20 Facts About Howell Heflin

Howell Thomas Heflin was an American lawyer and politician who represented Alabama in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1997.

Howell Heflin attended public school in Alabama, graduating from Colbert County High School in Leighton.

Howell Heflin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1942 from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, where he became a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

Howell Heflin was awarded the Silver Star for valor in combat and received two Purple Heart medals, having seen action on Bougainville and Guam.

In 1970, Howell Heflin was elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, serving from 1971 to 1977.

In 1978, Heflin was elected to the United States Senate to succeed fellow Democrat John Sparkman, who had been Adlai E Stevenson's running mate in the 1952 presidential election.

Howell Heflin espoused the view that the time between the incident and the trial was part of the need for an overhauling of the criminal justice system, "so that it can more efficiently and effectively deal with the rising epidemic of violent crime in this nation", and noted the shootings of Pope John Paul II and President of Egypt Anwar Sadat as incidents that had happened after the Reagan shooting, yet had already seen the assailants be convicted and either jailed or executed.

In July 1981, Howell Heflin announced he would introduce legislation calling for the creation of a national court of appeals, and that such legislation would relieve the Supreme Court of some of its present burdens, while increasing the national appellate capacity.

Howell Heflin noted that only 289 of the 4,242 petitions for hearings submitted to the Supreme Court in the previous year were granted, and that a national appeals court would resolve feuds in the federal circuit courts.

In 1984, Heflin won a second Senate term, handily defeating Republican former US Representative Albert L Smith, Jr.

Howell Heflin did not run for re-election in 1996, and was succeeded by Republican Jeff Sessions.

Howell Heflin supported the Gulf War of 1991, and opposed cuts in defense spending.

Howell Heflin voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and attempts to weaken enforcement of consumer protection measures.

Howell Heflin voted against confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the United States Supreme Court, citing Thomas's lack of experience.

In 1993, Howell Heflin gave a memorable speech on the Senate floor in support of Senator Carol Moseley Braun's successful effort to deny renewal of a Confederate Flag design patent for the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Howell Heflin spoke of his pride and love for his Confederate ancestors, his respect for the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and his conflict in breaking with them over this issue.

Howell Heflin lived at his long-time residence in Tuscumbia until his death on March 29,2005, of a heart attack.

Howell Heflin was survived by his wife, Elizabeth Ann, his son H Thomas, Jr.

Howell Heflin was the last Democrat to serve as a senator from Alabama until the swearing in of Doug Jones on January 3,2018,21 years to the day after Howell Heflin left the seat.

Howell Heflin had been a mentor to Jones, who worked for him as a senatorial aide.