Executive Director's Report - Legislative
Preview Issue 2002
Two County Commissioners Will Be
Greatly Missed
It has been my policy
through the years not to use this space to offer comments
about incumbent county commissioners who have passed away.
There are always the risks of saying the wrong thing,
not saying enough or failing to mention someone altogether.
I do, however, feel moved to say a few things about two
county commissioners that passed away during the year
2002. I believe everyone will allow this one departure
from my policy considering who the two individuals were
and the unique and unfortunate events that occurred in
the county in which they served.
I’m sure everyone is by now
aware that ACCA Immediate Past President Billy Ray "Bulldog"
Williams from Etowah County passed away on December 19,
2002. I’m sure you are also aware that Commissioner Johnny
Mosley also from Etowah County passed away on July 26,
2002.
Before I share some thoughts
about these two Commissioners, I want to reflect on the
unfortunate circumstances that have occurred in the Etowah
County Commission during the past nine years.
Former Etowah County Commissioner
Lawrence C. "Coach" Presley died in office on January
10, 1993. His wife, Alice Bruce Presley, was elected to
the county commission several years later and served until
her death on August 31, 2001. These deaths along with
the most recent two have everyone in Etowah County looking
forward to a long period during which commissioners serve
and complete their tenure according to state law.
There are more than 350 county
commission members in the state of Alabama. I make an
effort to meet all of them at some point during their
tenure in office. It is understandable that I would get
to know some better than others. This is especially true
with regard to county commission members who serve in
various leadership and service positions within the Association.
These positions include serving as an officer, member
of the Board of Directors, member of an insurance fund
board of trustees or member of a steering committee.
Working with the individuals
in these positions gives me the opportunity to get to
know them personally. Some individuals serve in such positions
for many years and therefore I have more opportunities
to get to know them. I have come to know many other commissioners
through circumstances unrelated to service on boards and
committees. There are commissioners that call me frequently
for advice on how to handle county government-related
situations. It is not uncommon for some individuals to
call 2 or 3 times a month.
My relationships with Johnny
Mosley and Billy Ray Williams stemmed from all of the
above. Johnny Mosley served on one of the Association's
steering committees. He was a member of the Legislative
Committee and Liability Self-Insurance Fund Board of Trustees
when he died. Billy Ray had likewise served on a steering
committee, the Board of Directors and was the Association's
Immediate Past President when he passed away.
Their involvement in Association
activities had them in the headquarters building frequently.
Compounding their involvement was the fact that the two
of them always traveled together. If Johnny had a meeting
at the Association office, Billy Ray would usually come
with him and vice versa. Billy Ray would come with Johnny
for a trustees meeting and Johnny would come with Billy
Ray to meetings of the Board of Directors. It was my pleasure
for the past several years to be in the presence of both
of these men almost monthly.
My involvement with the two
Commissioners led me to appreciate the close personal
relationship they shared. It was not difficult to determine
that they were good friends as well as colleagues. It
was fun observing them as they picked at each other like
brothers. Johnny would tease Billy Ray about his punctuality,
complaining that he could get to places on time if Billy
Ray did not have to spend so much time fixing his hair.
Billy Ray would criticize Johnny's driving and complain
that he was trying to "pull something over on him."
These two men loved the Association
of County Commissions of Alabama and they were two of
its most ardent supporters. Time and time again they unselfishly
volunteered their services. They were the type of people
I would call at home at midnight and ask that they come
to Montgomery the next morning. They would agree without
hesitation. They enjoyed participating in Association
conferences, conventions and other meetings. Their faces
could always be seen whenever county officials were assembled.
There were many other former
county commissioners just as loyal and dedicated to the
Association as Johnny and Billy Ray and I was equally
as fond of them. There are many others around now that
I respect and appreciate as much. But loosing two of their
nature within such a short time span was hard. I will
miss them, as will all in the Association family.
Because I knew them so well,
I believe they are together now. I am sure that when they
are not picking at each other, they spend a lot of time
talking about the pleasures they had serving people and
the good times they had with all their fellow Alabama
county commissioners.
When Billy Ray was President
of the Association he would frequently complain to me
that he was "just not doing enough" or that he was "not
providing the right kind of leadership." Well, he was
wrong and my response now to his concern is "Bulldog,
you did just fine, thanks!"
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