Ryan DeGraffenried Sr.

Ryan DeGraffenried Sr.
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 11th (Tuscaloosa County)[1] district
In office
November 1954[2] – February 10, 1966
Preceded by J. P. Shelton
Personal details
Born William Ryan DeGraffenried
(1925-04-15)April 15, 1925[2]
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Died February 10, 1966(1966-02-10) (aged 40)
near Fort Payne, Alabama
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Margaret Nell Maxwell (1945–1966; his death)
Relations Edward deGraffenried Jr. (father)
Children Deborah DeGraffenried[3]
Dana DeGraffenried Taylor (twins with Deborah)[1]
Ryan DeGraffenried Jr.
Alma mater University of Alabama
Occupation attorney, legislator
Awards Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster[2]
Military service
Allegiance United States
Service/branch 3rd Armoured Division
Battles/wars World War II[2]

William Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. (April 15, 1925 – February 10, 1966) was an attorney and politician from Alabama. He was the son of Edward deGraffenried, former U.S. congressman from Alabama.[4][5] He married Margaret Nell Maxwell in July 1945.[3][6]

A Tuscaloosan, DeGraffenried ran for Governor of Alabama on two occasions (1962 and 1966). On his first attempt, he was defeated in the Democratic primary runoff by George Wallace, who was later elected Governor.

In 1966, DeGraffenried ran again as a moderate, supporting racial integration. He sought to succeed the Dixiecrat-style Wallace, who was prohibited by the constitution from running for a second term. Wallace offered his wife, Lurleen Wallace, as a surrogate candidate for governor instead. One day after qualifying for the gubernatorial race, DeGraffenried died in a plane crash while campaigning in northeast Alabama near Fort Payne.[7] Mrs. Wallace won the nomination and gubernatorial election.

His son, Ryan DeGraffenried Jr. (1950–2006), became a notable Alabama politician. He served as State Senator, Senate president pro tempore and Lieutenant Governor of Alabama under Jim Folsom Jr. (1993–1995).

References

  1. 1 2 Kyle, Bob (January 7, 1959). "Senator DeGraffenried Is Expected To Hold His Own". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Alabama official and statistical register - Alabama. Dept. of Archives and History, Thomas McAdory Owen - Google Books. Retrieved 2012-08-08 – via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 "William Ryan deGraffenried Jr". TuscaloosaNews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  4. ↑ Official congressional directory - United States. Congress - Google Books. Retrieved 2012-08-08 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Stevenson, Tommy (March 27, 1994). "DeGraffenried: Not dropping out of lieutenant governor's race". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950". Familysearch.org. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  7. ↑ [ Displaying Abstract ] (2012-06-10). "Air Crash Kills Candidate for Alabama Governor - Ryan deGraffenried and Pilot Die as Plane Hits Mountain Democrat, 40, Was Regarded as a Moderate in Politics - Article - NYTimes.com". Select.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
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