Robert Bentley
Robert Julian Bentley (born February 3, 1943 in Columbiana) is a dermatologist and State Representative, serving House District 63 in Tuscaloosa.
Bentley is the son of David Harford Bentley, who owned a sawmill in Columbiana, and Mattie Boyd Vick Bentley. He graduated from Shelby County High School in 1961 and then entered the University of Alabama. After completing a bachelor of science he continued at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, receiving his M.D. in 1968 and interning at Carraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham.
Bentley was commissioned a captain in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a general medical officer at Pope Air Force Base (Fort Bragg) during the Vietnam War. After his service, he served a three-year residency in dermatology. He went on to become a founding partner of Alabama Dermatology Associates in Tuscaloosa, the largest dermatology practice in the Southeast. He remains president of the practice.
A Republican, Bentley was elected to the Alabama House in November 2002 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2006. He currently serves on the Agriculture, Education Appropriations and Internal Affairs Committees in the House. On May 13, 2009 he announced he was running for governor in the 2010 Republican primary. During the 2010 legislative session, Bentley sponsored a constitutional amendment to allow individuals and businesses in Alabama to refuse to participate in any national health care system.
Bentley and his wife, the former Martha Dianne Jones of Montgomery, were married July 24, 1965. The two have four sons and five granddaughters. They are members of First Baptist Church Tuscaloosa where he serves as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon.
References
- Mickens, Cassandra. (May 13, 2009). "Columbiana native enters race for governor." Shelby County Reporter
- Tomberlin, Michael (May 17, 2010) "Campaign 2010: Robert Bentley criss-crosses Alabama, focuses on meeting voters in bid to win governor's office." Birmingham News
External links
- Official bio at Alabama House of Representatives web site
- Robert Bentley for Governor campaign web site
- Robert Bentley campaign photos on Flickr.com