Many historians and political scientists point to a certain political race and year as a watershed or pivotal race in a state’s course or history. That year in Alabama and that race was the 1970 Governor’s race between George Wallace and Albert Brewer. It was an epic battle.

Albert Brewer was the most clean-cut looking politician to grace the Capitol. He was a prince of a fellow, likeable, with a winning smile. He came as a Legislator in the Freshman Class of 1958 that Bob Ingram refers to as the greatest class of legislators assembled. He was elected to the House from Decatur in Morgan County at age 29. A lawyer by profession, he quickly learned the ropes, and after only four years experience he became Speaker of the House in 1963, which was Wallace’s first term as governor. It should be noted that he would not have been elected speaker without Wallace’s blessings. After four years as speaker, he ran for Lt. Governor. In 1966 Wallace’s wife, Lurleen, carried the state in a landslide and Brewer was the Wallace teams’ candidate for Lt. Governor. He beat two state senators, Neil Metcalf and John Tyson without a runoff.