Most Influential Alabamian?
If the Parlor were assembling a blue-ribbon panel to consider ranking the most powerful or influential non-elected Alabamians, who are some of the names that we should not leave off the list? We are talking about the people who have the most influence on public policy and decision-making, but who are not elected officials.
Perhaps there is not a lot of difference of opinion on the top 5 or 10, but if we go even deeper into the list, who are names that we should be sure to consider? Who might be undeservedly overlooked?
Leave a comment below or send names in email.
David Bronner
Comment by ptclearer — November 7, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Charles McCrary
Comment by ptclearer — November 7, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Bobby Lowder
Comment by ptclearer — November 7, 2007 @ 10:09 am
David and Angus Cooper
Comment by ptclearer — November 7, 2007 @ 10:10 am
Paul Finebaum (serious)
Comment by blue dotter — November 7, 2007 @ 10:13 am
“King” Paul Hubbert
Comment by Don — November 7, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Marty Connors
Comment by Anonymous — November 7, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Joe Fine, Paul Hubbert, Milton McGregor
Comment by Tommy — November 7, 2007 @ 10:16 am
Michael Ciamara
Comment by Anonymous — November 7, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Charles Nailen
Comment by Anonymous — November 7, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Billy Canary
Comment by Lyn Johnson — November 7, 2007 @ 10:48 am
Charles Nailen and Billy Canary???? Hahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha . . . .
You made my whole day! Those two couldn’t even pull off getting wiregrass support for district 2 in congress!! And they are supposed to be influential??? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I almost peed my pants! Thanks for the laugh!
Comment by Oh my goodness! — November 7, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Dr. Rick Lance, Executive Director of the Alabama Baptist State Convention–largest denomination in the state.
Comment by John Killian — November 7, 2007 @ 11:59 am
Danny.
Comment by Roy — November 7, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
Dax Swatek
Comment by Anonymous — November 7, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
Don’t forget Mike Dow & Jimmy Faulkner
Comment by This In Krup — November 7, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Jim Hudson - Huntsville’s “Person of the Decade”; gazillionaire scientist (founded Research Genetics) who recently started Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology.
http://www.al.com/huntsvilletimes/bicentennial/
http://www.hudsonalpha.org/pages/PressReleases.html
Comment by Reactionary — November 7, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Brett Blackledge - Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for Bham News - certainly has influenced public policy.
Comment by Reactionary — November 7, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Condoleeza Rice - certainly one of the most powerful and influential (probably THE most influential) non-elected Alabamians.
Comment by Reactionary — November 7, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Jill Simpson
Comment by Anonymous — November 7, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
Jere Beasley
Comment by anonymous — November 7, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
The Alabama Consulting Team
Comment by BW — November 7, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
while we’re throwing out serious contenders, how about
jullian mcphillips
Comment by BW hobo jim — November 7, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
Good names also consider The Blount family of Montgomery, the Drummond family of Vestavia, Elmer Harris, Anniston’s Ayers family, Richard Scrushy, Rick and Bubba, Jesse Lewis Sr, Charles Barkley, Donald Watkins, Joe Reed, Wayne Flynt and the Sanders family of Selma.
By virtue of position, the CEOs of ALFA, APC, APAC Hodges, Mercedes, Honda, Hyundai, Regions Bank, University Head Coaches and Presidents, the commanders at Redstone, Maxwell and the Mobile CG facility, whoever heads AEA, ASEA, Eagle Forum, Daughters of the Confederacy, the Catholic Archbishop of Mobile (especially in South Alabama) and the Alabama Democratic Conference.
Also there is the non existent Machine at UA.
Comment by walt moffett — November 7, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Joe Turnham
Comment by jeff — November 7, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Joe Perkins
Comment by Anonymous — November 7, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
“Oh my goodness” blogger is an idiot. If you think Canary is not influential for better or worse in this state, you are fooling yourself.
Comment by GOPer — November 7, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
I agree with react. Its got to be Hudson or how about the medical research people at UAB who have saved untold amounts of lives through their research.
For less serious nominations. How about Nick Saban,Matt Murphy(deposed radio host),Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy?
Comment by dan t — November 7, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
again back to serious contenders for the delusional masses
bear bryant, yes he’s dead but still oh so powerful,
the easter bunny, santa clause and his helpers, joe reed, steve windom, terry bowden, scott boras, toby roth, jere beasely, lanny vines, john parker wilson, rush propst, TROY KING, wooh hooh, claire austin, roger bedford.
this is where you fill in or vote for your family friends or neighborhood/local wind bag right?
Comment by hobo jim — November 7, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
gonna have to agree with “GOPer”, Canary is a pretty important fella in some circles.
Comment by hobo jim — November 7, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
Lobbyist Noopie Cosby
Comment by Terry — November 7, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Joe Reed.
Comment by Terry — November 7, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Former SOS Jim Bennett
Comment by Terry — November 7, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Bobby Lowder.
Comment by Terry — November 7, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Still Paul Hamrick
Comment by Terry P — November 7, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
In the House of Representatives, he who carries the water for Speaker Hammett, Representative Ken Guin.
Comment by Don — November 7, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
dale earnhardt–and I don’t mean jr!
Comment by smiling — November 7, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Huntsville’s own Jimmy Wales - founder of Wikipedia - “Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That’s what we’re doing.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimbo_Wales
Comment by Reactionary — November 7, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
Minda Riley Campbell
Comment by Anonymous — November 7, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Jeff Vreeland - aka the village idiot
Comment by Mullet — November 7, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Pat Lynch- Birmingham Budweiser Distributor: has single-handedly stymied efforts of the “Free the Hops” organisation, thereby preventing many gourmet beers from being sold in Alabama.
Comment by Peter — November 7, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
MIKHAIL KRYZHANOVSKY - UNITED STATES PRESIDENT DE FACTO
Mikhail Kryzhanovsky, KGB superspy, the author of the “White House
Special Handbook, or How to Rule the World in the 21st Century” is
the US president de facto.
Since 1996 American presidents, Bill Clinton and now - Bush, rule
United States in strict accordance to his instructions.
Comment by steve johnson — November 7, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
If power=access to the powerful, consider Bo Jackson. Who in this state would refuse to return his phone call or an chance to get a picture made with him?
Comment by walt moffett — November 7, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
Paul Hubbert ….love him or hate him, he is at the top of the list.
Comment by G.C.D — November 7, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
The top ten (compiled from this list . . . no particular order and not including sports figures or coaches):
Paul Hubbert
Joe Reed
Bobby Lowder
David Bronner
Jere Beasley
Dr. Rick Lance
Charles McCary
Milton McGregor
Paul Finebaum
Brett Blackledge
Joe Fine (who makes 11)
Comment by ptclearer — November 7, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
PAUL HUBBERT
Comment by Anonymous — November 8, 2007 @ 6:40 am
Dax Swatek. No doubt about it. I don’t think he’s ever lost a political campaign.
Comment by Mike — November 8, 2007 @ 10:48 am
This is easy: Jimmy Scott.
Myaor of Cloverdale. Original Shyster and member of the M^2.
Easily one of the most powerful and secretive organizations in the State, if not the nation.
Comment by Al Czervik — November 8, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Gonna be interesting to see how the recent Cosa Nostra shakedown impacts the M^2 (montgomery mafia)
Comment by Jack Torrance — November 8, 2007 @ 11:03 am
I still say Charles Nailen. Who among the other candidates went to D.C. and Atlanta, sat in on the BRAC hearings and fought to keep Ft. Rucker open? DUH! Charles Nailen.
Comment by Anonymous — November 8, 2007 @ 11:53 am
#47, Swatek has lost his share of campaigns, including the most recent Baldwin Co. Senate Race.
Comment by Anonymous — November 8, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Charles Nailen from the wiregrass contingent neatly tucked away in the southeast corner of the state?
never seen a group make such a futile attempt to manufacture name recognition for someone.
Now someone vote for their own favorite from their neighborhood, friend from high school, hollow, or otherwise unknown corner of alabama.
Comment by Hobo Jim — November 8, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
Rob Riley.
Matt McDonald.
Robert Witt.
Comment by Scorpius — November 8, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
There are a bunch of people on here promoting folks who have no business being mentioned. If ya’ll only knew how silly it is to say anyone but Jimmy Scott. The drugs, illegal arms trade, women, gambling, and other assorted nefarious black market trades that he and the M^2 control is astounding. 60 minutes planned an expose but they threatened to pluck Andy Rooney’s eyebrows.
Comment by Judge Smails — November 8, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
I’m guessing people would be a bit surprised to know that there are a few Soviet submarines here in the middle of Montgomery, Alabama….bought from the KGB after the Cold War.
Comment by Jack Torrance — November 8, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Sir Jimmy Scott is the only politico set forth in this list that has been granted Knighthood by England. I rest my case…
Comment by Prince Charles — November 8, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Who’s this Jimmy Scott character? Sounds like a famous entertainer/lounge singer I knew once.
Last I heard he was still running Enchanted Evenings.
Important service in the Montgomery area, you know.
Comment by Hobo Jim — November 8, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Bud Skinbrenner
Comment by Hobo Jim — November 8, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Two words. Curtis Brown.
Comment by Anonymous — November 9, 2007 @ 9:17 am
M^2 = Steve Holt, Manbad9, wildboyz, guru, et al
The rest of the so-called power brokers can S.I.W.
Comment by OldCloverdale — November 9, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Noopie Cosby - the quiet uncrowned King of Alabama
Comment by Anonymous — November 19, 2007 @ 9:35 am
It’s a toss up between Jimmy Scott and Curtis Brown as to which holds more sway. I would have to place Curtis on the top of the list out of deference to the debauchery he has orchestrated over the years.
Comment by Fo-fiver — December 3, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
Noopie Cosby by far.
Comment by Rick T. — December 4, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Johnny and Kim Adams. They not only get the governor to get them business but they manage to get the gov to throw his former chief of staff to the side in favor of family blood.
Comment by Samuel — December 4, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
Randy Wihelm
Comment by Anonymous — December 10, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Thomas Harris @ Merchant Capital has been a player for several years.
Comment by Anonymous — December 27, 2007 @ 9:42 am
No one has mentioned BRADLEY BYRNE????
Comment by Blue — March 8, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
Bobby Bright,Mayor of Montgomery.
Comment by Anonymous — March 11, 2008 @ 6:00 pm