Shorty Price: Difference between revisions

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'''William Ralph "Shorty" Price''' (born [[October 3]], [[1921]] in Louisville, [[Barbour County]]; died [[November 1]], [[1980]]) was an attorney, unsuccessful political candidate, and clownish public figure, well-known for his appearances at [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] games.
[[Image:Shorty Price autobiography.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Shorty Price's autobiography]]
'''William Ralph "Shorty" Price''' (born [[October 3]], [[1921]] in Louisville, [[Barbour County]]; died [[November 1]], [[1980]] in Montgomery) was an attorney, unsuccessful political candidate, and clownish public figure, well-known for his appearances at [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] games.


Price, who earned his nickname for his 5-foot stature, attended the [[University of Alabama]] and briefly roomed with future Governor [[George Wallace]]. While at the [[University of Alabama School of Law|Alabama School of Law]] he was elected a cheerleader for the school. He continued to lead cheers from the stands over the next three decades, dressed in crimson and white, often drunk, and smoking Tampa Nuggets. In [[1979]] he was charged with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct after exposing his rear end to the Tennessee marching band. He was fined $125 by Judge [[William Cole]], who told him "See you next year."
Price, who earned his nickname for his 5-foot stature, graduated from Louisville High School in [[1940]] and attended the [[University of Alabama]]. As an undergraduate he briefly roomed with future Governor [[George Wallace]].


After losing a race for state legislature in [[1950]], Price was elected as an alternate delegate to the [[1952]] Democratic National Convention. In the [[1954 general election|1954 election]] he garnered 100,000 votes for Lieutenant Governor. He ran for numerous other offices throughout his life, including the [[1958 general election|1958]], [[1970 general election|1970]], [[1974 general election|1974]] and [[1978 general election|1978]] gubernatorial elections and the [[1976 general election|1976 presidential election]]. When [[Lurleen Wallace]] ran for Governor in [[1966 general election|1966]], Price placed his wife on the ballot to oppose her.
While at the [[University of Alabama School of Law|Alabama School of Law]] he was elected a cheerleader for the school. He continued to lead cheers from the stands over the next three decades, dressed in crimson and white, often drunk, and smoking Tampa Nuggets. In [[1979]] he was charged with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct after exposing his rear end to the Tennessee marching band. He was fined $125 by Judge [[William Cole]], who told him "See you next year."
 
After losing a race for state legislature in [[1950]], Price was elected as an alternate delegate to the [[1952]] Democratic National Convention. In the [[1954 general election|1954 election]] he garnered 100,000 votes for Lieutenant Governor. He ran for numerous other offices throughout his life, including the [[1958 primary elections|1958]], [[1970 primary elections|1970]], [[1974 primary elections|1974]] and [[1978 primary elections|1978]] gubernatorial primaries and the [[1976 primary elections|1976 presidential election]]. When [[Lurleen Wallace]] ran for Governor in [[1966 primary elections|1966]], Price placed his wife, Delores, on the ballot to oppose her.


Though he campaigned across the state, with the slogans, "Shorty, Shorty, he’s our man. George Wallace belongs in the garbage can", and "Honest government is worth the price, and the right price is Shorty Price," he never again earned more than 2 percent of the vote. In [[1972]] Price proposed to shorten the Governor's term from four to two years, reportedly so he could run more often.
Though he campaigned across the state, with the slogans, "Shorty, Shorty, he’s our man. George Wallace belongs in the garbage can", and "Honest government is worth the price, and the right price is Shorty Price," he never again earned more than 2 percent of the vote. In [[1972]] Price proposed to shorten the Governor's term from four to two years, reportedly so he could run more often.
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Price died which his car ran off the road and slammed into a bridge on [[I-65]], nine miles South of [[Montgomery]] on Saturday [[November 1]], [[1980]]. He was on the way to Jackson, Mississippi for an Alabama game against Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide lost to the Bulldogs 6-3 that afternoon, ending a winning streak that dated back to September [[1978]]. Price was buried in his home town of Louisville the following Tuesday, which was election day.
Price died which his car ran off the road and slammed into a bridge on [[I-65]], nine miles South of [[Montgomery]] on Saturday [[November 1]], [[1980]]. He was on the way to Jackson, Mississippi for an Alabama game against Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide lost to the Bulldogs 6-3 that afternoon, ending a winning streak that dated back to September [[1978]]. Price was buried in his home town of Louisville the following Tuesday, which was election day.
Price was survived by his wife and three sons.


==References==
==References==
* Price, Shorty (1973) ''Alabama Politics: Tell It Like It Is.'' self-published
* Price, Shorty (1980) ''I Ain't Nothing But A Loser: The Hard Life of Shorty Price, Alabama's "Head" Cheerleader.'' self-published
* Price, Shorty (1980) ''I Ain't Nothing But A Loser: The Hard Life of Shorty Price, Alabama's "Head" Cheerleader.'' self-published
* "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cggdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1J4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6781%2C1185227 'Shorty' Price is laid to rest]" (November 5, 1980) ''The Tuscaloosa News''
* "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cggdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1J4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6781%2C1185227 'Shorty' Price is laid to rest]" (November 5, 1980) ''The Tuscaloosa News''

Latest revision as of 08:09, 19 April 2021

Shorty Price's autobiography

William Ralph "Shorty" Price (born October 3, 1921 in Louisville, Barbour County; died November 1, 1980 in Montgomery) was an attorney, unsuccessful political candidate, and clownish public figure, well-known for his appearances at Alabama Crimson Tide football games.

Price, who earned his nickname for his 5-foot stature, graduated from Louisville High School in 1940 and attended the University of Alabama. As an undergraduate he briefly roomed with future Governor George Wallace.

While at the Alabama School of Law he was elected a cheerleader for the school. He continued to lead cheers from the stands over the next three decades, dressed in crimson and white, often drunk, and smoking Tampa Nuggets. In 1979 he was charged with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct after exposing his rear end to the Tennessee marching band. He was fined $125 by Judge William Cole, who told him "See you next year."

After losing a race for state legislature in 1950, Price was elected as an alternate delegate to the 1952 Democratic National Convention. In the 1954 election he garnered 100,000 votes for Lieutenant Governor. He ran for numerous other offices throughout his life, including the 1958, 1970, 1974 and 1978 gubernatorial primaries and the 1976 presidential election. When Lurleen Wallace ran for Governor in 1966, Price placed his wife, Delores, on the ballot to oppose her.

Though he campaigned across the state, with the slogans, "Shorty, Shorty, he’s our man. George Wallace belongs in the garbage can", and "Honest government is worth the price, and the right price is Shorty Price," he never again earned more than 2 percent of the vote. In 1972 Price proposed to shorten the Governor's term from four to two years, reportedly so he could run more often.

Price published an autobiography in 1980, turning a boast made by Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant on its head for the title, I Ain't Nothing But a Loser.

Price died which his car ran off the road and slammed into a bridge on I-65, nine miles South of Montgomery on Saturday November 1, 1980. He was on the way to Jackson, Mississippi for an Alabama game against Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide lost to the Bulldogs 6-3 that afternoon, ending a winning streak that dated back to September 1978. Price was buried in his home town of Louisville the following Tuesday, which was election day.

Price was survived by his wife and three sons.

References

  • Price, Shorty (1973) Alabama Politics: Tell It Like It Is. self-published
  • Price, Shorty (1980) I Ain't Nothing But A Loser: The Hard Life of Shorty Price, Alabama's "Head" Cheerleader. self-published
  • "'Shorty' Price is laid to rest" (November 5, 1980) The Tuscaloosa News
  • Schexnayder, C. J. (October 21, 2011) "William Ralph "Shorty" Price" Remember the Rose Bowl