Fob James
Forrest Hood "Fob" James, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| File:Fob james.jpg | |
| 48th Governor of Alabama | |
| In office January 16, 1995 – January 18, 1999 | |
| Lieutenant | Don Siegelman |
| Preceded by | Jim Folsom, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Don Siegelman |
| In office January 15, 1979 – January 17, 1983 | |
| Lieutenant | George McMillan |
| Preceded by | George Wallace |
| Succeeded by | George Wallace |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 15, 1934 Lanett, Alabama |
| Political party | Democrat (first term) Republican (second term) |
| Spouse | Bobbie Mooney |
| Profession | Football player, civil engineer |
Forrest Hood "Fob" James, Jr. (born September 15, 1934 in Lanett, Alabama) is an American politician. He served two terms as the governor of Alabama, from 1979 to 1983 as a Democrat, and again from 1995 to 1999 as a Republican.
Education and early career
After graduation in 1952 from Baylor School, a private high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, James was a four-year letterman (1952-1955) and All-American halfback for the Auburn University football team.[1] He roomed with future University of Georgia football head coach and athletic director Vince Dooley and received a civil engineering degree in 1957. Prior to entering politics, he played professional football in Canada as a member of the Montreal Alouettes during the 1956 season and worked as a civil engineer until 1963, when he founded Diversified Products Inc., a manufacturer of fitness equipment, most notably the plastic-disc barbells filled with "Orbatron," which DP invented. He served as CEO of DP until it was bought by The Liggett Group in 1977.
Political career
During his 1978 campaign for Governor, James campaigned as a "born-again Democrat". James had left the Democratic Party in the early 1970s and campaigned for Richard Nixon but returned to the party before the election. His main opponent Bill Baxley questioned James' party loyalty during the campaign. James won, and in 1982 he declared that he would not run for a second term. Nevertheless, James ran for Governor again in 1986 and 1990, finishing third in the Democratic primary both times.
During his first term as Governor, James caused controversy by signing into law a measure passed by the legislature allowing teachers to lead willing students in prayer. The law was declared unconstitutional in May 1983.
In the context of the Republican Revolution of 1994, James ran for Governor again in 1994 as a Republican, narrowly defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Jim Folsom, Jr.. As Governor, James again developed a reputation as a religious conservative who vigorously supported creationism, prayer in schools, and display of the Ten Commandments in an Alabama courtroom. Despite winning a support from national religious right leaders, James was a controversial politician in Alabama.[citation needed]
At a 1995 Alabama State Board of Education meeting, James criticized the theory of evolution in textbooks by imitating a "slump-shouldered ape turning into an upright human"[2]. He supported the adoption of a textbook warning sticker that stated, among other things, that "No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any statement about life's origins should be considered as theory, not fact."[3] James went on to say, "If one wanted to understand something about the origin of human life, that, uh, you might ought to look at Genesis and you can get the whole story. Period."[4]
During his second term James, who firmly supported the death penalty[5], presided over seven executions by electric chair.[6] (Alabama resumed executions in 1983.) However, in one of his last official acts as Governor, James commuted the death sentence of Judith Ann Neelley to life in prison. This remains, as of 2008[update], the only post-Furman commutation of a death sentence by a Governor in Alabama[7]. James gave no reason for the commutation, but after leaving office he explained that in his view, executing Neelley would not have been just.[5].
In his campaign for election to a second term, James faced strong opposition in the Republican party primary from Winton Blount, a fellow conservative, who sharply criticized religious right influence on James. In the 1998 general election, James faced Democractic Party nominee Lieutenant Governor Don Siegelman, who won in a runoff.
References and external Links
- Forrest Hood "Fob" James Jr.Alabama Department of Archives and History.
- Alabama G.O.P. Governor Sees a Different New South
- Fob James Wins GOP Primary Runoff For Alabama Governor
- Former Alabama Gov. Fob James and his son oppose prosecutor of Judge Moore
- ^ http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_116529.asp
- ^ Fob James Wins GOP Primary Runoff For Alabama Governor - July 1, 1998
- ^ Alabama Citizens for Science Education
- ^ Break the Science Barrier - television documentary
- ^ a b The Post Online - Fob James discusses Judith Ann Neelley commutation
- ^ Inmates Executed in Alabama
- ^ Clemency
