Jim Folsom

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James Elisha Folsom, Sr. (October 9, 1908–November 21, 1987), commonly known as Jim Folsom or "Big Jim", was the Democratic 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 integration and civil rights for African Americans.

Folsom started out as an insurance salesman after serving in the Merchant Marine during World War II. He was first elected governor of Alabama in 1946 after waging a colorful campaign that included entertaining voters with a hillbilly band and brandishing a mop and bucket which he said would "clean out" the Capitol. Despite some scandal in his administration, he was easily reelected in 1954 (the 1901 constitution of Alabama forbade a governor from succeeding himself, which at the time was a common provision in the constitutions of many Southern states). Folsom stood six-foot eight-inches tall and was often referred to as "the little man's big friend". In 1962, Folsom again ran for governor against his one-time protege George Wallace but was defeated. It is believed that one of the reasons for this was a television appearance where Folsom appeared to be seriously intoxicated. Folsom was never again elected to public office and died in Cullman, Alabama in 1987. His niece, Cornelia Ellis Snivley, was married to George Wallace from 1971 to 1978.

A documentary film about Big Jim Folsom entitled "Big Jim Folsom: The Two Faces of Populism" was produced in 1996 by Alabama filmmaker Robert Clem, and won the 1997 International Documentary Association/ABCNews VideoSource Award and the Southeastern Filmmaker Award at the 1997 Atlanta Film Festival.

[edit] Son James E Folsom, Jr.

Jim Folsom's son James E. Folsom, Jr. (dubbed Little Jim because of his father's nickname) is also a noted Alabama politician. He served as Alabama lieutenant governor from 1986 to 1993. He assumed the office of governor when Gov. H. Guy Hunt was removed from office after being convicted of state ethics law violations. Folsom, Jr. ran for governor in 1994, but was defeated by Fob James. He decided to reenter state politics in 2006, qualifying for and eventually winning the lieutenant governor's race.

Preceded by Chauncey Sparks	Governor of Alabama 1947—1951	Succeeded by Gordon Persons
Preceded by Gordon Persons	Governor of Alabama 1955—1959	Succeeded by John Malcom Patterson