John Grenier

John Edward Grenier (born August 24, 1930 in New Orleans, Louisiana; died November 6, 2007 in Houston, Texas) was an attorney, former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, and advisor to Governor Guy Hunt.

Grenier grew up in New Orleans and graduated from Jesuit High School there. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees at Tulane University, graduating in 1953. After college he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a pilot in the Checkerboard Squadron (VMF 312) during the Korean War. He was discharged as a Captain and then went to New York University to complete law school.

Grenier practiced in New York for a while before moving to Birmingham for a job with Southern Natural Gas Company. He later joined the firm of Bradley Arant Rose & White, becoming a partner in the firm before he left for Lange, Simpson, Robinson & Somerville, where he worked for 35 years before retiring in 2004.

Grenier chaired the Jefferson County Young Republicans in 1960, moved on to chair the Alabama Young Republicans in 1961, and then was elected Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party in 1963. From there he was named deputy chair of the Republican National Committee and the Southern regional campaign director for Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.

As part of that 1964 general election, Grenier recruited Republican candidates who captured five of Alabama's eight congressional seats over Democratic incumbents. He was subsequently named executive director of the Republican National Committee.

Grenier ran for U.S. Senate in 1966, losing to incumbent John Sparkman. In the 1986 election, Grenier advised Republican gubernatorial candidate Guy Hunt to "lie low" while Democratic candidates Bill Baxley and Charlie Graddick criticized each other. Hunt won the office and installed Grenier as an aide.

Grenier died at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston in November 2007 and was interred at Elmwood Cemetery. He was survived by his second wife, Stella, son, Beau, and four grandchildren.

References

• Dean, Charles J. & Tom Gordon (November 8, 2007) "John Grenier, Birmingham lawyer, state GOP pioneer, dies at 77." The Birmingham News
• "John Edward Grenier" obituary. (November 8, 2007) The Birmingham News
• Hevesi, John (November 10, 2007) "John E. Grenier, 77, a Leader of Goldwater’s ’64 Bid, Is Dead." The New York Times