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[[Image:Hank Erwin.jpg|right|thumb|Hank Erwin]]
[[Image:Hank Erwin.jpg|right|thumb|Hank Erwin]]
'''Henry E. "Hank" Erwin, Jr''' (born [[April 2]], [[1949]] in [[Birmingham]]) is a former Alabama state senator representing [[Alabama Senate District 14|District 14]].
'''Henry E. "Hank" Erwin, Jr''' (born [[April 2]], [[1949]] in [[Birmingham]]) is an Alabama minister, broadcaster, and former state senator for [[Alabama Senate District 14]].  


Erwin is the son of [[World War II]] hero [[Red Erwin]]. He graduated from [[Ensley High School]] in [[1967]] and went on to earn a bachelor of science at Troy State University ([[1972]]), a bachelor of arts at Southwestern Bible College ([[1974]]), and a master of arts at the Dallas Seminary ([[1981]]).
=Early Years=
Erwin is the son of World War II veteran [[Red Erwin]]. A baseball standout at [[Ensley High School]], Erwin graduated in [[1967]] and went on to play baseball at [[Troy University |Troy State University]], graduating in [[1972]]. Erwin also earned a bachelor of arts at Southwestern Bible College ([[1974]]) and a master of arts at the Dallas Seminary ([[1981]]).


Erwin has worked in radio and television since [[1976]]. He broke into broadcasting while a seminary student in Dallas. He worked as a sportscaser at  KCBI-FM and there launched a "Christian Sports Radio Talk Show". He then took a job as a television news reporter before returning to Alabama. Erwin hosted a talk show on [[WDJC-FM]] from [[1996]] to [[1999]], then moved to [[WYDE-AM]]. On his show he argued against establishing a statewide lottery and warned about the dangers of the coming "Y2K bug".
=Career and Political Life=
===Ministry===
Erwin joined the [[Wales Goebel| Wales Goebel Ministries]] in Birmingham, and in 1974, he was asked to reach out the [[Woodlawn High School]] football team to quell racial tensions among the players and student body. Erwin became the team's chaplain and his efforts were chronicled in the 2015 book ''[[Woodlawn (book)|Woodlawn]]'', as well as the [[Woodlawn (film)|2015 film]] of the same name.


Currently he appears on the "Hank Erwin Show", produced by Erwin's [[S.A.V. America Ministries]] and broadcast daily from [[WOTM-LP]] in [[Montevallo]] and carried by Charter Cable in the Birmingham and Montgomery markets. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in [[2005]] his comments linking "gambling, sin, and wickedness" in New Orleans to "the judgment of God" were reported nationally.
===Broadcasting===
Erwin has worked in radio and television since [[1976]]. He broke into broadcasting while a seminary student in Dallas. Erwin worked as a sportscaster at KCBI-FM, where he launched a Christian sports radio talk show. He also worked as a television news reporter before returning to Alabama. Erwin hosted a talk show on [[WDJC-FM]] from [[1996]] to [[1999]], then moved to [[WYDE-AM]].  


Erwin was elected to the Alabama Senate in [[2002]] and won re-election against two Republican challengers in the [[2006 primary elections]]. He has used his position to work for veterans benefits, oppose gambling, support restrictions on the sale of alcohol, make divorces harder to obtain, and protect churches from government intrusion. He was named "Legislator of the Year" in [[2005]] by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In [[2008]] Erwin proposed creating an "I Believe" license plate, modeled after one issued in South Carolina.
He has also appeared on the "Hank Erwin Show", produced by Erwin's [[S.A.V. America Ministries]] and broadcast daily from [[WOTM-LP]] in [[Montevallo]].  


Erwin did not run for re-election in [[2010 general election|2010]]. [[Cam Ward]] ran unopposed in the [[2010 primary elections|Republican primary]] and the general election to fill his seat.
===Politics===
Erwin was elected to the Alabama Senate in [[2002]] and won re-election against two Republican challengers in the [[2006 primary elections]]. He has used his position to work for veterans benefits, oppose gambling, support restrictions on the sale of alcohol, make divorces harder to obtain, and protect churches from government intrusion. He was named "Legislator of the Year" in [[2005]] by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In [[2008]], Erwin proposed creating an "I Believe" license plate, modeled after one issued in South Carolina.


Erwin serves on the boards of the Freedoms Foundation and the [[Alabama Citizens Action Program]] and is a member of the [[Chilton County Chamber of Commerce]].
Erwin did not run for re-election in [[2010 general election|2010]], in favor of running for Lieutenant Governor instead.  Despite receiving endorsements from the Alabama GOP Senate Caucus and then-Governor [[Bob Riley]], Erwin received only 31.6% of the votes in the [[2010 primary elections|Republican Primary]], losing to [[Kay Ivey]], who would go on to win the general election.
 
===Civic Organizations===
Erwin serves on the boards of the Freedoms Foundation, the [[Alabama Citizens Action Program]] and is a member of the [[Chilton County Chamber of Commerce]].
 
=Personal=
He and his wife, Shelia, reside in [[Montevallo]] and attend [[Lakeside Baptist Church]]. Their sons [[Andy Erwin|Andy]] and [[Jon Erwin|Jon]] are filmmakers who operate their own film production company [[Erwin Brothers Entertainment]].
 
=In Media=
Sean Astin portrayed "Hank Erwin," a condensed, quasi-fictionalized character based on both Erwin and [[Wales Goebel]] in the 2015 film ''[[Woodlawn (film)|Woodlawn]]''.
 
=References=
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hank_Erwin Hank Erwin]" (May 20, 2008) Wikipedia - accessed June 3, 2008
* Treadwell, Jaine (August 25,2016), "[https://www.troymessenger.com/2016/08/25/legend-of-woodlawn-erwin-shares-woodlawn-story-with-students/ Legend of Woodlawn: Erwin shares Woodlawn story with students]", ''The Troy Messenger''.
* Carlton, Bob (October 16, 2015), "[https://www.al.com/entertainment/2015/10/woodlawn_the_movie_opens_7_thi.html ''Woodlawn'', the movie opens: 7 things to know about Tony Nathan, Jon Voight and more], ''AL.com''.
* Gerelds, Todd and Schlabach, Mark (2015), ''Woodlawn'', Howard Books, ISBN 1501118064.
 
 
{{stub}}


He and his wife, Shelia, reside in [[Montevallo]] and attend [[Lakeside Baptist Church]]. Their sons [[Andy Erwin|Andy]] and [[Jon Erwin|Jon]] were home-schooled. They now own and operate [[Erwin Brothers Motion Pictures]].


{{start box}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box | title=[[Alabama State Senate]] [[Alabama Senate District 14|District 14]] | years=[[2002]]–[[2010]] | before=? | after=[[Cam Ward]] }}
{{succession box | title=[[Alabama State Senate]] [[Alabama Senate District 14|District 14]] | years=[[2002]]–[[2010]] | before=? | after=[[Cam Ward]] }}
{{end box}}
{{end box}}
==References==
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hank_Erwin Hank Erwin]" (May 20, 2008) Wikipedia - accessed June 3, 2008
==External links==
* [http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senatebios/sd014.html Senator Hank Erwin] page at legislature.state.al.us
* [http://www.senatorerwin.com/ Senator Erwin] website
* [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,171099,00.html Interview with Hank Erwin] on Hannity & Colmes regarding his comments about Hurricane Katrina





Revision as of 17:03, 13 April 2021

Hank Erwin

Henry E. "Hank" Erwin, Jr (born April 2, 1949 in Birmingham) is an Alabama minister, broadcaster, and former state senator for Alabama Senate District 14.

Early Years

Erwin is the son of World War II veteran Red Erwin. A baseball standout at Ensley High School, Erwin graduated in 1967 and went on to play baseball at Troy State University, graduating in 1972. Erwin also earned a bachelor of arts at Southwestern Bible College (1974) and a master of arts at the Dallas Seminary (1981).

Career and Political Life

Ministry

Erwin joined the Wales Goebel Ministries in Birmingham, and in 1974, he was asked to reach out the Woodlawn High School football team to quell racial tensions among the players and student body. Erwin became the team's chaplain and his efforts were chronicled in the 2015 book Woodlawn, as well as the 2015 film of the same name.

Broadcasting

Erwin has worked in radio and television since 1976. He broke into broadcasting while a seminary student in Dallas. Erwin worked as a sportscaster at KCBI-FM, where he launched a Christian sports radio talk show. He also worked as a television news reporter before returning to Alabama. Erwin hosted a talk show on WDJC-FM from 1996 to 1999, then moved to WYDE-AM.

He has also appeared on the "Hank Erwin Show", produced by Erwin's S.A.V. America Ministries and broadcast daily from WOTM-LP in Montevallo.

Politics

Erwin was elected to the Alabama Senate in 2002 and won re-election against two Republican challengers in the 2006 primary elections. He has used his position to work for veterans benefits, oppose gambling, support restrictions on the sale of alcohol, make divorces harder to obtain, and protect churches from government intrusion. He was named "Legislator of the Year" in 2005 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2008, Erwin proposed creating an "I Believe" license plate, modeled after one issued in South Carolina.

Erwin did not run for re-election in 2010, in favor of running for Lieutenant Governor instead. Despite receiving endorsements from the Alabama GOP Senate Caucus and then-Governor Bob Riley, Erwin received only 31.6% of the votes in the Republican Primary, losing to Kay Ivey, who would go on to win the general election.

Civic Organizations

Erwin serves on the boards of the Freedoms Foundation, the Alabama Citizens Action Program and is a member of the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce.

Personal

He and his wife, Shelia, reside in Montevallo and attend Lakeside Baptist Church. Their sons Andy and Jon are filmmakers who operate their own film production company Erwin Brothers Entertainment.

In Media

Sean Astin portrayed "Hank Erwin," a condensed, quasi-fictionalized character based on both Erwin and Wales Goebel in the 2015 film Woodlawn.

References



Preceded by:
?
Alabama State Senate District 14
20022010
Succeeded by:
Cam Ward