Ryan DeGraffenried, Sr.

William Ryan deGraffenried Sr. (April 15, 1925 – February 10, 1966) was an American attorney and politician from Alabama.

Early life Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he was the son of Edward deGraffenried, former U.S. congressman from Alabama.

Career In November 1954, deGraffenried was elected to Tuscaloosa County's second place in the Alabama House of Representatives. He won the Democratic nomination in a special primary held in July after the regular Democratic primary held in May was voided after its winner J. P. Shelton died.

DeGraffenried ran for Governor of Alabama on two occasions (1962 and 1966). On his first attempt, he was defeated in the Democratic primary runoff by George Wallace, who was later elected Governor.

In 1966, DeGraffenried ran again as a moderate, supporting racial integration. He sought to succeed the Dixiecrat-style Wallace, who was prohibited by the constitution from running for a second consecutive term. Wallace offered his wife, Lurleen Wallace, as a surrogate candidate for governor instead. One day after qualifying for the gubernatorial race, DeGraffenried died in a plane crash while campaigning in northeast Alabama near Fort Payne. Mrs. Wallace won the nomination and gubernatorial election.

Personal life DeGraffenried married Margaret Nell Maxwell in July 1945.

His son, Ryan DeGraffenried Jr. (1950–2006), became a notable Alabama politician. He served as State Senator, Senate president pro tempore and Lieutenant Governor of Alabama under Jim Folsom Jr. (1993–1995).

Electoral history

+ Ryan deGraffenried Sr. election results Election Winner Runners-up Governor of Alabama 1962 prim ro George Wallace (D) 340,730 55.87% Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. (D) 269,122 44.13% — 1962 prim George Wallace (D) 207,062 32.49% Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. (D) 160,704 25.22% 6 others 269,507 42.30% Alabama Senate, district 11 1958 gen Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. (D) 5,664 100.00% — — 1958 prim Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. (D) Unopp. — — Alabama House of Representatives, Tuscaloosa County, place 2 1954 gen Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. (D) 6,186 100.00% — — 1954 sp prim ro Ryan DeGraffenried Sr. (D) Unopp. Ed Morgan (D) Withdrawn — 1954 sp prim J. P. Shelton (D) † 9,666 61.57% Frank Walls (D) 6,034 38.43% —