Fob James
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Forrest Hood "Fob" James, Jr. | |
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48th Governor of Alabama
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| In office January 16, 1995 – January 18, 1999 |
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| Lieutenant | Don Siegelman |
| Preceded by | Jim Folsom, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Don Siegelman |
| In office January 15, 1979 – January 17, 1983 |
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| Lieutenant | George McMillan |
| Preceded by | George Wallace |
| Succeeded by | George Wallace |
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| Born | September 15, 1934 Lanett, Alabama |
| Political party | Democrat (first term) Republican (second term) |
| Spouse | Bobbie Mooney |
| Profession | Football player, civil engineer |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Forrest Hood "Fob" James, Jr. (born September 15, 1934 in Lanett, Alabama) is an American Republican 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.
James was a four-year letterman (1952-1955) and All-American halfback for the Auburn University football team. He roomed with former 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.
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 he had returned to the party before the election. His main opponent Bill Baxley questioned James' party loyalty during the campaign.
During his first term as Governor, James caused controversy by passing a law allowing for teachers to lead willing students in prayer. The law was declared unconstitutional in May 1983.
James declared that he would not run for a second term in 1982. James ran for Governor again 1986 and 1990, finishing third in the Democratic party primary both times.
The Democratic party finally lost its hold on conservative Southern politics in the early 1990s and many Southern politicians switched sides, creating the Republican Revolution of 1994. Among them was James, who ran for Governor again in 1994 as a Republican, narrowly defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Jim Folsom, Jr..
As Governor James again developed a reputation of a religious conservative who vigorously supports creationism, prayer in schools and display of the Ten Commandments in an Alabama courtroom. Despite winning a support from the national religious right leaders James was a very controversial politician in Alabama.
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" [1]. 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."[2] 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."[3]
During his second term James, who firmly supported the death penalty[4], presided over seven executions by electric chair[5] (Alabama resumed executions in 1983). He, however, in one of his last official acts as Governor commuted the death sentence of Judith Ann Neelley to life in prison. This remains, as of 2008, only post-Furman commutation of death sentence by Governor (who have a sole power to do this) in Alabama[6]. Initially he did not gave a reason of his decision, but later explained while no longer in office[7].
James again only served for one term. After a difficult and dirty Republican primary, when he faced a strong opposition of Winton Blount (a fellow conservative, who however, unlike James, sharply ciritcised religious right influence), resulting in runoff, he was heavily defeated by Lieutenant Governor Don Siegelman in 1998.
[edit] 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.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/07/01/alabama.elex/
- ^ http://www.alscience.org/disclaimer.html#1996
- ^ Break the Science Barrier - television documentary
- ^ http://www.postpaper.com/jamesneelley.htm
- ^ http://www.doc.state.al.us/execution.asp
- ^ http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=126&scid=13
- ^ http://www.postpaper.com/jamesneelley.htm
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Wallace |
Governor of Alabama 1979–1983 |
Succeeded by George Wallace |
| Preceded by Jim Folsom, Jr. |
Governor of Alabama 1995–1999 |
Succeeded by Don Siegelman |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by George Wallace |
Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Alabama 1978 (won) |
Succeeded by George Wallace |
| Preceded by H. Guy Hunt |
Republican Party nominee for Governor of Alabama 1994 (won), 1998 (lost) |
Succeeded by Bob Riley |
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