Chauncey Sparks
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George Chauncey Sparks (October 8, 1884–November 6, 1968), known as Chauncey Sparks was a Democratic American politician who was Governor of Alabama from 1943 to 1947. Alabama governors at the time could not serve consecutive terms so Sparks left office without seeking reelection. Four years later, Sparks ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1950.
Chauncey Sparks served as Alabama's forty-fourth governor from 19 January 1943 to 20 January 1947. He was born in Barbour County, Alabama, the son George Washington and Sarah E. (Castello) Sparks. After the death of his father when Chauncey was two years old, the family returned to Quitman County, Georgia where he attended school and helped with the family farm. Sparks graduated from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia in 1907 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received his law degree in 1910. He passed the Alabama State Bar exam and opened a law practice in Eufaula, Alabama that same year.
In 1911, Sparks was appointed judge of the inferior court of Barbour County by Governor Emmet O'Neal, a position he held until 1915. He served as a representative in the Alabama legislature from 1919-1923 and 1931-1939. A prominent Democrat, Sparks served as secretary of the Barbour County Democratic Executive Committee from 1914 to 1918. He also served as a member of the board of trustees of the Department of Archives and History, representing the 3rd Congressional District.
Sparks' first bid for governor of Alabama was in 1938 when he was defeated by Frank M. Dixon. In 1942 he defeated James E. Folsom and Chris Sherlock to win the governor's seat.
During his administration, Sparks had to contend with the effects of a wartime economy and the dismantling of war-geared programs at the conclusion of World War II. The massive growth of industry in Alabama during the war resulted in numerous labor problems, making it necessary to re-establish the state Labor Department. Sparks achieved particularly noteworthy gains for education by doubling state appropriations and lengthening the seven-month school term to eight months. The University of Alabama School of Medicine (now The University of Alabama at Birmingham) was established in Birmingham, Alabama and a school of forestry was opened at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University). Due to his agricultural background, Sparks took a special interest in aiding the state's agricultural programs. This included increased appropriations as well as the establishment of several new farm experiment stations under the auspices of Alabama Polytechnic Institute's Agricultural College.
Also during Sparks' administration, a constitutional amendment was passed requiring the state legislature to convene every two years instead of every four years. One of the his greatest achievements, however, was his success in reducing the state debt by 25 percent.
Sparks was defeated in his bid for re-election in 1950 by Gordon Persons. Sparks devoted the rest of his life to his private law practice in Eufaula where he died on 6 November 1968.
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| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Frank M. Dixon |
Governor of Alabama 1943—1947 |
Succeeded by James E. Folsom, Sr. |
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