Jere Beasley
Encyclopedia
Jere Locke Beasley was the acting governor
of the US state of Alabama
from June 5 to July 7, 1972.
Born in Tyler, Texas
to Browder Locke and Florence Camp Beas. He was raised in Clayton, Alabama
. In 1958 he married Sara Baker.
Beasley received his B.S. degree from Auburn University
and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law
. he worked for various law firms until he opened his own practice in 1965.
He was the 22nd Lieutenant Governor when Governor George Corley Wallace
was shot and severely injured in an assassination attempt in Laurel, Maryland
, on May 15, 1972. Since Wallace was out-of-state for more than 20 days, recovering in a Maryland
hospital, the Alabama Constitution
required that the lieutenant governor take over in the interim.
Beasley won the first round of Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in 1970, but failed to win a majority. He won the runoff. In 1974 he faced a strong challenge from Charles Woods
, who finished first in first round. Beasley, however, again won the runoff. He sought nomination for governor in 1978, but finished a distant fifth.
Beasley is currently the senior member of the firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.
It was announced on June 16, 2009 that Beasley would be serving as the campaign chairperson for Alabama gubernatorial candidate, Artur Davis
.
Democratic runoff for Lieutenant Governor
Race for Lieutenant Governor, 1970
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1974
Democratic runoff for Lieutenant Governor
Race for Lieutenant Governor, 1974
Democratic primary for Governor, 1978
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
of the US state of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
from June 5 to July 7, 1972.
Born in Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
to Browder Locke and Florence Camp Beas. He was raised in Clayton, Alabama
Clayton, Alabama
Clayton is a town in and the county seat of Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,475 at the 2000 census.-History:County Seat of Barbour County...
. In 1958 he married Sara Baker.
Beasley received his B.S. degree from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law
University of Alabama School of Law
The University of Alabama School of Law located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a nationally ranked top-tier law school and the only public law school in the state. In total, it is one of five law schools in the state, and one of three that are ABA accredited.The diverse student body, of approximately...
. he worked for various law firms until he opened his own practice in 1965.
He was the 22nd Lieutenant Governor when Governor George Corley Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
was shot and severely injured in an assassination attempt in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
, on May 15, 1972. Since Wallace was out-of-state for more than 20 days, recovering in a Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
hospital, the Alabama Constitution
Alabama Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Alabama is the basic governing document of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was adopted in 1901 and is the sixth constitution that the state has had....
required that the lieutenant governor take over in the interim.
Beasley won the first round of Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in 1970, but failed to win a majority. He won the runoff. In 1974 he faced a strong challenge from Charles Woods
Charles Woods
Charles Woods was an Alabama businessman and broadcaster, and aspiring politician. Woods was raised in an orphanage. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II...
, who finished first in first round. Beasley, however, again won the runoff. He sought nomination for governor in 1978, but finished a distant fifth.
Beasley is currently the senior member of the firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.
It was announced on June 16, 2009 that Beasley would be serving as the campaign chairperson for Alabama gubernatorial candidate, Artur Davis
Artur Davis
Artur Genestre Davis is a former member of the United States House of Representatives for , serving from 2003 to 2011 when he was succeeded by Terri Sewell, also a member of the Democratic Party....
.
Electoral history
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1970- Jere Beasley – 256,081 (29.03%)
- Hugh Morrow – 185,333 (21.01%)
- Tom RadneyTom RadneyJohn Tomas Radney was an American Democratic politician and lawyer from Alabama.Born in Wadley, Alabama, Radney graduated from Auburn University and received his law degree from University of Alabama School of Law. He served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, United States Army. Radney served...
– 163,462 (18.53%) - Joe Money – 100,131 (11.35%)
- Jack Giles – 81,789 (9.27%)
- Joe Goodwyn – 75,085 (8.51%)
- James Gullate – 10,627 (1.21%)
- Jay Thomas – 9,631 (1.09%)
Democratic runoff for Lieutenant Governor
- Jere Beasley – 572,258 (57.78%)
- Hugh Morrow – 418,228 (42.23%)
Race for Lieutenant Governor, 1970
- Jere Beasley (D) – 589,618 (72.26%)
- Robert French (R) – 126,506 (15.50%)
- Isaiah Hayes (Alabama National Democrat) – 92,176 (11.30%)
- John G. CrommelinJohn G. CrommelinRear Admiral John Geraerdt Crommelin, Jr. was a prominent United States Navy officer and later a frequent political candidate who championed white supremacy.-Early life and naval career:...
(Independent) – 7,678 (0.94%)
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1974
- Charles WoodsCharles WoodsCharles Woods was an Alabama businessman and broadcaster, and aspiring politician. Woods was raised in an orphanage. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II...
– 310,351 (38.68%) - Jere Beasley (inc.) – 308,182 (38.41%)
- Richard Dominick – 150,455 (18.75%)
- Ron Creel – 25,392 (3.17%)
- Coleman Brown – 7,943 (0.99%)
Democratic runoff for Lieutenant Governor
- Jere Beasley (inc.) – 393,077 (56.10%)
- Charles WoodsCharles WoodsCharles Woods was an Alabama businessman and broadcaster, and aspiring politician. Woods was raised in an orphanage. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II...
– 307,643 (43.90%)
Race for Lieutenant Governor, 1974
- Jere Beasley (D) (inc.) – 433,495 (72.06%)
- Don Collins (R) – 153,814 (25.57%)
- Edna L. Bowling (Prohibition) – 9,857 (1.64%)
- John Watts (Independent, write-in) – 4,387 (0.73%)
Democratic primary for Governor, 1978
- Fob JamesFob JamesForrest Hood James, Jr., known as Fob James , is an American politician, a civil engineer, and an all-American half-back...
– 256,196 (28.47%) - Bill BaxleyBill BaxleyWilliam Joseph Baxley II is an American Democratic politician and attorney.He was born in Dothan, Alabama and attended law school at the University of Alabama, graduating in 1964. He served two terms as Attorney General of Alabama, from 1971–1979; at the age of 27, he was the youngest to hold that...
– 210,089 (23.35%) - Albert BrewerAlbert BrewerAlbert Preston Brewer is an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Alabama from May 7, 1968 until January 18, 1971.-Life and political career:...
– 193,479 (21.50%) - Sid McDonald – 143,930 (15.99%)
- Jere Beasley – 77,202 (8.58%)
- K.C. Foster – 4,948 (0.55%)
- Horace Howell – 4,730 (0.53%)
- Jim FolsomJim FolsomJames Elisha Folsom, Sr. , commonly known as Jim Folsom or "Big Jim", was the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1947 to 1951, and again from 1955 to 1959. Born in Coffee County, Alabama, Folsom is perhaps best remembered as being among the first Southern governors to embrace...
– 4,632 (0.52%) - Bob Muncaster – 1,776 (0.20%)
- Shorty PriceShorty PriceRalph "Shorty" Price, was an attorney and perennial political candidate from the state of Alabama, mostly noted for his colorful "clown" persona....
– 1,396 (0.16%) - Charles WoodsCharles WoodsCharles Woods was an Alabama businessman and broadcaster, and aspiring politician. Woods was raised in an orphanage. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II...
– 700 (0.08%) - Fred Sandefer – 622 (0.07%)
- Cornelia WallaceCornelia WallaceCornelia Ellis Wallace, previously Cornelia Ellis Snively , was the First Lady of Alabama from 1971–1978 and the second wife of Democratic Governor George C. Wallace . Mrs...
– 217 (0.02%)