Tom Donald Fike Bevill (March 27, 1921 – March 28, 2005) was an American attorney, politician, and Democratic fifteen-term U.S. congressman who represented Alabama's 4th Congressional District and Alabama's 7th congressional district from 1967 to 1997.[1]
Tom Bevill
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Nichols |
| Succeeded by | Robert Aderholt |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th district | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | James D. Martin |
| Succeeded by | Walter Flowers |
| Member of the Alabama Legislature | |
| In office 1958–1966 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tom Donald Fike Bevill March 27, 1921 Townley, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | March 28, 2005(2005-03-28) (aged 84) Jasper, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama |
Tom Bevill speaks in support of the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988 Recorded October 3, 1988 | |
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Bevill was born in Townley, Alabama, on March 27, 1921. He attended Walker County High School, the University of Alabama School of Commerce and Business Administration, and the University of Alabama School of Law. Bevill was an initiate of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha at UA. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He also privately practiced law.[2]
In 1958, Bevill was elected to the Alabama Legislature, serving there until his election to Congress in 1966. In Congress, Bevill was known for securing federal money and development projects for his district.[3] This earned him the nickname "The King of Pork", a term which he actually turned into a positive. After fifteen terms in Congress, he retired in 1997.[2] Bevill is credited with answering the world's very first 9-1-1 emergency call on February 16, 1968, made from Haleyville by then-Alabama House Speaker Rankin Fite at the invitation of the Alabama Telephone Company.[4] He also sponsored the Bevill Amendment to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act which excludes mining wastes from the act's jurisdiction.[5]
He was a moderate to conservative Democrat who opposed abortion and gun control.
Bevill died on March 28, 2005, in Jasper, Alabama, the day after his 84th birthday. He had been in declining health for several years due to heart problems.[2]
His son Don Bevill ran for his old seat in 1998.[6] He lost 56%-44% to his father's Republican successor Robert Aderholt.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th congressional district 1967–1973 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th congressional district 1973–1997 |
Succeeded by |