Alabama Governors: A Political History of the State

Second Edition Acknowledgments

seConD eDiTion ACKnoWleDGmenTs social, political, and economic events of nations and states occur rapidly and with unexpected twists and surprises, necessitating the regular updating of histories.When Alabama Governors:A Political History of the State appeared in 2001, we were delighted and humbled by the public’s response. Journalists, researchers, and general readers were generous in their comments, purchases, and occasional suggestions for improvement and correction.librarians in the state demonstrated their appreciation for the research benefits of the book when they awarded it the Alabama library Association best Adult nonfiction prize in 2003. but time marches on . . . so when the University of Alabama Press approached us about updating, correcting, and improving the first edition of Alabama Governors:A Political History of the State, we eagerly agreed. The Comer Foundation, so generous in its contribution to the first edition, continued its support for the second edition without stipulations or restrictions. The foundation’s funding made possible numerous benefits,including improved photography and artwork for this edition. We are so grateful for the Comer Foundation’s support of the humanities and for its partnership with us and with the Press. We are indebted to Curtis Clark, director; Daniel Waterman, editor-inchief ; and especially Donna Cox baker, history editor at the University of Alabama Press; who gave full support, encouragement, and assistance to us throughout the process of producing this work. Dr. Jonathan bass, University historian at samford University (birmingham, Alabama), joined us in researching and writing new material, and we are also greatly in his debt.We corrected errors of style and substance and added data to some of the original chapters. Three new chapters were added that cover the administrations of still-living men whose stories are not complete. Writing about recent events deprives historians of one of their most useful resources: the historical distance (or hindsight) required to fully learn or understand the “rest of the story”—the more complete information and unanticipated consequences xvi / second edition Acknowledgments of behaviors, legislation, movements, belief systems, and such. nonetheless, we have attempted to “complete” the major details of Don siegelman’s and bob riley’s terms in office and the first two and a half years of what may be just the first term of Governor robert bentley. We are again grateful to our patient and long-suffering spouses, Ann and rodger, who remain supportive, even appreciative, of the eccentric habits of historians. margaret e. Armbrester and samuel l.Webb, 2013 ...