Thomas Reed (Alabama politician)

Thomas J. Reed Sr. (1927 − October 27, 1997)[1][2][3] was a civil rights leader, restaurant owner, and politician in Alabama. He and Fred D. Gray Sr. were the first two African Americans elected to Alabama's legislature in the 20th century.[4][5][6] Reed was a Democrat who lived in Tuskegee, Alabama and represented Macon County, Alabama in the Alabama House of Representatives.[7][5] He served as president of the Alabama NAACP.[8][1]

Thomas Reed
Thomas Reed campaigning in 1966
Member of the
Alabama House of Representatives
In office
November 9, 1970 – 1988
In office
1995 – October 27, 1997
Preceded byJames Paulk (31st)
Succeeded byJohnny Ford (82nd)
Constituency31st district
82nd district
Personal details
Born1927
DiedOctober 27, 1997
Political partyNational Democratic
Democratic
SpouseSeretta
Children3
EducationTuskegee Institute

He called on Alabama governor Guy Hunt to remove the Confederate flag from the Alabama Capitol building.[9] In February 1988 he led a march to remove a Confederate flag from the Alabama State Capitol building, and was one of 14 legislators arrested for trespass when he attempted to climb the fence protecting the building.[1][4][5][10]

In 1988 he was convicted for accepting $10,000 from a businessman in exchange for seeking parole for the businessman's nephew.[4] He was sentenced to four years in federal prison.[11] However Reed only served four months of his sentence, and was re-elected in 1994, representing his old seat after a landslide victory.[1]

Early life

Reed graduated from Tuskegee Institute with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in economics.[12] Reed worked as a teacher at Tuskegee Institute.[13][14] Reed operated two restaurants, Thomas Reed's Chick Coops, in Tuskegee.[5][1] He married to Seretta, with whom he had three children.[1][15]

Career

Early politics

Representative James Paulk defeated Reed for the Democratic nomination for the 31st district in the 1964 election.[16] Reed ran for mayor of Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1968, but lost to Mayor Charles Keever.[17] He became president of the Alabama NAACP in 1969.[18]

Elections

Paulk defeated Reed in the Democratic primary during the 1970 election. Reed challenged Paulk's victory, but a subcommittee of the State Democratic Executive Committee of the Alabama Democratic Party ruled in Paulk's favor.[19][20] Reed appealed the subcommittee's decision, but the Democratic Executive Committee ruled in favor of Paulk.[21] Reed received the nomination of the National Democratic Party of Alabama and defeated Paulk in the general election. Reed and Fred Gray were the first black people elected to the Alabama state legislature since the end of Reconstruction.[22][23] Governor George Wallace lived within Reed's district.[24]

Reed announced that his campaign for the 1974 election on December 19, 1972.[25] Reed defeated Gray in 1974 after their districts were redrawn so they faced each other.[1][26]

Tenure

In 1970, J.J. Jaxon, chair of the Democratic executive committee, attempted to remove Reed from the committee due to him joining the NDPA, but was delayed until the committee's next meeting in January 1972.[27][28]

Reed ran to serve as a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention from the 22nd district.[29] Dan C. Alexander Jr., a delegate candidate who survived a credentials challenge based on his support for Wallace's 1968 third-party presidential campaign, challenged his qualification to run as a delegate citing Reed running as the NDPA candidate in 1970.[30] Reed won as an uncommitted delegate against Wallace delegate W.O. Braham.[31][32] He gave his support to George McGovern.[33]

During Reed's tenure in the state house he served on the Tourism, Entertainment and Sports, Navigation and Water Ways, and Rules committees.[34][35] He chaired the Public Welfare committee.[36] Reed employed the first black legislative page in Alabama since 1878.[37] Reed opposed Elizabeth B. Andrews' candidacy to fill the vacancy in the United States House of Representatives caused by George W. Andrews's, her husband, death.[38]

Death

Reed remained in the state legislature despite having an illness that required him to seek treatment at the Mayo Clinic.[39] He declined to say what illness he was suffering from and died on October 27, 1997.[40] The coroner later reported that Reed died from cancer.[41] He was described by Gray as "a trailblazer... (h)e did an excellent job of representing not only his constituents, but all people", and by Alabama House Speaker James S. Clark as a "pioneer of the civil rights movement".[1][42]

Sereetta was appointed to replace Reed on the Tuskegee Institute Board of Commissioners.[43] Johnny Ford announced his campaign for Reed's seat before his death and a special election was called by Governor Fob James.[44][45] Sereetta ran in the special election, but lost the Democratic primary runoff to Ford, who defeated Republican nominee Robert Story and Libertarian nominee John Sophocleus.[46][47][48][49]

Political positions

Reed proposed legislation to prohibit capital punishment. [50] He proposed legislation that would prevent the imprisonment of pregnant women.[51] He supported lowering the voting age to eighteen.[52] Reed and Gray proposed to have the next 100 hired employees of the Alabama Highway Patrol be black and eventually reduced the amount to 10, but all of their attempts failed.[53] In 1972, the NAACP and Reed filed a lawsuit to force the integration of the Highway Patrol.[54]

Electoral history
1970 Alabama House of Representatives 31st district election[55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Democratic (Ala.) Thomas Reed 9,436 52.25%
Democratic James Paulk (incumbent) 8,624 47.75%
Total votes 18,060 100.00%

References
  1. AP News (October 28, 1997). "Rep. Thomas Reed Dies". The Tuscaloosa News. pp. B-1, B-3. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  2. Hornsby, Alton (2011). Black America : A State-by-State Historical Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-57356-976-7. OCLC 751233071. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. "Alabama Newspapers Collection". www.myheritage.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  4. "Black Lawmaker Who Tried To Lower Rebel Flag Guilty Of Extortion". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  5. Candler, Pete (March 10, 2019). "Los Angeles Review of Books: A Deeper South". Los Angeles Review of Books. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. Reverby, Susan M. (December 1, 2012). Tuskegee's Truths: Rethinking the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. UNC Press Books. ISBN 9781469608723. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via Google Books.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "URGENT Rights Leader Arrested In Attempt to Remove Confederate Flag". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  9. COSKI, John M. (June 30, 2009). The Confederate Battle Flag. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674029866. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via Google Books.
  10. AP News (February 3, 1988). "14 Arrested at Alabama Capitol In Bid to Remove Confederate Flag". New York Times. pp. A-14.
  11. "SENTENCED. Alabama NAACP President Thomas Reed was..." Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  12. "Thomas Reed Seeks Place 1 In State House". Union Springs Herald. April 30, 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Happenings Around Town". Alabama Citizen. November 17, 1956. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Eight More Demos File". Birmingham Post-Herald. February 16, 1966. p. 4. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 29, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Gray, Neville To Duel For State House Seat". Montgomery Advertiser. May 5, 1966. p. 23. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Negro Candidates Score Partial Victories In State". Alabama Journal. August 14, 1968. p. 35. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Tuskegee Man Heads State NAACP". The Anniston Star. September 22, 1969. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Thomas Reed challenges race results". Birmingham Post-Herald. May 22, 1970. p. 11. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Committee Rules Paulk Is Winner". Alabama Journal. July 1, 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Paulk, Amerson Win Demo Nod". Montgomery Advertiser. July 26, 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "NDPA Nominates Cashin For Governor of Alabama". Montgomery Advertiser. August 2, 1970. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Legislature to be integrated 1st time since Reconstruction". Birmingham Post-Herald. November 5, 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "1970 - Year Of Political Upheaval In State". Alabama Journal. January 2, 1971. p. 7. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Black legislator to ask re-election". The Anniston Star. January 4, 1972. p. 12C. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. November 4, 1976. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  27. "Demos Ask Expulsion Of Reed". Montgomery Advertiser. November 12, 1970. p. 26. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. "Reed ouster move must wait full year". Birmingham Post-Herald. November 17, 1970. p. 4. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. "Four men qualify as Demo delegates". The Anniston Star. February 8, 1972. p. 10. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. "Reed's Bid As Delegate Challenged". Montgomery Advertiser. March 29, 1972. p. 21. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. "The Delegate Race". Alabama Journal. May 1, 1972. p. 4. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. "Wallace captures control of Alabama's delegation to Democratic convention". Birmingham Post-Herald. May 3, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. "Delegate Reed Will Support McGovern". Montgomery Advertiser. May 28, 1972. p. 16A. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. "House Committees". Montgomery Advertiser. February 2, 1997. p. 28. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. "House Committees". Montgomery Advertiser. February 2, 1997. p. 30. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. "House Committees". Montgomery Advertiser. February 2, 1997. p. 29. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. "Black Legislative Page". Tuskegee Progressive Times. June 10, 1971. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. "State Demos approve new delegate districts". Birmingham Post-Herald. January 31, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. "House Committees". Montgomery Advertiser. March 23, 1997. p. 17. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. "Rep. Reed dies after long career". Birmingham Post-Herald. October 28, 1997. p. 4. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. "Coroner says Rep. Reed died of cancer". Selma Times-Journal. November 21, 1997. p. 7. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. AP News (November 21, 1997). "Coroner Says Rep. Thomas Reed Died of Cancer". The Selma-times Journal. p. 7.
  43. "Reed's widow to fill board position". Montgomery Advertiser. December 19, 1997. p. 2C. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. "Ex-Tuskegee mayor to run for House". Montgomery Advertiser. September 16, 1997. p. 4. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. "Dates set for special election". Montgomery Advertiser. November 5, 1997. p. 9. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. "Rep. Reed's widow seeking house seat". Union Springs Herald. November 12, 1997. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. "Reed's widow to face ex-Tuskegee mayor in runoff". Montgomery Advertiser. December 10, 1997. p. 25. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. "Ford wins Reed's house seat". Selma Times-Journal. January 1, 1998. p. 5. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. "Ex-mayor Ford easily wins House seat". Montgomery Advertiser. January 21, 1998. p. 7. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. "Executions ... To Be Legal Again In State?". Alabama Journal. May 7, 1971. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. "Imprisonment change sought for women". The Anniston Star. May 20, 1973. p. 9. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. "18-year-vote". Birmingham Post-Herald. June 17, 1971. p. 2. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. "Judge Restrains Alabama Hiring Of More Troopers". Alabama Journal. January 13, 1972. p. 13. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. "Suit to integrate Troopers is filed". The Anniston Star. January 4, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. "Official Returns Confirm Election Of Two Negroes". Alabama Journal. November 9, 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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