Lurleen Wallace
American politician (1926–1968) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lurleen Burns Wallace (born Lurleen Brigham Burns; September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968) was an American politician who served as the 46th governor of Alabama for 16 months from January 16, 1967 until her death on May 7, 1968. She was the first wife of Alabama governor George Wallace, whom she succeeded as governor because the Alabama constitution forbade consecutive terms.[1]
Lurleen Wallace | |
---|---|
46th Governor of Alabama | |
In office January 16, 1967 – May 7, 1968 | |
Lieutenant | Albert Brewer |
Preceded by | George Wallace |
Succeeded by | Albert Brewer |
First Lady of Alabama | |
In role January 14, 1963 – January 16, 1967 | |
Governor | George Wallace |
Preceded by | Florentine Patterson |
Succeeded by | George Wallace (as First Gentleman) |
Personal details | |
Born | Lurleen Brigham Burns (1926-09-19)September 19, 1926 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
Died | May 7, 1968(1968-05-07) (aged 41) Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
Cause of death | Cancer |
Resting place | Greenwood Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | |
Children | 4, including George III |
Education | Tuscaloosa Business College |
Signature | |
Portion of a commencement address by Lurleen Wallace at Judson College Recorded April 16, 1967 | |
Wallace was Alabama's first female governor and was the only woman to hold the governorship until Kay Ivey succeeded to the office in April 2017. Wallace is also (as of 2024) the only female governor in U.S. history to have died in office as well as being the first and only female Democrat to have served as governor in Alabama history. In 1973, she was posthumously inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame.[2]