died at his home August 9, 2007. He was 88.
Mr. Flowers was born in November of 1918 in Dothan. He was the fourth son of John Jefferson Flowers and Ila McDavid Flowers. He was a graduate of Dothan High School and the University Of Alabama School Of Law. He also attended Auburn University.
In 1942, during World War II, he entered the U.S. Army achieving the rank of Captain. Before his honorable discharge in 1946, he served as a member of General Douglas McArthur's Special Staff in the occupation of Japan.
Mr. Flowers returned to Dothan, worked for the Dothan Bank and Trust Company and co-founded Flowers Insurance Agency. In 1948, he completed his law degree and began practicing in his home town.
In 1954, Mr. Flowers was elected to the Alabama State Senate where he served as floor leader. During his time in the State Senate, he was instrumental in the passage of landmark legislation, including appropriations for construction of Ross Clark Circle, Southeast Alabama General Hospital, and the Houston County Farm Center.
He was elected Attorney General of Alabama in 1962. During his term he worked to advance equality and justice for the entire state population. His administration was active in voiding Alabama's law prohibiting women serving on juries. Mr. Flowers won two landmark voting cases in the United States Supreme Court, Baker vs. Carr and Reynolds vs. Sims. He was a leader in prosecuting those who committed hate crimes during the 1960's in Alabama. He was awarded a special certificate for an outstanding administration by the National Association of Attorneys General. In 1966 he ran for Governor.
In more recent years, Mr. Flowers served as legal advisor to Flowers Hospital. He also taught Criminal Justice and United States History at Wallace Community College. He was a life-time member of First United Methodist Church and taught the Men's Bible Class for 25 years. He served on the church Administrative Board and Board of Trustees. In 2004, he was named an Honorary Board member. Mr. Flowers was a Rotarian, a member of the Dothan Country Club and a past Chairman of the Peanut Festival.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Katherine Moran Flowers; his parents, John Jefferson Flowers and Ila McDavid Flowers; three brothers, John Jefferson Flowers, James Drury Flowers, and Paul Rutledge Flowers.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Russell Flowers; son and daughter-in-law, Richmond and Diane Flowers of Birmingham; son, Jeff Flowers, of Destin, Florida; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Dwight Tarwater, of Knoxville, Tennessee; ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Serving as active pallbearers will be grandsons, Richmond McDavid Flowers, William Russell Flowers, Benjamin Hampton Flowers, Tanner Reece Flowers, John Jefferson Flowers, Davis Edward Tarwater, Dwight Oakes Tarwater, and Michael Joseph Murphy.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Men's Bible Study Class of First United Methodist Church.
Memorial services will be held 4: p.m. Sunday, August 12, 2007 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Lawson Bryan and Dr. Jim Sanders officiating. The family will receive friends in the church parlor following the services on Sunday.
The family request that any donations be made to John Croyle's Big Oak Ranch, P.O. Box 507, Springville, AL 35146
Click here to view videos of Richmond Flowers.