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'''Albert Preston Brewer''' (born [[October 26]], [[1928]]) is a politician who was the [[List of Governors of Alabama|governor]] of [[Alabama]] from May, [[1968]] until January, [[1971]].  
[[Image:Albert Brewer.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Albert Brewer]]
'''Albert Preston Brewer''' (born [[October 26]], [[1928]] in Bethel Springs, Tennessee; died [[January 2]], [[2017]] in [[Birmingham]]) was [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]] from May [[1968]] until January [[1971]].  


Brewer was born in Bethel Springs, Tennessee. Prior to his election as lieutenant governor, he served three terms in the [[Alabama House of Representatives]] from Morgan County from [[1954]]-[[1966]]. During the last of these terms 1962-1966 Brewer, at age 34 became the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, the youngest person in state history to hold this post. Originally an ally of [[George Wallace]], Brewer ran for lieutenant governor in [[1966]] when Wallace's wife, [[Lurleen Wallace|Lurleen Burns Wallace]] was the Democratic nominee for governor in an effort to keep power in the Wallace family because George Wallace was prevented by term limits then in the [[Alabama Constitution]] from succeeding himself (however a former governor, could seek the governorship again and serve consecutive terms).
Brewer, the son of a Tennessee Valley Authority employee, was raised in Decatur. He practiced law and, with his wife, [[Martha Brewer]], raised two daughters. He was first elected to the [[Alabama House of Representatives]] from Morgan County in [[1954]] and served three terms. He was made Speaker of the House in [[1962]]. Under his leadership, the house passed a bill that would have amended the [[Alabama Constitution of 1901]] to allow Governor [[George Wallace]] to run for re-election. The bill did not pass the [[Alabama State Senate]] and Wallace's wife, [[Lurleen Wallace|Lurleen]] won the Democratic nomination for Governor in [[1966]]. Brewer was nominated for Lieutenant Governor in the same election.


While lieutenant governor, he was acting governor for a portion of one day while Governor Lurleen Wallace was out of the state for over twenty days for medical treatment. When this constitutional provision became operative, Mrs. Wallace was immediately rushed back into the state.
While serving as lieutenant governor, Brewer was sworn in as acting governor for a portion of one day while Lurleen Wallace was out of the state for over twenty days for medical treatment. When this constitutional provision became operative, Mrs Wallace was immediately rushed back into the state to resume her office.
   
   
When Mrs. Wallace subsequently died in office in May 1968 and Brewer became governor, he took over direct management of the state and did not solicit input from George Wallace. Wallace was in the midst of his quixotic bid for the Presidency as the candidate of his own American Independent Party. Thus, Brewer began to work to be elected as governor in his own right in [[1970]]. In this effort, he gained an important ally in President Richard M. Nixon, who won the 1968 presidential election and who sought to neutralize Wallace as a potential adversary in [[1972]].  
==Governor of Alabama==
When Mrs Wallace died in office in May [[1968]], Brewer became governor. He took over direct management of the state and did not solicit input from George Wallace, who was in the midst of his bid for the Presidency as the American Independent Party candidate.


Brewer's 1970 gubernatorial campaign, however, was revolutionary in many respects. He refused to engage in racist rhetoric and courted newly-registered black voters. He hoped to build a [[coalition]] of blacks, educated middle-class whites, and working class whites from northern Alabama (traditionally the most left-leaning part of the state). He unveiled a platform calling for more education funding, an ethics commission and a commission to revise Alabama's [[1901]] state constitution, which had been deliberately framed to disenfranchise blacks and poor whites.
As Governor, Brewer made many progressive reforms in state government. He oversaw the largest increase in public school appropriations in state history, created the [[Alabama Development Office]] and [[Alabama Ethics Commission]], and split the Alabama Court of Appeals into civil and criminal divisions.


Brewer led Wallace in the Democratic primary but failed to win an outright majority. He then faced Wallace in a runoff. Wallace, running an unapologetically dirty campaign, made slurs about Brewer and his family and made openly racist appeals to white voters.  Wallace narrowly won the Democratic election.  He later won the gubernatorial election, over his Republican opponent.  
In [[1970]], Brewer began to work to be elected as governor in his own right. In this effort, he gained an important ally in President Richard M. Nixon, who won the 1968 presidential election and who sought to neutralize Wallace as a potential adversary in [[1972]].  


After years of private law practice, Brewer served as Distinguished Professor of Law and Government at [[Samford University]]'s [[Cumberland School of Law]]. He currently teaches a course on Professional Responsibility at the [[Cumberland School of Law]]. He has also been an active leader with the [http://www.constitutionalreform.org/ Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform] since [[2000]].  
Brewer's 1970 gubernatorial campaign, however, was revolutionary in many respects. He refused to engage in racist rhetoric and courted newly-registered black voters. He hoped to build a coalition of blacks, educated middle-class whites, and working class whites from northern Alabama. He unveiled a platform calling for more education funding, an ethics commission and a commission to revise Alabama's [[1901]] [[Alabama Constitution|state constitution]].


Albert P. Brewer High School in Eastern Morgan County is named in honor of Brewer.  The school opened in 1972.  Its patriot mascot is named Preston, after Governor Brewer's middle name.
Brewer led Wallace in the Democratic primary but failed to win an outright majority. He then faced Wallace in a runoff. Wallace, running an unapologetically dirty campaign, made slurs about Brewer and his family and made openly-racist appeals to white voters.  Wallace narrowly won the Democratic election, and then handily won the general election.  


==References==
==Later life==
* Albert Brewer. (2007, November 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:16, December 24, 2007 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albert_Brewer&oldid=174759248]  
Brewer moved to [[Birmingham]] in [[1987]] to pursue private law practice and to serve on the faculty of [[Samford University]]'s [[Cumberland School of Law]], where he became Distinguished Professor of Law and Government. He retired in [[2007]], but still teaches a course on professional responsibility. He has also been an active leader with the [[Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform]] since [[2000]].
 
Albert P. Brewer High School in Eastern Morgan County is named in honor of Brewer.  The school opened in [[1972]]. Its patriot mascot is named Preston, after Governor Brewer's middle name. In [[2008]] Samford dedicated the [[Brewer Plaza|Alfred P. and Martha F. Brewer Plaza]] outside the school of law.
 
Brewer died at [[UAB Hospital]] in [[Birmingham]] in January [[2017]].


{{start box}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box | before = [[Lurleen Wallace]] | title = [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]] | years = 1968—1971 | after = [[George Wallace]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[James Allen]] | title = [[Lieutenant Governor of Alabama]] | years = [[1967]]—[[1968]] | after = vacant}}
{{succession box | before = [[Lurleen Wallace]] | title = [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]] | years = [[1968]]—[[1971]] | after = [[George Wallace]]}}
{{end box}}
{{end box}}


{{GFDL}}
==References==
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albert_Brewer Albert Brewer]" (November 30, 2007) Wikipedia - accessed December 24, 2007
* Spencer, Thomas (April 5, 2008) "Ex-Gov. Brewer, wife saluted with new Samford plaza." {{BN}}
* Archibald, John (January 2, 2017) "Former Alabama Gov. Albert Brewer has died." {{BN}}
 
==External links==
* [http://www.archives.state.al.us/govs_list/g_brewer.html Albert Preston Brewer] at archives.state.al.us


{{DEFAULTSORT:Brewer, Albert}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brewer, Albert}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:State legislators]]
[[Category:Lieutenant Governors]]
[[Category:Alabama governors]]
[[Category:Alabama governors]]
[[Category:Samford faculty]]
[[Category:Samford faculty]]

Latest revision as of 15:49, 9 January 2017

Albert Brewer

Albert Preston Brewer (born October 26, 1928 in Bethel Springs, Tennessee; died January 2, 2017 in Birmingham) was Governor of Alabama from May 1968 until January 1971.

Brewer, the son of a Tennessee Valley Authority employee, was raised in Decatur. He practiced law and, with his wife, Martha Brewer, raised two daughters. He was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives from Morgan County in 1954 and served three terms. He was made Speaker of the House in 1962. Under his leadership, the house passed a bill that would have amended the Alabama Constitution of 1901 to allow Governor George Wallace to run for re-election. The bill did not pass the Alabama State Senate and Wallace's wife, Lurleen won the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1966. Brewer was nominated for Lieutenant Governor in the same election.

While serving as lieutenant governor, Brewer was sworn in as acting governor for a portion of one day while Lurleen Wallace was out of the state for over twenty days for medical treatment. When this constitutional provision became operative, Mrs Wallace was immediately rushed back into the state to resume her office.

Governor of Alabama

When Mrs Wallace died in office in May 1968, Brewer became governor. He took over direct management of the state and did not solicit input from George Wallace, who was in the midst of his bid for the Presidency as the American Independent Party candidate.

As Governor, Brewer made many progressive reforms in state government. He oversaw the largest increase in public school appropriations in state history, created the Alabama Development Office and Alabama Ethics Commission, and split the Alabama Court of Appeals into civil and criminal divisions.

In 1970, Brewer began to work to be elected as governor in his own right. In this effort, he gained an important ally in President Richard M. Nixon, who won the 1968 presidential election and who sought to neutralize Wallace as a potential adversary in 1972.

Brewer's 1970 gubernatorial campaign, however, was revolutionary in many respects. He refused to engage in racist rhetoric and courted newly-registered black voters. He hoped to build a coalition of blacks, educated middle-class whites, and working class whites from northern Alabama. He unveiled a platform calling for more education funding, an ethics commission and a commission to revise Alabama's 1901 state constitution.

Brewer led Wallace in the Democratic primary but failed to win an outright majority. He then faced Wallace in a runoff. Wallace, running an unapologetically dirty campaign, made slurs about Brewer and his family and made openly-racist appeals to white voters. Wallace narrowly won the Democratic election, and then handily won the general election.

Later life

Brewer moved to Birmingham in 1987 to pursue private law practice and to serve on the faculty of Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, where he became Distinguished Professor of Law and Government. He retired in 2007, but still teaches a course on professional responsibility. He has also been an active leader with the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform since 2000.

Albert P. Brewer High School in Eastern Morgan County is named in honor of Brewer. The school opened in 1972. Its patriot mascot is named Preston, after Governor Brewer's middle name. In 2008 Samford dedicated the Alfred P. and Martha F. Brewer Plaza outside the school of law.

Brewer died at UAB Hospital in Birmingham in January 2017.

Preceded by:
James Allen 		Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
1967—1968 		Succeeded by:
vacant
Preceded by:
Lurleen Wallace 		Governor of Alabama
1968—1971 		Succeeded by:
George Wallace

References

  • "Albert Brewer" (November 30, 2007) Wikipedia - accessed December 24, 2007
  • Spencer, Thomas (April 5, 2008) "Ex-Gov. Brewer, wife saluted with new Samford plaza." The Birmingham News
  • Archibald, John (January 2, 2017) "Former Alabama Gov. Albert Brewer has died." The Birmingham News

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Albert_Brewer&oldid=133895"