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Alabama Scene
The union of Dr. Thomas Corts with the State Board of Education was such a marriage. It was doomed from the start. Corts, a splendid man of great integrity, came from the insulated almost spiritual academic background of Samford University, where he served as president of Samford University for 28 years. He probably couldn't even spell "politics." He found himself in a different and strange world when he took over the state's two-year college system from which eminates a stench of corruption which is almost nauseating. In addition, Corts was working for an elected State Board of Education…a very political board…on whose watch the scandal in the two-year system had spread like kudzu. When Corts suggested a couple of weeks ago that perhaps the control of those institutions should be taken from the State Board and put under a separate board he sealed his fate. It was no longer "if" this marriage would end but "when." While it is hard to argue with the logic of Corts' proposal, politically it was a dumb, dumb thing to say. Who will succeed him? At this writing nobody knows…but the taxpayers should pray that the investigation into this disgrace is not stalled by Corts' departure. * * * Perhaps someone videotaped the five-day special session of the Alabama Legislature which last week approved Gov. Riley's industrial development incentive bills. If so, it will be a keepsake. The lawmakers both Republican and Democrat, Black and white, put aside their differences, did the job they were asked to do and went home. It was a splendid performance. But don't expect anything closely resembling that from the legislators when they convene in regular session next week. From the opening bell it will be a slugfest, a down and dirty slugfest. The Democrat majority has left no doubt that its mission for the next four years will be to make life miserable for Gov. Riley and his Republican Administration. If he is for something, they will be against it. Meanwhile, sitting in the legislative balcony with a smile on his face will be the man some call the "real governor" of Alabama…Dr. Paul Hubbert. If this four-year administration is indeed his swan song…if retirement is now not too far off…it would seem Dr. Hubbert will go out in a riding tall in the saddle. So what else is new? * * * A near standing-room-only crowd filled Alumnae Auditorium on the picturesque campus of Judson College in Marion a few days ago for the induction of two remarkable women into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame The inductees were Alabama natives Fran McKee, the first woman in history to reach the rank of rear admiral in the U. S. Navy; and Dr. Martha Myers, a Baptist medical missionary who was murdered by a terrorist in Yemen. Appropriately, the speaker for the occasion was Rear Admiral Paul Tobin, who now serves as director of Naval History. Also attending was Dr. Ira Lee Myers, the longtime Alabama State Health Officer and father of the inductee. * * * Note must be made in this space of the death a few days ago of Bob Luckie Sr., who died in Birmingham at the age of 89. Luckie was a true giant in the advertising business…founding the Luckie Company in 1953. Later the name changed to Luckie & Forney…his partner being the late John Forney, who for years was also the radio voice for the Alabama football team.
When television became such a major player in the 1960s in political campaigns, Luckie & Forney became the most sought after ad agency in the state. When a candidate had them as his agency you knew he was a serious play. And for the record, Luckie & Forney won a lot more campaigns than they lost.
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