Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. | |
---|---|
Member of the
Alabama House of Representatives from the 11th district | |
In office November 1954 – February 10, 1966 | |
Preceded by | J. P. Shelton |
Personal details | |
Born | William Ryan deGraffenried April 15, 1925 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
Died | February 10, 1966 Fort Payne, Alabama, U.S. | (aged 40)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Margaret Nell Maxwell
(
m. 1945) |
Children | 3, including Ryan Jr. |
Parent |
|
Alma mater | University of Alabama |
Occupation | Attorney, politician |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Unit | 3rd Armored Division |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Purple Heart (2) |
William Ryan deGraffenried Sr. (April 15, 1925 – February 10, 1966) was an American attorney and politician from Alabama.
Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he was the son of Edward deGraffenried, former U.S. congressman from Alabama. [1] [2]
DeGraffenried ran for Governor of Alabama on two occasions ( 1962 and 1966). On his first attempt, he was defeated in the Democratic primary runoff by George Wallace, who was later elected Governor.
In 1966, DeGraffenried ran again as a moderate, supporting racial integration. He sought to succeed the Dixiecrat-style Wallace, who was prohibited by the constitution from running for a second consecutive term. Wallace offered his wife, Lurleen Wallace, as a surrogate candidate for governor instead. One day after qualifying for the gubernatorial race, DeGraffenried died in a plane crash while campaigning in northeast Alabama near Fort Payne. [3] Mrs. Wallace won the nomination and gubernatorial election.
DeGraffenried married Margaret Nell Maxwell in July 1945. [4] [5]
His son, Ryan DeGraffenried Jr. (1950–2006), became a notable Alabama politician. He served as State Senator, Senate president pro tempore and Lieutenant Governor of Alabama under Jim Folsom Jr. (1993–1995).