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'''Jewell | [[Image:Chris McNair.jpg|right|thumb|Chris McNair]] | ||
'''Jewell Christopher McNair''' (born [[1926]] in Fordyce, Arkansas; died [[May 8]], [[2019]]) was a photographer, a state legislator and a [[Jefferson County Commission|Jefferson County Commissioner]]. His daughter [[Denise McNair|Denise]] was killed in the [[1963 church bombing|1963 bombing]] of [[Birmingham]]'s [[16th Street Baptist Church]]. | |||
McNair was a graduate of [[Tuskegee Institute]], where he met [[Maxine McNair|Maxine Pippen]] in [[1945]]. He served in the U.S. Army during the later months of [[World War II]] before returning to college, graduating in [[1949]]. He and Maxine were married in [[1950]] and moved to [[Birmingham]], where he worked as a milkman. Denise was born in [[1951]]. | |||
McNair | McNair opened a photography studio in [[1962]]. [[Chris McNair Studios]] on [[6th Avenue South]] in [[South Titusville]] later expanded into a multi-faceted business including a frame shop, art gallery and meeting space. A small exhibit area in the gallery served as a memorial to Denise's memory. McNair's two other daughters, Lisa and Kim, both worked in the gallery. | ||
McNair was elected to the [[Alabama House of Representatives]] in a [[1973]] special election to fill a vacancy in the [[Jefferson County House Delegation]]. He served two terms in the state legislature, including one as chair of the county delegation. He then ran unsuccessfully against [[Richard Shelby]] in the [[1978 primary elections|1978 Democratic Primary]] to represent the [[7th Congressional District of Alabama]] in the U.S. House of Representatives. | |||
McNair began serving on the [[Jefferson County Commission]] in [[1986]]. During that decade then film-student Spike Lee contacted him to ask about obtaining the film rights to his daughter's story. McNair declined, but later, as the 33rd anniversary of the bombing approached in [[1996]], he and Maxine agreed to work with him and sit down for lengthy interviews which were featured in the documentary film ''[[4 Little Girls]]'' which was released in [[1997]]. | |||
McNair resigned from the County Commission abruptly on [[March 29]], [[2001]]. Governor [[Don Seigelman]] appointed [[Steve Small Jr]] to succeed him. He again challenged [[Richard Shelby]], this time for his U.S. Senate seat, in the [[1992 primary elections|1992 Democratic primary]], but garnered only 28% of ballots. At the time of retirement, McNair's reputation was of a fair-minded and penny-pinching public servant who brought dignity to his office. On the other hand, he had been the commissioner with responsibility over the [[Jefferson County Sewer System]], which proved to be inadequate to the task of keeping wastewater out of rivers and streams during periods of heavy rain. | |||
Once a lawsuit against the county was settled by consent decree, McNair took charge of the estimated $1.2 billion project of improving the system. The project was marked by poor planning and mismanagement. On [[April 21]], [[2006]] McNair was convicted on 11 counts of bribery and conspiracy involving contractors for the sewer project. He pleaded guilty to a twelfth count of conspiracy in February [[2007]]. On [[September 19]], [[2007]] he was sentenced to five years of prison and ordered to pay $851,927 in restitution. After his appeals failed, McNair reported to federal prison in Marion, Illinois on [[June 6]], [[2011]]. From there he was transferred to the Federal Medical Center at Rochester, Minnesota. | |||
He had been scheduled for release on [[October 13]], [[2015]], but was released early, on [[August 29]], [[2013]] under a Federal Bureau of Prisons policy to release elderly or sick inmates convicted of non-violent offenses after they serve a majority of their sentence. [[Doug Jones]] represented him on his petition for early release. He was freed in time to participate in events honoring the 50th anniversary of the bombing that killed his daughter. | |||
McNair died in May [[2019]]. Though the McNairs had changed churches in [[1983]], 16th Street Baptist Church hosted his memorial service, in accordance with his wishes, on [[May 17]]. | |||
{{start box}} | |||
{{succession box | | |||
before= | | |||
title=[[Jefferson County Commission District 2]] | | |||
years=[[1986]]–[[March 19]], [[2001]] | | |||
after=[[Steve Small Jr]] | |||
}} | |||
{{end box}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* | * Thomas, Chandra R. (June 23, 1997) "McNair will see Lee film on bomb." {{BPH}} | ||
* Stewart, Virginia (July 27, 2001) "There's life beyond public life." | * "4 Little Girls Spike Lee Documentary on 1963 Bombing Opens in Birmingham" (September 12, 1997) {{BN}} | ||
* | * Kizzire, Jamie (March 30, 2001) "Career marked by integrity: Public officials praise retiring McNair." {{BPH}} | ||
* Stewart, Virginia (July 27, 2001) "There's life beyond public life." {{BBJ}} | |||
* Walton, Val (September 19, 2007) "McNair sentenced to prison in sewer bribery case." {{BN}} | |||
* | * Faulk, Kent (June 6, 2011) "Ex-Jefferson Commissioner Chris McNair on way to prison along glorious, tragic trail." {{BN}} | ||
* Koplowitz, Howard (May 8, 2019) "Chris McNair, former commissioner, father of bombing victim, dead at 93." {{BN}} | |||
* "Chris McNair, father of girl killed in church bombing, dies at 93." (May 8, 2019) {{BT}} | |||
* "Chris McNair’s funeral will be held at church where his daughter was killed." (May 10, 2019) Associated Press/{{BN}} | |||
* Griesbach, Rebecca (September 14, 2023) "Photos show rare glimpse into Black family’s life before, after Birmingham bombing: ‘This is his legacy’." {{AL}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNair, Chris}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:McNair, Chris}} | ||
[[Category:1926 births]] | [[Category:1926 births]] | ||
[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
[[Category:US Army personnel]] | |||
[[Category:World War II veterans]] | |||
[[Category:Tuskegee alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Photographers]] | [[Category:Photographers]] | ||
[[Category:Jefferson County Commission]] | [[Category:Jefferson County Commission]] | ||
[[Category:State legislators]] | [[Category:State legislators]] | ||
[[Category:Criminals]] | [[Category:Criminals]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:40, 19 September 2023
Jewell Christopher McNair (born 1926 in Fordyce, Arkansas; died May 8, 2019) was a photographer, a state legislator and a Jefferson County Commissioner. His daughter Denise was killed in the 1963 bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church.
McNair was a graduate of Tuskegee Institute, where he met Maxine Pippen in 1945. He served in the U.S. Army during the later months of World War II before returning to college, graduating in 1949. He and Maxine were married in 1950 and moved to Birmingham, where he worked as a milkman. Denise was born in 1951.
McNair opened a photography studio in 1962. Chris McNair Studios on 6th Avenue South in South Titusville later expanded into a multi-faceted business including a frame shop, art gallery and meeting space. A small exhibit area in the gallery served as a memorial to Denise's memory. McNair's two other daughters, Lisa and Kim, both worked in the gallery.
McNair was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in a 1973 special election to fill a vacancy in the Jefferson County House Delegation. He served two terms in the state legislature, including one as chair of the county delegation. He then ran unsuccessfully against Richard Shelby in the 1978 Democratic Primary to represent the 7th Congressional District of Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives.
McNair began serving on the Jefferson County Commission in 1986. During that decade then film-student Spike Lee contacted him to ask about obtaining the film rights to his daughter's story. McNair declined, but later, as the 33rd anniversary of the bombing approached in 1996, he and Maxine agreed to work with him and sit down for lengthy interviews which were featured in the documentary film 4 Little Girls which was released in 1997.
McNair resigned from the County Commission abruptly on March 29, 2001. Governor Don Seigelman appointed Steve Small Jr to succeed him. He again challenged Richard Shelby, this time for his U.S. Senate seat, in the 1992 Democratic primary, but garnered only 28% of ballots. At the time of retirement, McNair's reputation was of a fair-minded and penny-pinching public servant who brought dignity to his office. On the other hand, he had been the commissioner with responsibility over the Jefferson County Sewer System, which proved to be inadequate to the task of keeping wastewater out of rivers and streams during periods of heavy rain.
Once a lawsuit against the county was settled by consent decree, McNair took charge of the estimated $1.2 billion project of improving the system. The project was marked by poor planning and mismanagement. On April 21, 2006 McNair was convicted on 11 counts of bribery and conspiracy involving contractors for the sewer project. He pleaded guilty to a twelfth count of conspiracy in February 2007. On September 19, 2007 he was sentenced to five years of prison and ordered to pay $851,927 in restitution. After his appeals failed, McNair reported to federal prison in Marion, Illinois on June 6, 2011. From there he was transferred to the Federal Medical Center at Rochester, Minnesota.
He had been scheduled for release on October 13, 2015, but was released early, on August 29, 2013 under a Federal Bureau of Prisons policy to release elderly or sick inmates convicted of non-violent offenses after they serve a majority of their sentence. Doug Jones represented him on his petition for early release. He was freed in time to participate in events honoring the 50th anniversary of the bombing that killed his daughter.
McNair died in May 2019. Though the McNairs had changed churches in 1983, 16th Street Baptist Church hosted his memorial service, in accordance with his wishes, on May 17.
| Preceded by: ' |
Jefferson County Commission District 2 1986–March 19, 2001 |
Succeeded by: Steve Small Jr |
References
- Thomas, Chandra R. (June 23, 1997) "McNair will see Lee film on bomb." Birmingham Post-Herald
- "4 Little Girls Spike Lee Documentary on 1963 Bombing Opens in Birmingham" (September 12, 1997) The Birmingham News
- Kizzire, Jamie (March 30, 2001) "Career marked by integrity: Public officials praise retiring McNair." Birmingham Post-Herald
- Stewart, Virginia (July 27, 2001) "There's life beyond public life." Birmingham Business Journal
- Walton, Val (September 19, 2007) "McNair sentenced to prison in sewer bribery case." The Birmingham News
- Faulk, Kent (June 6, 2011) "Ex-Jefferson Commissioner Chris McNair on way to prison along glorious, tragic trail." The Birmingham News
- Koplowitz, Howard (May 8, 2019) "Chris McNair, former commissioner, father of bombing victim, dead at 93." The Birmingham News
- "Chris McNair, father of girl killed in church bombing, dies at 93." (May 8, 2019) The Birmingham Times
- "Chris McNair’s funeral will be held at church where his daughter was killed." (May 10, 2019) Associated Press/The Birmingham News
- Griesbach, Rebecca (September 14, 2023) "Photos show rare glimpse into Black family’s life before, after Birmingham bombing: ‘This is his legacy’." AL.com