He lived and worked through Alabama’s transition from a solid Democrat state to a solid Republican state.
Charles S. “Charlie” Snider Sr. of Montgomery, died in Montgomery yesterday, December 1, at age 93. With him, he took stories and knowledge of a bygone era of Alabama politics and recent history.
Snider managed Governor George Wallace’s 1972 and 1976 presidential campaigns.
In the Alabama business world, Snider had owned a successful construction business and was a pilot.
That led to his being asked to coordinate transportation and travel for Wallace’s third-party run for president in 1968. In that campaign, Snider’s skills at dealing with different personalities, including difficult Yankees, became apparent, and he was promoted to National Chair of Wallace’s 1972 and 1976 presidential campaigns, which were run in the Democrat primaries.
Between presidential campaigns, Snider was a key in Wallace’s successful 1970 and 1974 campaigns for governor.
Alabama’s unofficial historian David Azbell says that after the assassination attempt ended Wallace’s candidacy in the 1972 Democratic presidential race, Snider was approached by President Richard Nixon. He was asked to assist former Texas governor and U.S. Treasury Secretary John Connolly in setting up the “Democrats for Nixon” campaign committee.
As a result of his efforts, President Nixon offered Snider an appointment to the Federal Trade Commission, but he declined the position because Wallace was considering another presidential run in 1976.
Snider worked as a Southern Political Strategist in the 1980 Republican presidential primary run of his friend, former Congressman George H.W. Bush. Later in 1980, he was Southern Regional Strategist in the successful Reagan/Bush campaign.
Snider served as Director of the Alabama Development Office under Gov. Fob James. He was President of the State Industrial Development Authority and served on the Alabama Supercomputer Authority Board and the Tombigbee Waterway Development Council.
Born in Montgomery on January 20, 1932, Snider’s lifelong love of flying led him to earn his pilot’s license and an Aeronautical Engineering degree from Auburn University. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and served in the Korean War.
Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, in the chapel at Frazer Memorial Church in Montgomery with a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Alabama Heritage Cemetery.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected].
