Howell Thomas Heflin ( June 19 , 1921 -- March 29 , 2005 ) was an American politician who served in the United States Senate , representing Alabama , from 1979 to 1997 .
Howell Thomas Heflin ( June 19 , 1921 -- March 29 , 2005 ) was an American politician . He was a Democratic member of the United States Senate from Tuscumbia , Alabama .