[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO FORMER ALABAMA AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER A.W. TODD

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, my long-time friend A.W. Todd, who served 
3 terms as Alabama's commissioner of agriculture, passed away at his 
home on March 29, 1996. He was regarded as one of our State's most 
popular government leaders and one of the most colorful and effective 
politicians to ever hold office in Alabama.
  A long-time Democrat, A.W. Todd represented Franklin, Colbert, and 
Marion Counties in the State Senate from 1950-1954. Colbert is my home 
county. His terms as commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and 
Industries ran from 1955-1959, 1963-1967, and 1991-1995. He was also a 
gubernatorial candidate in 1958 and 1966. He had boundless energy and 
was a tireless campaigner. In fact, the last time I saw him, A.W. told 
me that he was planning to run again for agriculture commissioner in 
1998.
  He is regarded by many as the best agriculture commissioner Alabama 
ever had. The small, family farmer was always foremost in his mind, and 
the agriculture community in the state benefitted directly from his 
devotion and hard work. Among his many accomplishments as commissioner 
was the coliseum program, which resulted in 6 coliseums being built 
statewide. He also oversaw the expansion of the farmers' market program 
to Birmingham, Montgomery, Slocomb, and Mobile. The quality of eggs 
sold in the State was dramatically improved through the Todd Egg Law, 
which placed new inspection requirements on eggs and established a 
grading system.
  While serving in his last term, A.W. Todd had the distinction of 
being the oldest elected State official in Alabama and was among the 
oldest in the entire country. He took pride in introducing himself as 
the country's oldest ``Young Democrat.'' He was an old-school Democrat 
who grew up in Belgreen, Alabama. When he was only 13, he was 
permanently injured in a hunting accident that resulted in his left arm 
being severed.
  This did not slow him down at all. He used a job on Auburn 
University's experiment farm to work his way through college. After 
graduating, he returned to Franklin County, where he operated a feed 
mill and poultry company and served in State government. One of his 
children, Elizabeth Campbell, followed him into public service, 
becoming a Federal magistrate in Birmingham.
  A.W. Todd was an outstanding public servant who will be greatly 
missed. I was proud to have known and worked with him over the years. I 
extend my sincerest condolences to his wife, Robbie, and their entire 
family in the wake of this tremendous loss.

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