1 SJR57
2 218194-2
3 By Senators Figures, Smitherman, Beasley, Albritton, Allen,
4 Barfoot, Butler, Chambliss, Chesteen, Coleman-Madison, Dunn,
5 Elliott, Givhan, Gudger, Hatcher, Holley, Jones, Livingston,
6 Marsh, McClendon, Melson, Orr, Price, Reed, Roberts,
7 Sanders-Fortier, Scofield, Sessions, Shelnutt, Singleton,
8 Stutts, Waggoner, Weaver, Whatley and Williams
9 RFD:
10 First Read: 01-MAR-22
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 SJR57
1 SJR57
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4 ENROLLED, SJR57,
5 NAMING A PORTION OF THE INTERSTATE 165 CORRIDOR
6 CONNECTING INTERSTATE 10 TO INTERSTATE 65 IN HONOR OF MICHAEL
7 A. FIGURES.
8
9 WHEREAS, Senator Michael A. Figures was born in
10 Mobile, Alabama, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree
11 from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa; and
12 WHEREAS, Senator Figures was one of the first three
13 African Americans to earn his Juris Doctorate from The
14 University of Alabama School of Law; and
15 WHEREAS, after establishing his own practice,
16 Senator Figures had a successful legal career taking up the
17 cause of labor unions and small businesses and serving as
18 co-counsel with the Southern Poverty Law Center in winning a
19 major victory against the United Klans of America; and
20 WHEREAS, in 1978, Senator Figures became the first
21 African American Senator representing Mobile County in the
22 State House; and
23 WHEREAS, Senator Figures held his seat for 18 years,
24 during which time he was voted "Outstanding Legislator" and
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1 elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate, making him the
2 highest ranking African American in state government; and
3 WHEREAS, Senator Figures continued through his
4 tenure to advocate for the rights of those less privileged,
5 and his "Helping Schools" tag campaign generates over $600,000
6 annually for local schools; and
7 WHEREAS, Senator Figures was posthumously inducted
8 into the Alabama Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2009; and
9 WHEREAS, Senator Figures was a loving and dedicated
10 husband and father; and
11 WHEREAS, Senator Michael A. Figures was a
12 trailblazer in Alabama's legal sphere and State Legislature;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, it is both appropriate and desirable to
15 honor Senator Figures, who made the lives of his fellow
16 citizens better, and whose tireless and dedicated public
17 service to Mobile County and the State of Alabama left a
18 lasting impact that will be remembered; now therefore,
19 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
20 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the portion of the Interstate
21 165 corridor connecting Interstate 10 to Interstate 65 in
22 Mobile County be named the Michael A. Figures Freeway.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the appropriate
24 officials place and maintain signs or markers as provided in
25 this resolution.
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3
President and Presiding Officer of
4 the Senate
5
Speaker of the House of Representa-
6 tives
7 SJR57
8 Senate 01-MAR-22
9 I hereby certify that the within Senate Joint
10 Resolution originated in and was adopted by the Senate.
11
12 Patrick Harris,
13 Secretary.
14
15
16
17 House of Representatives
18 Adopted: 03-MAR-22
19
20
21 By: Senator Figures
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