Tom King: Difference between revisions
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'''John Thomas King, Sr''' (born [[1923]] in [[Adamsville]] - died January 24, [[2007]]) was an attorney and Alabama state senator. | '''John Thomas King, Sr''' (born October 28, [[1923]] in [[Adamsville]] - died January 24, [[2007]]) was an attorney and Alabama state senator. | ||
King was | King was born to Circuit Judge [[Alta L. King]] and Donna Collins King of Adamsville. He was elected President of the student body at [[Phillips High School]], where he graduated in [[1940]], and later took the same office at the [[University of Alabama]]. He earned an undergraduate degree in accounting at Alabama in [[1948]] and then graduated from the university's School of Law in [[1951]]. He interrupted his studies to serve in the U. S. Army, and was deployed to the Pacific theater of [[World War II]] from [[1943]] to [[1946]]. | ||
and entered private practice. From [[1952]] to [[1953]] he was the assistant [[U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama]]. In [[1954]] he became Chief Administrative Assistant to U. S. Representative [[George Huddleston, Jr]]. He returned to [[Birmingham]] in [[1961]] to run for [[List of mayors of Birmingham|mayor of Birmingham]]. | |||
King ran as a moderate against [[Art Hanes]], who was closely associated with Commissioner of Public Safety [[Bull Connor]]. He campaigned on economic issues and was considered a moderate on race issues who would seek to defuse the standoff between white segregationists and blacks seeking civil rights. Local industry did not appreciate his dim view of the city's business landscape, but he did win the endorsement of ''[[The Birmingham News]]''. He lost the [[1961 mayoral election]] 21,133 to 17,385. He ran unsuccessfully again in the special election of [[1963 mayoral election|1963]]. | |||
King was a | From [[1962]] to [[1994]], King served as [[Alabaster]]'s city attorney. In [[1971]] he was elected to the Alabama Senate, where he served a four year term. He sponsored legislation requiring health insurance for teachers, funding for school construction and for the development of [[UAB]]. In [[1984]] he was appointed by [[Bill Baxley]] to a committee to rewrite the rules of the Alabama Senate. | ||
King died in January 2007. He was survived by sons [[Alan King | King was a member and Sunday school teacher at [[First Baptist Church of Birmingham]], having transferred his membership from [[Huffman Baptist Church]]. He was also active with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the [[Northeast Branch YMCA]], [[Birmingham Brotherhood Association]], [[East End Optimist Club]] and [[East End Rotary Club]]. | ||
King died in January 2007. He was survived by sons, Jefferson County Probate Judge [[Alan King]], Jefferson County Circuit Judge [[Tom King, Jr]], and attorney [[David King]]. Funeral services were held at First Baptist Church of Birmingham. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:1923 births|King, Tom]] | [[Category:1923 births|King, Tom]] | ||
[[Category:2007 deaths|King, Tom]] | [[Category:2007 deaths|King, Tom]] | ||
[[Category:Phillips graduates|King, Tom]] | |||
[[Category:Alabama alumni|1948]] | |||
[[Category:Attorneys|King, Tom]] | [[Category:Attorneys|King, Tom]] | ||
[[Category:State senators|King, Tom]] | [[Category:State senators|King, Tom]] | ||
Revision as of 21:29, 25 January 2007
John Thomas King, Sr (born October 28, 1923 in Adamsville - died January 24, 2007) was an attorney and Alabama state senator.
King was born to Circuit Judge Alta L. King and Donna Collins King of Adamsville. He was elected President of the student body at Phillips High School, where he graduated in 1940, and later took the same office at the University of Alabama. He earned an undergraduate degree in accounting at Alabama in 1948 and then graduated from the university's School of Law in 1951. He interrupted his studies to serve in the U. S. Army, and was deployed to the Pacific theater of World War II from 1943 to 1946.
and entered private practice. From 1952 to 1953 he was the assistant U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. In 1954 he became Chief Administrative Assistant to U. S. Representative George Huddleston, Jr. He returned to Birmingham in 1961 to run for mayor of Birmingham.
King ran as a moderate against Art Hanes, who was closely associated with Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor. He campaigned on economic issues and was considered a moderate on race issues who would seek to defuse the standoff between white segregationists and blacks seeking civil rights. Local industry did not appreciate his dim view of the city's business landscape, but he did win the endorsement of The Birmingham News. He lost the 1961 mayoral election 21,133 to 17,385. He ran unsuccessfully again in the special election of 1963.
From 1962 to 1994, King served as Alabaster's city attorney. In 1971 he was elected to the Alabama Senate, where he served a four year term. He sponsored legislation requiring health insurance for teachers, funding for school construction and for the development of UAB. In 1984 he was appointed by Bill Baxley to a committee to rewrite the rules of the Alabama Senate.
King was a member and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church of Birmingham, having transferred his membership from Huffman Baptist Church. He was also active with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Northeast Branch YMCA, Birmingham Brotherhood Association, East End Optimist Club and East End Rotary Club.
King died in January 2007. He was survived by sons, Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Tom King, Jr, and attorney David King. Funeral services were held at First Baptist Church of Birmingham.
References
- Norris, Toraine (January 25, 2007) "Tom King, moderate 1961 mayoral hopeful, dies at 83." Birmingham News.