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William W. Brandon, 1923–1927 lee n. Allen When “Plain bill” brandon entered the race for governor in 1922,it was said that he was so popular that virtually no one wanted to run against him.After four years in office,he was the only governor to leave the capital as popular as when he entered.yet brandon’s career as governor of the state was not his primary legacy.That came in the realm of political lore.As chairman of the Alabama delegation to the Democratic national Convention of 1924, it fell to his lot to cast the state’s vote. only five feet, one inch tall,he had to stand on a chair to be seen.With no electronic amplification but with a booming, stentorian voice, he had no trouble being heard as he proudly announced, “Alabama casts twenty-four votes for oscar W. Underwood.” in fact, the lone microphone on the speaker’s podium ,which carried the proceedings to a small radio audience in the eastern portion of the nation, picked up the vote. later in the proceedings, which required 103 ballots, visitors in the balcony and eventually other delegates as well began to join with brandon as he rhythmically cast the Alabama vote. For many years, his voice and his vote were remembered and repeated by scores who followed politics. William Woodward brandon was born in Talladega on June 5, 1868, to Franklin Thomas Jefferson brandon and Caroline Woodward brandon. his father was a methodist minister, subject to frequent reassignments. brandon received his early education at Cedar bluff institute in Cherokee County and was graduated from high school in Tuscaloosa. he took a law course at 198 / William W. brandon 1923–1927 the University of Alabama in 1891 and opened his practice of law in Tuscaloosa in 1892. in 1900, he married a widow, mrs. robert n. nabors, nee elizabeth Andrews, whose first husband had been a methodist minister and by whom she had two daughters. The brandons had no additional children. When she became the state’s First lady, mrs. brandon initiated the popular custom of receiving friends and visitors at the governor’s mansion every Tuesday afternoon. Prior to his political career, brandon in 1886 joined the local Warrior Guards, a part of the national Guard, and was elected lieutenant two years later and captain in 1894. in 1894 he began a military journal, “The Citizen soldier,” for his troops. With the outbreak of the spanish-American War in 1898, brandon joined the second Alabama volunteers, was promoted to major,and was dispatched to Florida,where his unit remained until the brief war ended. in 1899 he was appointed state adjutant general by Governor Joseph F. Johnston and was reappointed by Governors samford and Jelks, serving until 1907. During his tenure as commander of the state’s military forces,brandon followed the national mandate and implemented reorganization and modernization policies. Although his career moved in other directions after 1907, when the United states enteredWorldWar i in 1917,brandon offered his services to President Wilson. in 1938 the national Guard armory in Tuscaloosa was dedicated as Fort William W. brandon. brandon became interested in public life at an early age. he was elected city clerk of Tuscaloosa in 1891 and served three terms. in 1892 he was appointed justice of the peace in Tuscaloosa, and in 1896 he was elected to the state legislature.During his three terms in the state house,he became known as “Warwick of the Warrior” for his legislative skill. he was at various times a member of the state Democratic executive Committee and served as reading clerk at the 1901 constitutional convention. brandon’s career was moving inexorably toward the governorship, which had long been his ambition. he was elected state auditor in 1907, a minor position that was often used in this era as a stepping stone to more prominent state offices.As state auditor,he introduced a system of accounting practices that earned plaudits from the state examiner of accounts.While serving as state auditor, he was also elected probate judge of Tuscaloosa County. in 1918 he made his first run for the governorship, coming in a close second to Thomas Kilby. he continued to campaign vigorously during the next four years and was elected governor in 1922 by a margin of three to one over bibb Graves, who was making his first bid for the high office.The new governor was elected on a platform of economy...

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