On this day in Alabama history: Former Congressman Earl Hilliard was born
Birmingham native Earl F. Hilliard (1942- ) was a state legislator for nearly 20 years and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993-2003. (From Encyclopedia of Alabama, courtesy of the U.S. Congress)
April 9, 1942
Earl Frederick Hilliard is a lawyer and Democratic politician who served in the Alabama House of Representatives (1974-1980), Alabama Senate (1981-1992) and the U.S. House of Representatives (1993-2003). Hilliard was the first African American from Alabama to serve in Congress since Jeremiah Haralson during the Reconstruction era. While in Congress, Hilliard earned a reputation as a hard-fighting and tactical legislator focused on securing federal assistance for both his urban and rural constituents in the 7th Congressional District.
Read more at Encyclopedia of Alabama.
For more on Alabama’s Bicentennial, visit Alabama 200.
