Howell Heflin
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Howell Thomas Heflin (June 19, 1921–March 29, 2005) was a United States Senator from Alabama. Although born in Poulan, Georgia, Heflin was the nephew of prominent Alabama politician James Thomas Heflin, and grew up in Heflin, Alabama. Following graduation from high school, Heflin attended Birmingham-Southern College (graduated 1942) and the University of Alabama Law School (graduated 1948). He became a law professor, and then the Chief Justice on the Alabama Supreme Court from 1971 to 1977.
In 1978, Heflin was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to succeed John Sparkman. He remained in the Senate, where he rose to become Chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics, until January 3, 1997. While on the Ethics Committee, he led the prosecution against his fellow Senator Howard Cannon (D. Nev.) for violations of Senate rules.
During his tenure, Heflin was considered as a bi-partisan candidate for a vacancy on the United States Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan. Nevertheless, Heflin did not wish to serve there.
External link
- Howell Heflin profile, NNDB (http://www.nndb.com/people/868/000022802/)
| Preceded by: John J. Sparkman | U.S. Senator from Alabama 1979-1997 | Succeeded by: Jeff Sessions |