Jack Giles

Jack Giles (November 21, 1915 – July 12, 1982) was an American politician who served in the Alabama Senate from District 3, representing all of Madison County from 1966 to 1970. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Giles was born to Thomas and Molly Ora Giles on November 21, 1915, in Marion Junction, Alabama. He attended public schools throughout several counties in Alabama, Snead State Community College, and Auburn University. He enlisted in the Alabama National Guard and ranked up to lieutenant colonel in the Inactive National Guard. He served in the Pacific theater of World War II, receiving a Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation. He received a law degree from the University of Alabama in 1948 before practicing law in Huntsville and serving in multiple offices in the county and city in the 1950s and 1960s. During George Wallace’s gubernatorial administration, Giles served as the director of the state’s Department of Industrial Relations. Giles lost the Democratic nomination in the first round in an eight-man field. Jere Beasley won the runoff election with 57.78% of the vote.

On July 12, 1982, Giles died of a heart attack at the age of 66. At the time of his death, he was the chairman of the Alabama Space Science Commission.

Electoral history

+ Jack Giles election results Election Winners Runners-up Lieutenant Governor of Alabama 1970 prim Jere Beasley (D)Hugh Morrow (D) 256,081185,333 29.03%21.01% Tom Radney (D)Joe Money (D)Jack Giles (D)Joe Goodwyn (D)James Gullate (D)Jay Thomas (D) 163,462100,131 81,78975,085 10,6279,631 18.53%11.35% 9.27%8.51% 1.21%1.09% Alabama Senate District 3 1966 gen Jack Giles (D) 21,040 62.12% Wayne Robinson (R) 12,828 37.88% 1966 prim Jack Giles (D) 17,123 71.15% Eugene J. Patterson (D) 6,944 28.85% United States presidential elector 1964 gen(at-large) Barry Goldwater (R) 479,085 69.45% Unpledged (D) 210,732 30.55% 1964 prim(place 6) Jack Giles (Unpledged) 481,763 81.60% Harry Ayers (Pledged) 108,662 18.40%