1966 Macon County, Alabama, Sheriff election

Local election April 2025 November 8, 1966 Alabama no 1962 Macon County, Alabama Sheriff election 1962 1970 Macon County, Alabama Sheriff election 1970 Lucius D. Amerson victory.jpg Lucius D. Amerson Alabama Democratic Party 3,868 64.3% 3x4.svg Harvey Sadler (write-in) Alabama Democratic Party 2,002 33.3% Sheriff Harvey Sadler Alabama Democratic Party Lucius D. Amerson Alabama Democratic Party The 1966 Macon County sheriff election was held on November 8, 1966, to elect the sheriff of Macon County, Alabama. The primary election was held on May 3, and the primary runoff was held on May 31.Gale Mary Ellen Amerson Elected Macon Sheriff Despite Sadler Write-in Effort http://southerncourier.org/hi-res/Vol2_No46_1966_11_12.pdf 14 April 2025 2 The Southern Courier November 13, 1966 Background The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law on August 6, 1965. In 1960, less than 10% of African Americans in Alabama were registered to vote, in part due to various legal measures designed to prevent them from voting, such as poll taxes. The Voting Rights Act meant that this would be the first time that African Americans had legal protections against such restrictions, resulting in a much higher number of African Americans registering to vote in Alabama.Civil Rights Movement Alabama Elections of 1966 Resources https://www.crmvet.org/landal66.htm Civil Rights Movement Archive 14 April 2025 Incumbent Sheriff Harvey Sadler was appointed to the position by Governor George Wallace in January 1965 following the resignation of Preston Hornsby, after he was elected as probate judge.White-Negro Races Draw The Anniston Star May 31, 1965 7 He had served on Wallace's 1962 campaign, the head of the campaign in Macon County.Macon Sheriff Resigns Post Decatur Daily January 14, 1965 7 Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Lucius D. Amerson, former U.S. Army paratrooperWhites Claim Negro Sheriff Will Be Killed The Cullman Times June 2, 1966 Tuskegee, Alabama 1 Eliminated in runoff Harvey Sadler, incumbent sheriffFelder James Two Negroes Force Way Into Runoffs The Cullman Times May 4, 1966 1 Campaign The Macon County Democratic Club endorsed Amerson in April, which was predicted to increase turnout among African American voters.Expects to be Ala.’s 1st tan sheriff https://mdhistory.msa.maryland.gov/msaref14/msa_sc5458_000045_000316a/pdf/msa_afro_1966_01_06-0305.pdf 15 April 2025 The Baltimore Afro-American April 30, 1966 14 Results Democratic primaryVote Splits All Over Macon County http://southerncourier.org/hi-res/Vol2_No19_1966_05_07.pdf 14 April 2025 The Southern Courier May 8, 1966 5 Alabama Democratic Party Lucius D. Amerson 2,725 44.22 Alabama Democratic Party Harvey Sadler (incumbent) 2,637 42.79 Alabama Democratic Party Others 800Figure may not be exact. 12.98 6,162 100.00 Runoff Results Democratic primary runoffMacon Sheriff Nominee Takes Victory in Stride http://southerncourier.org/hi-res/Vol2_No23_1966_06_04.pdf 14 April 2025 The Southern Courier June 5, 1966 1 Alabama Democratic Party Lucius D. Amerson 3,497 52.90 Alabama Democratic Party Harvey Sadler (incumbent) 3,113 47.10 6,610 100.00 Aftermath thumb|Amerson greeting supporters following his victory in the runoff At 8:15 PM, Amerson received news of his victory from a campaign staffer.Alabama: Real Reconstruction https://time.com/archive/6875099/alabama-real-reconstruction/ Time 15 April 2025 June 10, 1966 Sadler conceded the election after results came in, stating, "There's no hard feelings between me and him. I wish him luck." Third-party candidates Third Party for America Nominee Bob Dawsonpdfs/transcripts/1968/68-647_01-21-1969.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/1968/68-647_01-21-1969.pdf United States Supreme Court 24 April 2025 92 General election After losing the Democratic primary, Sadler ran against Amerson in the general election as a write-in candidate.Negro Is Elected Sheriff In Macon County, Ala. https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/09/archives/negro-is-elected-sheriff-in-macon-county-ala.html The New York Times 14 April 2025 November 9, 1966 Results On November 9, 1965, United Press International reported a victory for Amerson, showing him leading with 96% of the vote counted.United Press International Negro War Veteran First Ala. Sheriff The Cullman Times November 9, 1966 1 1966 Macon County sheriff election Alabama Democratic Party Lucius D. Amerson 3,868 64.26 Alabama Democratic Party Harvey Sadler (incumbent, write-in) 2,002 33.26 Third Party for America Bob Dawson 149 2.48 6,019 100.00 Aftermath Amerson became the first Black sheriff in the south since Reconstruction.Highway Dedicated to First Black Sheriff in the South, Macon Co. https://www.waka.com/2022/01/20/highway-dedicated-to-first-black-sheriff-in-the-south-macon-co/ WAKA 8 14 April 2025 In the days following the election, he received a congratulatory telegram from Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and was invited to The White House to meet President Lyndon B. Johnson. Amerson would go on to be re-elected again in 1970, defeating Sadler, who ran as an independent.Blacks score gains The Anniston Star November 4, 1970 Associated Press 6 He was re-elected three more times, serving a total of 20 years, before his retirement in 1987.Ruane Michael E. Sheriff Made History Simply by Doing His Job https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/13/AR2008081301723.html Washington Post 14 April 2025 August 14, 2008 Notes References Category:1966 Alabama elections Category:1966 United States local elections Category:County elections in Alabama Category:Sheriff elections in the United States