Tom Donald Fike Bevill (March 27, 1921 – March 28, 2005) was an American attorney, politician, and Democratic fifteen-term U.S. congressman who represented Alabama's 4th Congressional District and Alabama's 7th congressional district from 1967 to 1997.[1]
Early years and education
Bevill was born in Townley, Alabama, on March 27, 1921. He attended Walker County High School, the University of Alabama School of Commerce and Business Administration, and the University of Alabama School of Law. Bevill was an initiate of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha at UA. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He also privately practiced law.[2]
Political career
In 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 of Pork", 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 first 9-1-1 emergency call on February 16, 1968, made from Haleyville by then-Alabama House Speaker Rankin Fite at the invitation of the Alabama Telephone Company.[4] He also sponsored the Bevill Amendment to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act which excludes mining wastes from the act's jurisdiction.[5]
Personal life
Bevill died on March 28, 2005, in Jasper, 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 successor Robert Aderholt.
References
- ^ "Little River Canyon has $16 million economic impact on Alabama" Alabama NewsCenter. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
- ^ a b c Estrada, Louie (March 31, 2005). "Rep. Tom Bevill, 84; Alabama Democrat". Washington Post. Retrieved January 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. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
- ^ Barringer, S. G. (2003). The RCRA Bevill Amendment: A Lasting Relief for Mining Wastes? Natural Resources & Environment, 17(3), 155–194. JSTOR 40924275
- ^ "House Races to Watch, and Why". The Washington Post. June 8, 1998.
External links
- United States Congress. "Tom Bevill (id: B000431)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN
