George Wallace

George Corley Wallace (August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998) was an American politician. He served as Governor of Alabama serving from 1963 to 1967. He ran for President of the United States three times (1964, 1968, 1976).

Wallace was born in Cilio, Alabama. He began his long political career at the age of 33 after running for county judge.

When Wallace was running for president, he was shot and paralyzed for the rest of his life. His is known for having different views on segregation. He was a Democrat.

Wallace died at the age of 79 from sepsis caused by a spinal infection after 26 years of being in a wheelchair.

Early life
Wallace was born George Corely Wallace on August 25, 1919 in Clio, Alabama. He studied at University of Alabama. He grew up in a lower-middle-class family. As a young man, he was an amateur boxer, where he fought as a bantamweight.

Wallace was a very short man for his entire life, and as an adult was about 5'2" (1.57m)

Career
He served four terms as governor of Alabama, and also ran for President of the United States several times, during the 1960s and 1970s. Wallace was a longtime supporter of segregation; a policy that did not allow African-Americans to attend the same schools, or go to many of the same public places, as white people. In 1963 he stood in a schoolhouse door to prevent black students from attending the school (which would have integrated the school). In a speech, he said he would support "segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever". He was a controversial figure. Some people saw him as a man who spoke up for the poor and was an outspoken populist. Others viewed him as a terrible person, a white supremacist who encouraged violence.

In time, he changed his views, and said that he was sorry to African-Americans, and other people hurt by segregation. He promoted black equality in his last term as Governor. Despite this, he remains an icon of racism today and many people think of him as one of the most evil figures in American history.

Assassination attempt
During the 1972 presidential campaign, Wallace was shot five times by a would-be assassin, Arthur Bremer. He suffered permanent injury to his spine. He could no longer walk, and spent the rest of his life using a wheelchair.

Later career
After his last term as governor, he began speaking in public places (including churches).

Personal life
Wallace was married to Laurleen Wallace until her death. He then married to Corelia Wallace until they divorced. Then he was married to Lisa Taylor until they divorced. He had four children.

Popular Culture
The Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama" has the line "In Birmingham they love the Governor / Boo Boo Boo / Now we all did what we could do / if watergate does not bother me / does your conscience bother you now tell me true." Even though Wallace is not mentioned by name, the line clearly refers to him, and members of the band have confirmed this and have said they disliked Wallace.

Gary Sinise played him in the film George Wallace.

A tunnel on Interstate 10 in Alabama has been named the George Wallace Memorial Tunnel.

Death
Wallace died on September 13, 1998 in Montgomery, Alabama from sepsis complicated by a spinal infection, aged 79. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery.

References

Other websites

 Governor Wallace's Schoolhouse Door speech archived at the University of Alabama
 George Wallace article  at the Encyclopedia of Alabama
 George Wallace  - Daily Telegraph obituary
 Oral History Interview with George Wallace from Oral Histories of the American South
 Caught on Tape: The White House Reaction to the Shooting of Alabama Governor and Democratic Presidential Candidate George Wallace from History's News Network: http://hnn.us/articles/45104.html
 George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire PBS American Experience documentary, including complete transcript, teacher tools and links
 Cornelia Wallace's Obituary on Decatur Daily
 Political Graveyard
 Booknotes interview with Stephen Lesher on George Wallace: American Populist, February 27, 1994. 

1919 births
1998 deaths
Deaths from sepsis
American judges
Lawyers from Alabama
American Methodists
American military personnel of World War II
Governors of Alabama
Infectious disease deaths in the United States
1964 United States presidential candidates
1968 United States presidential candidates
1972 United States presidential candidates
1976 United States presidential candidates
US Democratic Party politicians