While a student at the University of Alabama I had the opportunity to intern with the Dean of Students, Dr. Joab Thomas. A few years later Dr. Thomas became President of the University, and I was elected to the legislature. He invited my wife and I to sit with him at an Alabama football game. We had just had our first daughter, and she seemed to us quite precocious. As Dr. Thomas and I were discussing my newborn,the topic of her early education came up. I somewhat lamented the fact she might not be able to compete academically as well in college because she would be raised in a small town and not have the advantages or competition that a larger city school might offer.
Dr. Thomas, who himself was from the small town of Russellville, was a Harvard educated botanist and had done quite well academically. However, he shed an interesting light on the difference in growing up in a small city, as opposed to a large one. He said a person from a small place who has leadership talents can develop them better than someone from a large place. It is much easier in a small town to be class president, captain of the football team, homecoming queen, and be the big fish. It allows someone to develop confidence and leadership abilities that may far exceed the slight advantage from their academic development. That small town person grows up expecting to be the leader. They expect to be governor or president.
Dr. Thomas suggested that I look around and do some research on the success of those raised in small towns. Since I knew politics, I took the Alabama political arena and much to my amazement Joab was right. Individuals from small towns dominated Alabama politics and the Governor’s office.
A look at the past 80 years tells the story. Big Jim Folsom grew up in Elba and lived his adult life in Cullman. George Wallace was from the small hamlet of Clio in Barbour County, and his wife Lurleen was from the small town of Northport in Tuscaloosa County. Albert Brewer was from the mid-size city of Decatur, but still no metropolis. John Patterson’s home was Phenix City, but he was born in a Tallapoosa County crossroadscalled Goldville. Fob James was from the small east Alabama valley town of Lanett. Guy Hunt was from the village of Holly Pond in Cullman County. Jim Folsom Jr. is from the city of Cullman, like his father. Former governor, Bob Riley, is from the small Clay County town of Ashland. Dr. Robert Bentley was born and raised in the small town of Columbiana in Shelby County. Kay Ivey was born and raised in rural Wilcox County and went to school in Camden.
The only city governor of Alabama in the last 80 years has been Don Siegelman, who is from Mobile. Therefore, during the last 80 years that is 10 to 1 small town governors over big city. However, if you count Big Jim’s two terms, George Wallace’s four terms, Fob James’s two terms, Guy Hunt’s two terms, Bob Riley’s two terms, and Kay Ivey’s two terms, that will make it 19 to 1. By the way, if Tommy Tuberville wins the Governor’s race this year, he is from a small town in Arkansas.
This small town dominance does not end with Alabama governors. A cursory look at the presidents over the past 80 years reveals that our U.S. Presidents were small town boys.
Harry Truman was from Independence, Missouri. Dwight Eisenhower was from a small town in Kansas. Lyndon Johnson was from a small town in east Texas. Richard Nixon was from a small town in California. Jimmy Carter was from the small hamlet of Plains, Georgia. Ronald Reagan was from a small town in Illinois. George Bush, Sr. is from a small place in Connecticut and his son, George W. Bush, calls Crawford, Texas home. Bill Clinton was from the small town of Hope, Arkansas. Although he was born in mid-size Scranton, Pennsylvania, Joe Biden grew up in a small down in Delaware.
Only three of our presidents over the last 80 years have been from big cities. John F. Kennedy was from a big city. Boston was his home. Donald Trump is from New York City. Obama grew up in Japan and Hawaii, and went to the Senate from Chicago, so let’s give him to the big city of Chicago.
Dr. Thomas was right in his assessment of success inherent in politics and growing up in a small town. He said if you think it is true in politics you should read the almanac of success in business because it is just as dominate with small town folks.
See you next week.
Steve Flowers
Alabama’s premier columnist and commentator, Steve has analyzed Alabama politics for national television audiences on CBS, PBS, ABC and the British Broadcasting Network. Steve has been an up close participant and observer of the Alabama political scene for more than 50 years and is generally considered the ultimate authority on Alabama politics and Alabama political history.