Birmingham City Commission
The Birmingham City Commission (or Birmingham Board of Commissioners) was the form of Birmingham's government from 1911 to 1963. The city moved from a Mayor-Aldermen system to a three-member commission at the time that Greater Birmingham was annexed into the City. The idea was that the municipal government should be run less like a small town and more like a business enterprise. The proposal was overwhelmingly favored by voters in a 1910 referendum, and was initiated by a new City Commission election in 1911
The first commission was appointed by Governor B. B. Comer. Culpepper Exum, who had just been elected Mayor under the former system, was appointed president, a position that functioned as Mayor for all intents and purposes, with the term often used interchangeably with Commission President. Like previous administrations, the commissioners were to serve two-year terms, with the first election to be held in 1913. Beginning in 1917 the term was extended to four years to provide for more continuity. Between 1915 and 1923 the board was expanded to five commissioners.
This listing includes the full commission for the years 1911 to 1963, when residents voted to adopt the Mayor-Council Act of 1955 as Birmingham's form of government, providing for a Mayor and nine-member City Council to be elected at-large.
Commissions
1911-1913
- Culpepper Exum, Commission President
- A. O. Lane,
- James Weatherly
1913-1915
- George Ward, Commission President
- A. O. Lane
- James Weatherly
1915-1917
Associate commissioners added, increasing size of board to five
- George Ward, Commission President
- Arlie Barber, Commissioner of Public Safety
- John Hornady, Commissioner of Health and Education
- James D. Truss, Commissioner of Public Improvements
- James Weatherly, Commissioner of Public Property and Utilities
1917-1921
The commission's term was extended to four years (November 6, 1917-November 7, 1921)
- Nathaniel A. Barrett, Commission President
- John Ellis Brown, Commissioner of Public Utilities
- Henry Burrus, Commissioner of Public Improvements
- John Hornady, vice president, Commissioner of Health and Education
- John H. Taylor, Commissioner of Public Safety
The new board of commissioners was sworn in at a joint meeting with the former board, with both the outgoing and incoming members giving short speeches.
1921-1925
Served November 7, 1921–1925. Associate commissioners dismissed after law passed on August 15, 1923.
- David McLendon, Commission President
- William Cloe, Commissioner of Public Safety
- William Dickson, Commissioner of Public Improvements
- Mary Echols, Associate Commissioner of Health and Education
- William Harrison, Associate Commissioner of Public Utilities
1925-1929
- Jimmie Jones, Commission President
- John H. Taylor, Commissioner of Public Safety
- William Dickson, Commissioner of Public Improvements
1929-1933
- Jimmie Jones, Commission President
- William Dickson
- John H. Taylor
1933-1937
- Jimmie Jones, Commission President, Commissioner of Finance and General Administration
- Lewey Robinson, Commissioner of Public Improvements
- William O. Downs, Commissioner of Public Safety, Health and Education
1937-1941
- Jimmie Jones, Commission President (unexpired term filled by Cooper Green at his death in 1940)
- Bull Connor, Commissioner of Public Safety
- Jimmy Morgan, Commissioner of Public Improvements
1941-1945
- Cooper Green, Commission President
- Bull Connor, Commissioner of Public Safety
- Jimmy Morgan, Commissioner of Public Improvements
1945-1949
- Cooper Green, Commission President
- Bull Connor, Commissioner of Public Safety
- Jimmy Morgan, Commissioner of Public Improvements
1949-1953
- Cooper Green, Commission President
- Bull Connor, Commissioner of Public Safety
- Jimmy Morgan, Commissioner of Public Improvements
1953-1957
- Jimmy Morgan, Commission President
- Robert Lindbergh, Commissioner of Public Safety
- Wade Bradley, Commissioner of Public Improvements (resigned in 1956, term completed by J. T. Waggoner Sr)
1957-1961
- Jimmy Morgan, Commission President
- Bull Connor, Commissioner of Public Safety
- J. T. Waggoner Sr, Commissioner of Public Improvements
1961 City Commission (L-R: Waggoner, Morgan, Connor)
1961-1963
- Art Hanes, Commission President
- Bull Connor, Commissioner of Public Safety
- J. T. Waggoner Sr, Commissioner of Public Improvements
1961 City Commission (L-R: Connor, Waggoner, Hanes)
References
- "Culpepper Exum, Birmingham's First Commission Mayor" (October 23, 1910) The Atlanta Constitution
- "An Act of the Legislature of Alabama Creating a Commission Form of Government with Five Commissioners Under Which the City of Birmingham is Now Organized" (September 25, 1915) - via the University of California
- Vick, Mary-Helen (1965) A Survey of the Governing Body of Birmingham, Alabama, 1910-1964. Master's thesis. Alabama College
- Norton, Bertha Bendall (1970) Birmingham's First Magic Century: Were You There?. Birmingham: self-published/Lakeshore Press
| Preceded by: Birmingham Board of Aldermen |
Legislative Body for the City of Birmingham 1911 - 1963 |
Succeeded by: Birmingham City Council |