Tom Bevill

Tom Bevill
Tom Bevill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Alabama's 4th district
	In office; January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Bill Nichols
Succeeded by	Robert Aderholt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Alabama's 7th district
	In office; January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	James D. Martin
Succeeded by	Walter Flowers
Member of the Alabama Legislature
	In office; 1958–1966
Personal details
Born	Tom Donald Fike Bevill; March 27, 1921; Townley, Alabama, U.S.
Died	March 28, 2005 (aged 84); Jasper, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Alabama
	Tom Bevill's voice Tom Bevill speaks in support of the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988; Recorded October 3, 1988

Tom Donald Fike Bevill (March 27, 1921 – March 28, 2005) was an American attorney, politician, and Democratic fifteen-term U.S. congressman who represented Alabama's 4th Congressional District and Alabama's 7th congressional district from 1967 to 1997.^[1]

Early years and education

Bevill was born in Townley, Alabama, on March 27, 1921. He attended Walker County High School, the University of Alabama School of Commerce and Business Administration, and the University of Alabama School of Law. Bevill was an initiate of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha at UA. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He also privately practiced law.^[2]

Political career

In 1958, Bevill was elected to the Alabama Legislature, serving there until his election to Congress in 1966.^{[citation needed]} Bevill served 15 two-year terms in the House of Representatives from Alabamas 4th and 7th Congressional districts, from 1967 to 1997.^[3] In Congress, Bevill was known for securing federal money and development projects for his district.^[4] This earned him the nickname "The King of Pork", a term which he actually turned into a positive. After fifteen terms in Congress, he retired in 1997.^[2] Bevill is credited with answering the world's very first 9-1-1 emergency call on February 16, 1968, made from Haleyville by then-Alabama House Speaker Rankin Fite at the invitation of the Alabama Telephone Company.^[5] He also sponsored the Bevill Amendment to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act which excludes mining wastes from the act's jurisdiction.^[6]

He was a moderate to conservative Democrat who opposed abortion and gun control.^{[citation needed]}

Bevill voted for the Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987.^[7] The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventing treasure hunters and salvagers from damaging them. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on April 28, 1988.^[8]

Personal life

Bevill died on March 28, 2005, in Jasper, Alabama, the day after his 84th birthday. He had been in declining health for several years due to heart problems.^[2] In 2004, He received triple-bypass heart surgery.^[3]

His son Don Bevill ran for his old seat in 1998.^[9] He lost 56%-44% to his father's Republican successor Robert Aderholt.

References

^ "Little River Canyon has $16 million economic impact on Alabama" Alabama NewsCenter. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
^ ^a ^b ^c Estrada, Louie (March 31, 2005). "Rep. Tom Bevill, 84; Alabama Democrat". Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
^ ^a ^b Archives, L. A. Times (2005-03-31). "Tom Bevill, 84; Congressman Called the 'King of Pork'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
^ "Conversation leads to I-22 back story" Daily Mountain Eagle. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
^ "Town Marks E-911 Anniversary". TimesDaily. February 17, 1993. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
^ Barringer, S. G. (2003). The RCRA Bevill Amendment: A Lasting Relief for Mining Wastes? Natural Resources & Environment, 17(3), 155–194. JSTOR 40924275
^ "TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS S 858, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK … -- House Vote #532 -- March 29, 1988". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
^ "Laws - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State". dos.fl.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
^ "House Races to Watch, and Why". The Washington Post. June 8, 1998.

External links

United States Congress. "Tom Bevill (id: B000431)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by James D. Martin	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th congressional district 1967–1973	Succeeded by Walter Flowers
Preceded by Bill Nichols	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th congressional district 1973–1997	Succeeded by Robert Aderholt

[1] "Little River Canyon has $16 million economic impact on Alabama" Alabama NewsCenter. Retrieved 2017-02-02.

[Post-2] Estrada, Louie (March 31, 2005). "Rep. Tom Bevill, 84; Alabama Democrat". Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2011.

[:0-3] Archives, L. A. Times (2005-03-31). "Tom Bevill, 84; Congressman Called the 'King of Pork'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-04-06.

[4] "Conversation leads to I-22 back story" Daily Mountain Eagle. Retrieved 2017-02-02.

[5] "Town Marks E-911 Anniversary". TimesDaily. February 17, 1993. Retrieved January 18, 2011.

[6] Barringer, S. G. (2003). The RCRA Bevill Amendment: A Lasting Relief for Mining Wastes? Natural Resources & Environment, 17(3), 155–194. JSTOR 40924275

[7] "TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS S 858, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK … -- House Vote #532 -- March 29, 1988". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2025-04-06.

[8] "Laws - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State". dos.fl.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-06.

[9] "House Races to Watch, and Why". The Washington Post. June 8, 1998.

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