Joe McCorquodale

Joe McCorquodale
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 92nd district
In office
1959–1983
Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office
19711983
Personal details
Born December 2, 1920
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Betty McCrary
Children two sons
Alma mater University of Alabama
Profession businessman

Joseph Charles McCorquodale, Jr. (born December 2, 1920) is a United States politician from Alabama, who served as the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives and unsuccessfully ran for Governor on the basis of the "McCorquodale plan" for Alabama. He is a member of Democratic Party. He was born in Mobile, Alabama.[1]

A native of Clarke County,[2] he is a graduate of Marion Military Institute, and the University of Alabama. During World War II he served in the US Army Air Corps (now US Air Force) at China-Burma-India and Pacific Theaters.

He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1959 (92nd district). He served on the Interim Committee, on Finance and Taxation, the Fiscal Advisory Committee to the Governor, the Legislative Council, as vice-chairman of the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts, as co-chairman Alabama Constitutional Commission, the Coosa Valley, Tombigbee Valley and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authorities, the Alabama Historical Commission, and the Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System.[3]

McCorquodale was honored by Capitol Press Corps as the Hardest Working Member of the House (1967) and Outstanding Member of the House (1971.

He served as a Speaker from 1971 to 1983.[4]

He sought Democratic nomination for Governor of Alabama in 1982. His main opponent were former Governor George Wallace and incumbent Lieutenant Governor George McMillan. McCorquodale finished third with 250,614 (25.05%) of votes. Wallace defeated McMillan in runoff and won the general election easily.

He decided to not seek re-election in 1982 in order to concentrate of his gubernatorial Bid. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Harrell Blakeney.

He is an owner of McCorquodale Insurance Agency, is president of Overstreet and McCorquodale Forest Products, Inc., and chairman of the Board of the Washington County State Bank.

He was also church school superintendent and chairman of the Official Board of the First United Methodist Church in Jackson.

He is married to the former Betty McCrary and is the father of two sons, Joseph, III, and Gaines C. McCorquodale, and the grandfather of four.

Electoral history (incomplete)

State House, 92nd district

Democratic primaries for Governor, 1982

See also

Alabama gubernatorial election, 1982

References

Brief profile and electoral results