As is my custom for the past 21 years, my year end column illuminates Alabama political luminaries that passed away last year. We lost some good ones.
Former State Senator and Lt. Governor George McMillan passed away in Birmingham at 81. George was a vivacious, delightful gentleman, who never met a stranger. I never knew anyone who ever met George that did not like him.
He began his meteoric political career at an early age. He was elected to the State Senate from Jefferson County in 1974 and was elected Lt. Governor in 1978.
He lost a razor-thin election to George Wallace for Governor in 1982. Many predicted he would win that race and, if elected, would have given Alabama a “New South” Governor.
Former State Representative and ABC Administrator Mac Gipson passed away in July at 89. Mac represented Autauga and Elmore Counties for 16 years in the House of Representatives.
He was appointed head of the Alabama Beverage Control Board by Governor Robert Bentley. He remained head of the ABC until his retirement at the end of 2022, having served under Governors Bentley and Kay Ivey.
Gipson was the successful owner and founder of Gipson’s Tire stores in Prattville and Millbrook. Mac was a good man and a good legislative friend.
Another legislative friend, Ralph Burke, passed away in July. Ralph represented DeKalb County in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 1998. He was an educator by profession. Ralph was a graduate of Jacksonville State and was a lifetime advocate for his alma mater. He was only 65.
Another of my favorite legislative colleagues, William “Bill” Drinkard, passed away in July at 79 at his home in Springville. He served in both the House and Senate from Etowah and St. Clair Counties from 1978 to 1990. He had a diversified business career as a store owner, hospital administrator, and a real estate developer. Bill was a diligent and good legislator.
Julian McPhillips was a renowned lawyer, and loyal Democratic Party leader in Alabama for over four decades. He passed away in Montgomery in April at age 78. His family had a deep heritage in Alabama. His father was a legendary Episcopal priest. He was born in Birmingham in 1946, but raised in Cullman.
He graduated from Princeton cum laude and was an all-Ivy League wrestler. He then graduated from Columbia Law School. Julian worked as a Wall Street lawyer from 1971 to 1975. He moved back to Alabama in 1975 and began working as Assistant to Attorney General Bill Baxley. He ran for Attorney General of Alabama in 1978, and ran second in a nine man field. He spent the rest of his life as a progressive lawyer and civic and civil rights leader in Montgomery.
Tom Walker was the Founder and President Emeritus of the American Village in Montevallo. Tom conceived the idea of the American Village in the 1980’s. His vision accomplished the establishment of one of Alabama’s treasures. American Village teaches American history and civics. He built an amazing 188-acre campus in Montevallo. The campus has served over three-quarters of a million students and draws thousands of public visitors each year. Tom was a good man. His quiet and humble demeanor will be missed. The American Village was his life and legacy. He passed away in September.
Former Jefferson County State Senator Bill Cabaniss passed away early in the year at 86 in Birmingham. He was a Republican before it was cool. He was born and raised in Mountain Brook and lived there all his life. He was a lifetime Republican and was considered one of the pioneers of the modern Republican Party in Alabama. After his tenure in the Alabama legislature, President George H.W. Bush, who was Cabaniss’ lifetime friend, made him ambassador to the Czech Republic.
Dr. Annette Shelby passed away in July in Tuscaloosa at the age of 86. Dr. Shelby was the wife of our iconic, retired U.S. Senator Richard Shelby. She was very accomplished in her own right. She was a renowned educator. She was a distinguished, tenured Professor of Business at Georgetown University, as well as the University of Alabama. She was an integral part of Senator Shelby’s career, and a good many of the magnificent buildings on most of Alabama’s university campuses bear both Richard and Annette Shelby’s names.
An Alabama political legend, Ann Bedsole, passed on December 1, at age 95 in Mobile. Bedsole was the first Republican female elected to the Alabama House of Representatives and later the first female elected to the Alabama State Senate. She was a fine lady and an outstanding legislator. Her word was as good as gold.
We lost some good ones in 2025.
Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at [email protected].
