Jim Folsom
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pl:Jim Folsom, senior James Elisha Folsom, Sr. (October 9 1908–November 21 1987), commonly known as Jim Folsom or "Big Jim", was the Democratic Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1947 to 1951, and again from 1955 to 1959. Folsom is perhaps best-remembered as being among the first Southern governors to embrace integration and civil rights for African Americans.
Folsom started out as an insurance salesman after serving in the Merchant Marine during World War II. He was first elected governor of Alabama in 1946 after waging a colorful campaign that included entertaining voters with a hillbilly band and brandishing a mop and bucket which he said would "clean out" the Capitol. Despite some scandal in his administration, he was easily reelected in 1954 (the 1901 constitution of Alabama, which had extended the term of state officeholders from two to four years, at the time forbade a governor from succeeding himself, a commonplace provision in the constitutions of many Southern states at the time which was later removed). Folsom stood six foot eight inches tall and was often referred to as "the little man's big friend". In 1962, Folsom again ran for governor against his one-time protege George Wallace but was defeated. It is believed that one of the reasons for this was a television appearance where Folsom appeared to be seriously intoxicated. Folsom was never again elected to public office and died in 1987. His niece, Cornelia Ellis Snivley, was married to George Wallace from 1971 to 1978.
| Preceded by: (first term) Chauncey Sparks | Governor of Alabama 1947–1951, 1955–1959 | Succeeded by: (first term) Gordon Persons |
| Preceded by: (second term) Gordon Persons | Succeeded by: (second term) John Patterson |