Alabama political history reveals that the Rural Black Belt area of our state dominated the power in Montgomery, both legislatively and gubernatorially, from the beginning of the Civil War through the 1960’s.
Beginning in 1861 and continuing through the George Wallace era, the Black Belt County of Barbour had eight governors. That is an impressive historical fact and is why Barbour County is called the Home of Governors. It is a record that will probably never be broken. Barbour County’s eight governors are by farthe most. The closest to that are two counties that can boast three.
One of those counties is Cullman. They have emerged as one of the most dominant counties in Alabama politics in the last 60 years. They have had two back-to-back governors in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Guy Hunt, from Holly Pond, was governor from 1987 through 1992. Cullman native, Jim Folsom Jr., followed Guy Hunt as governor from 1992-1994. Jim Folsom Jr.’s daddy, the legendary Big Jim Folsom, served two terms as governor,1946-1950 and 1954-1958.
Cullman County is an almost all white county nestled in the middle of the state, exactly halfway in between the metropolitan areas of Birmingham and Huntsville. As late as the 1960’s, Cullman County, maybe due to the demographics and the frugal influence of their large German descendant population, had the highest per capita income in the state.
Their rise to political power started in the early 1960’s andbegan because of the George Wallace connection. Two of the most loyal Wallace men ever were Cullman Countians – Tom Drake and Billy Joe Camp. Wallace made Tom Drake the Speaker of the Alabama House his last term as governor, 1982-1986. Drake was so loyal to Wallace that if Wallace asked him to jump off the top of the Capitol, he would have said, “What time Governor?”
Billy Joe Camp was just as loyal to Wallace. His career was built around his affiliation with Wallace. He was Wallace’s Press Secretary during most of Wallace’s two decades as governor. He road the Wallace machine to be elected to the posts of Secretary of State and Public Service Commission, and later, served Jim Folsom Jr., who ascended to Governor from Lt. Governor.
Jim Folsom Jr. and his daddy, Big Jim Folsom, are the Kings of Cullman County political fiefdom. They both have definite, true legacies as Alabama Governors. Big Jim Folsom is known for paving all the rural roads in the state, referred to as “Farm to Market” roads.
Jim Folsom Jr. has a true, definitive legacy as the Father of the Automobile Manufacturing Business in Alabama. During his one term as governor, he lured and landed the Mercedes Benz manufacturing plant to Alabama. His landing this big fish coup,Mercedes, was the impetus for Honda, Hyundai, and all the satellite automobile parts manufacturers coming to Alabama. Thanks to Jim Folsom Jr. we are now the second largest automobile manufacturing state in America with over 50,000 Alabamians having high paying jobs in automotive building.
Today, the President Pro Tem of the Alabama State Senate is Cullman State Senator Garlan Gudger. Senator Gudger is a native and lifelong resident of Cullman. The post of PresidentPro Tem of the State Senate is probably the second most powerful position in the state. It is more powerful than being Lt. Governor, which has no constitutional power. Garlan was President of the Cullman City Council for over a decade before going to the State Senate in 2018. He could be Cullman County’s fourth governor one day.
One observation from this summary of Cullman County’s political success is that all the aforementioned state political leaders from Cullman came home to Cullman County to live out their lives. They all, obviously, love their home county. Big Jim and Jamelle lived and raised their children, including Little Jim,in Cullman. Jim Folsom Jr. and his Cullman County native wife, Marsha Guthrie Folsom, live in Cullman. Guy Hunt and his wife, Helen, lived out their lives in Cullman County. Tom Drake and his wife, Chris, never left Cullman. He drove back to Cullman from Montgomery every night of his 32 years in the legislature.
Cullman is obviously a very special place.
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.