedly courted liberals, labor, and blacks to win the race. He did not do it for expediency, but because his heart was in it. Baxley was a true progressive Southern Democrat. He openly courted, embraced, and built an overt friendship with labor leaders and black leaders such as Joe Reed. Baxley was certainly a contrast to our race-baiting Governor George Wallace. Ironically, Wallace loved Baxley. Deep down, Wallace was a hardcore progressive who had lived through the Depression. He cut his teeth as a New Deal Democrat. Baxley forged a political career with epic historical milestones in Alabama politics. He was elected Attorney General in 1970 and again in 1974. He ran second for Governor in 1978 when Fob James came out of the blue to upset the “Three B’s” – Bill Baxley, Albert Brewer, and Jere Beasley in the governor’s race. Bill Baxley came back in 1982 and was elected Lt. Governor. He served closely with George Wallace, who was serving his fourth and final term as Governor. They had a special friendship and spoke on the phone constantly. I think Wallace admired Baxley for being true to his principles. He also respected Baxley’s understanding of some of the golden rules of politics, and that is “your word is your bond” and also “you dance with the ones who brung you.” Bill Baxley was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1986. He was upset by Guy Hunt, who became the first Republican governor since Reconstruction that year. Bill Baxley left politics after that race and did what he really loved. He became one of the most prominent trial lawyers in Alabama. He loves the practice of law. He was born for it. For the last 36 years, he has been one of Alabama’s top lawyers and probably one of the most expensive. Baxley now resides in Birmingham and takes prominent cases all over the state. Baxley was born and raised in Dothan. His daddy, Keener Baxley, was a well-respected Circuit Judge in Dothan. The Baxley’s were a prominent family and among the earliest settlers of Houston County. Young Bill Baxley grew up loving the law, politics, and baseball. He grew up in his Daddy’s courtroom in Dothan and learned to love the law. There was never any doubt in his mind that he would be a lawyer by profession because he probably was not going to be a major league baseball player, which was every young boy’s dream at that time. He was always brilliant academically and was gifted with a photographic memory. He skipped a grade in school and finished high school at age 15. He entered the University of Alabama at age 16. He graduated from college at age 19 and the University of Alabama Law School at age 22. After law school, he returned to Dothan to practice law. He was elected District Attorney for Houston and Henry Counties at the ripe old age of 25. Three years later, he was elected Attorney General of Alabama. The rest is history. Bill Baxley has a place in Alabama history. It is hard to believe that young Bill Baxley turns 81 this month. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Steve Flowers: Fob James story, 1978 governor’s race
The crowded field for governor striving to oust incumbent Governor Kay Ivey includes Tim James. He has run before. In fact, this is his third try for the brass ring. His last race was in 2010, when he barely missed the runoff by a few votes. He was edged out by Robert Bentley, who went on to win. Tim James’ primary calling card has always been that he is the son of former Governor Fob James. The elder James was an ultra-successful businessman who was first elected governor in 1978 as a Democrat and then elected to a second term as governor as a Republican in 1994. Governor Fob James’s first election as Governor in 1978 is one for the record books. The 1978 Governor’s Race is one of the classics in Alabama political lore. That governor’s race, which began with three heavyweights – former Governor Albert Brewer, Attorney General Bill Baxley, and Lt. Governor Jere Beasley – was expected to be titanic. The Republicans were relegated to insignificance on the gubernatorial stage. Therefore, the winner of the Democratic Primary would be governor. Meanwhile, over in east Alabama, a little-known former Auburn halfback named Fob James strolled into the governor’s race. Fob’s entry evoked very little interest, only curiosity as to why he would want to enter the fray against three well-known major players. Fob was exposed as a card-carrying Republican, but even a political novice like Fob knew he could not win as a Republican, so he qualified to run as a Democrat along with the three B’s. Fob had become very wealthy by starting a successful manufacturing company in Opelika. When he signed up to run for governor, the press wrote him off as a rich gadfly who simply chose politics rather than golf as his pastime. Little did they know that the fact he was rich and had a lot of time on his hands could spell trouble for the average political opponent, who had to worry about fundraising and feeding their family while running a full-time campaign. Fob realized he was no political professional like the three B’s who had spent their entire political adulthood in public office, so Fob sought out professional advice. He had the money to think big and wanted to know who the best political consultant in the South was. It was an easy answer: Deloss Walker was a political public relations genius who lived in Memphis. His track record for electing governors of southern states was 5-0. Walker was the most renowned and expensive political guru in the country in 1977. Fob quietly sought out Walker, who at first refused to take Fob’s race. Walker’s first impression was that even he could not mold Fob into a winner against three well-financed, experienced thoroughbreds. Nobody was aware Fob had garnered the genius Walker and had already been to political school when he signed up to run for governor in the spring of 1978. Brewer, Baxley, and Beasley ignored Fob. Baxley even praised him, saying, “Fob would be a good governor. Too bad he’s not a serious candidate.” Those words would come back to haunt Baxley. Fob traveled the state in a yellow school bus and let the three B’s tear each other up. Baxley, Beasley, and Brewer spent all their time and money attacking each other with negative ads, all the while Fob ran positive ads. Folks were of the opinion that the three B’s had all probably shot their mothers in a bar fight, but they liked old Fob James, even if they thought his name was “Bob” James. It was too late for the three B’s when they saw a poll about a week before the election showing Fob ahead of all three of them. Baxley refused to believe it and kept hammering at Beasley and Brewer, ignoring Fob. When the votes were counted, Fob was in first place, Baxley second, Brewer was third, and Beasley finished fifth behind State Senator Sid McDonald. Fob easily beat Baxley in the runoff. After all, what could Baxley say? He had run all over the state for three months saying Fob would make a good governor. Fob James had pulled off one of the most amazing upset victories in the history of Alabama politics. The Fob James story of the 1978 Governor’s Race is truly one for the record books. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Inside the Statehouse: Labor Day
“The most legendary political Labor Day Barbeques have been held in the Northwest corner of the state.”
Inside the Statehouse: Tommy Tuberville ran a good disciplined campaign for U.S. Senate
Steve Flowers outlines what Tommy Tuberville needs to do in order to defeat Doug Jones.
The City of Montgomery to open time capsule to mark 200th anniversary
Officials in Alabama’s capital city are preparing to open a time capsule that contains letters from residents and city officials to their successors and descendants. The Montgomery Advertiser reports the capsule was sealed 50 years ago, during Montgomery’s 150th anniversary in 1969. It included instructions to keep the capsule closed until the city’s 200th anniversary, which is this week. The City of Montgomery, the Alabama Department of Archives and History and the Montgomery County Historical Society will commemorate Montgomery’s bicentennial Tuesday with the opening of the capsule. In addition to letters, the time capsule contains magazines, newspapers, brochures and other materials. The capsule also holds letters from then-Alabama Gov. Albert Brewer, former Montgomery Mayor Earl James and other city officials to their successors 50 years in the future. Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Republished with the Permission of the Associated Press.
Steve Flowers: Year end tradition — remembering those we’ve lost
At the close of each year, my tradition is to acknowledge the passing away of significant political leaders from the political stage in our beloved state. We lost some icons this year. As I sit in my office writing this yearend column, pictures of two of my favorite friends and legends adorn my walls. The photos of GovernorAlbert Brewer and Congressman Jim Martin look down at me. Both were Christian gentlemen. Governor Brewer passed away last January in Birmingham. He was 88. We had visited over lunch only a few months earlier. Brewer grew up in Decatur, went to public schools and graduated from the University of Alabama and Alabama Law School. He came back home to Morgan County to practice law. He was quickly elected to the House of Representatives in 1954 at the age of 25. Eight years later in 1962, he was elected Speaker of the House. He was only 33-years old, the youngest Speaker in history. Four years later, he beat two state senators without a runoff to win the Lt. Governor’s office. He had been Lt. Governor for less than two years when in May 1968, Governor Lurleen Wallace succumbed to cancer and he became governor. Brewer had a low-key business-like style to the governor’s office that was dramatically different from George Wallace. He was governor for only 33 months, but he left an indelible mark in public policy, primarily in Education and Ethics. He and Wallace clashed in the 1970 governor’s race, which was one of the classic gubernatorial battles in state history. He led Wallace in the first primary, but Wallace overtly played the race card and pulled out a narrow victory in the runoff. Many scholars and historians sadly reflect that Brewer briefly was our “New South” governor. He spent the last three decades of his life teaching law at Samford’s Cumberland Law School. He molded generations of young lawyers in Alabama. My daughter, Ginny, was one of them. He was her mentor and friend up until he passed away. I first met Governor Brewer when I was a teenager. I became a page for him when he was Speaker and continued as his aide when he became Lt. Governor. We remained friends throughout the years. He was a very special gentleman. Jim Martin passed away last month. He was 99 years old. He was a lifetime resident of Gadsden. Jim was one of the fathers of the modern Republican Party in the South. He was one of five Republicans swept into Congress in the 1964 Goldwater landslide. In 1987, Martin became Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. As commissioner, Martin helped create the Forever Wild Land preservation program. Jim Martin was a special gentleman. Cullman County has been home to an inordinate number of legendary Alabama political leaders and icons. One of these was Tom Drake. Tom passed away in his beloved Cullman County in February at age 86. He represented the Cullman area for 36 years in the Alabama Legislature. He served as Speaker of the House of Representatives during Wallace’s last term, 1982-1986. That was my first term in the House. I voted for and supported Tom for Speaker. He was one of George Wallace’s closest and most loyal allies. Tom was also one of Bear Bryant’s favorites. He coached for Bryant, was an All American wrestler at Alabama, and later wrestled professionally. He was a lawyer by profession and he came from the old school. If he shook your hand and gave you his word, you could take it to the bank. He was a loyal and trusted friend. Another legendary Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, Joe McCorquodale, died in April at age 96. Mr. McCorquodale was one of the most powerful and respected men to ever serve in the legislature in Alabama history. He served 24 yeas in the House from 1958-1982. He was Speaker of the House his last eight years, 1974-1982. He was a successful businessman. He was in the timber and insurance business. He lived his entire life in his beloved Clarke County. The Clarke County Democrat publisher, Jim Cox, a lifetime friend of Mr. McCorquodale, said he went to his office every day up until his death. McCorquodale gave current governor, Kay Ivey, her first job in state government. As Speaker, he made Kay the Reading Clerk in the House. We lost some icons this year. Happy New Year, see you next week. ••• Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us
Steve Flowers: Albert Brewer, a special place in Alabama political history, hearts
The passing of Governor Albert Brewer on Jan. 2 at 88 years old, marks the passing of an era in Alabama politics. Albert P. Brewer was a good man and a true public servant. Brewer was born in Tennessee, but his folks moved to Decatur when he was very young after his father accepted a job with the Tennessee Valley Authority. He graduated from Decatur High School with honors, then matriculated to the University of Alabama where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees. Brewer returned to Decatur to begin his law practice. Soon thereafter he was elected to the Alabama Legislature at the ripe old age of 25. He was elected without opposition three times and during his third term, he became Speaker of the House. Brewer was the youngest Speaker in state history. In 1966, he beat two prominent state senators without a runoff to win the lieutenant governor’s job, which was much more powerful than it is today. During his tenure as Speaker and Lt. Governor, either George or Lurleen Wallace was Governor. Brewer was a Wallace ally. When Gov. Lurleen Wallace died of cancer after only 16 months in office, Brewer ascended to the Governor’s office. He quickly and decisively took the reins of state government and became immediately effective. His years in the legislature gave him a keen insight into the machinations of state government. He was very well liked among the legislators and senators he had worked with over the past 15 years and therefore was extremely successful with his legislative agenda. He became a working governor. Although Brewer was governor for only 33 months, he accomplished more as governor than most of his successors over the past 30 years combined. Brewer brought a low-key businesslike style to the governor’s office, which was strikingly different from George Wallace’s racist flamboyant rhetoric and cronyism. In 1970, Brewer and George Wallace squared off in what is the most memorable classic and pivotal governor’s race in Alabama political history. Brewer led Wallace by a slim margin in the first primary. However, Wallace, with his political life on the line, played the race card overtly in the runoff and defeated Brewer by a narrow margin. Most political observers believe that had Brewer won, Alabama would have joined other southern states like North Carolina and Florida who had elected progressive pro-business governors. Brewer is often referred to as Alabama’s “New South” Governor. He was a prince of a fellow and a good friend for over 50 years. I first met Governor Brewer when I was a young 13-year-old page in the state Legislature and he was Speaker of the House. My mentor was the State Representative from my home in Pike County. Mr. Gardner Bassett had been in the House for 24 years and was in his 70s. He was training me to take his House seat once I was old enough. Mr. Gardner adored and admired the young Speaker Albert Brewer. He got Brewer and I acquainted and we became friends. Brewer would let me sit next to him in the Speaker’s box as he explained how he assigned bills to their proper committee. When Brewer became Lt. Governor in 1967, I was 15 and he made me head of the pages in the Senate. His daughters Becky and Allison served with me as Pages. Gov. Brewer spent the last 30 years of his life teaching and mentoring law students at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. He was a mentor to my daughter, Ginny, while she was in law school at Cumberland, and followed her legal career as if she was his own daughter. Last January, Ginny and I ran into Gov. Brewer at a Birmingham restaurant. He was aging but still had that keen smile and twinkle in his eye. Gov. Brewer and I had remained good friends over the years and he is featured prominently in my book, “Of Goats and Governors: Six Decades of Colorful Political Stories.” Thus, it is appropriate that the last time I visited with him was at a book signing in Bessemer. We later had lunch together at the Bright Star. As I close this column I am looking at a photo of Gov. Brewer and me from that day that adorns the wall of my office, with his ever-present smile. Albert Brewer has a special place in Alabama political history and in the hearts of many. See you next week. ___ Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state Legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Former Alabama Gov. Albert Brewer dies
Albert Preston Brewer, who served as Governor of the Yellowhammer State following Gov. Lurleen Wallace’s death, has died. He was 88. Brewer served as Governor from 1968 to 1971. He also served as Lieutenant Governor and House Speaker. There were no immediate details on his cause of death. “Alabamians have lost a great leader today in the passing of Governor Albert Brewer,” Gov. Robert Bentley said. “He lived his life as an example of integrity and professionalism in public service, and displayed an unwavering commitment to making Alabama a great state. Always a friend to me, Governor Brewer was ever ready with a kind and encouraging word. Most of all he loved serving the people of this state.” State Auditor Jim Zeigler echoed Bentley’s sentiments. “Albert Brewer was governor when I was elected President of the SGA at the University of Alabama,” said Zeigler. “I got to work with him on several projects, and he was a straight arrow. We have lost an important piece of our history, as his family has lost their loved one.” Other Alabamian politicos were also sad to hear of Brewer’s passing. “Saddened to learn of passing of a great Alabamian and friend, former governor Albert Brewer. Prayers to his family,” tweeted Attorney General Luther Strange. State Sen. Arthur Orr also tweeted, “So sad to hear of passing of former Governor Albert Brewer. He was Morgan Co’s favorite son. A true public servant and always a gentleman.” Since his days in politics, Brewer had been teaching constitutional law to students at Birmingham’s Samford University. “The Samford University and the state of Alabama have lost a giant in the passing of Gov. Albert Brewer,” said Samford president Andrew Westmoreland. “He was loyal to the university, to his family, to his state and to his God and was the epitome of a Christian gentleman. He served the university with distinction, as he did everything in life, and taught constitutional law to generations of students.”
