Tom Donald Fike Bevill(March 27, 1921 – March 28, 2005) was an American attorney, politician, andDemocraticfifteen-termU.S. congressmanwho representedAlabama's 4th Congressional DistrictandAlabama's 7th congressional districtfrom 1967 to 1997.[1]
Tom Bevill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's4thdistrict | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Nichols |
| Succeeded by | Robert Aderholt |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's7thdistrict | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | James D. Martin |
| Succeeded by | Walter Flowers |
| Member of theAlabama Legislature | |
| In office 1958–1966 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tom Donald Fike Bevill March 27, 1921 Townley, Alabama,U.S. |
| Died | March 28, 2005(aged 84) Jasper, Alabama,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama |
Early years and education
editBevill was born inTownley, Alabama,on March 27, 1921. He attended Walker County High School, theUniversity of AlabamaSchool of Commerce and Business Administration, and the University of Alabama School of Law. Bevill was an initiate of the Gamma Alpha chapter ofPi Kappa Alphaat UA. He served in theUnited States ArmyduringWorld War II.He also privately practiced law.[2]
Political career
editIn 1958, Bevill was elected to the Alabama Legislature, serving there until his election to Congress in 1966. In Congress, Bevill was known for securing federal money and development projects for his district.[3]This earned him the nickname "The King ofPork",a term which he actually turned into a positive. After fifteen terms in Congress, he retired in 1997.[2]Bevill is credited with answering the world's very first9-1-1emergency call on February 16, 1968, made fromHaleyvilleby then-Alabama House SpeakerRankin Fiteat the invitation of theAlabama Telephone Company.[4]He also sponsored the Bevill Amendment to theResource Conservation and Recovery Actwhich excludes mining wastes from the act's jurisdiction.[5]
He was a moderate toconservative Democratwho opposed abortion and gun control.
Personal life
editBevill died on March 28, 2005, inJasper, Alabama,the day after his 84th birthday. He had been in declining health for several years due to heart problems.[2]
His son Don Bevill ran for his old seat in 1998.[6]He lost 56%-44% to his father's Republican successorRobert Aderholt.
References
edit- ^"Little River Canyon has $16 million economic impact on Alabama"Alabama NewsCenter.Retrieved 2017-02-02.
- ^abcEstrada, Louie (March 31, 2005)."Rep. Tom Bevill, 84; Alabama Democrat".Washington Post.RetrievedJanuary 18,2011.
- ^"Conversation leads to I-22 back story"Daily Mountain Eagle.Retrieved 2017-02-02.
- ^"Town Marks E-911 Anniversary".TimesDaily.February 17, 1993.RetrievedJanuary 18,2011.
- ^Barringer, S. G. (2003). The RCRA Bevill Amendment: A Lasting Relief for Mining Wastes?Natural Resources & Environment,17(3), 155–194.JSTOR40924275
- ^"House Races to Watch, and Why".The Washington Post.June 8, 1998.
External links
edit- United States Congress."Tom Bevill (id: B000431)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- AppearancesonC-SPAN