BIG JIM FOLSOM, I KNOW, GEORGE WALLACE, I KNOW, but WHO IS FRANK DIXON? Franklin Murray Dixon, Jr
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BIG JIM FOLSOM, I KNOW, GEORGE WALLACE, I KNOW, BUT WHO IS FRANK DIXON? Franklin Murray Dixon, Jr. (1892-1965), also known as Frank M. Dixon, of Alabama was born in Oakland, Alameda County, CA, July 25, 1892, to a preacher, Franklin Murray Dixon, Sr., and Laura Dixon. Iis connection to the Dedmon family actually goes through my family back to the Revolutionary War soldier, Fredrick Hambright and his second wife, Mary Dover. His great grandmother, Susanna Hambright, was the daughter of Fredrick and married William David Dixon, Sr. As far as I can tell my my immediate family and Carolyn Hambright, who married Ralph Fain Hambright,are the only Dedmons to whom he is directly connected. However as in Franklin Murray Dixon, Jr. the case of all of us he is related to some of the same people to whom we are related. That’s all it takes to make the Dedmon Connection. Back to the headline, most of you recognized George Wallace and I am very sure some remember “Big” Jim Folsom as Alabama Governors. However, did you know Franklin Murray Dixon also served as the Governor of Alabama? ...I didn’t!! He attended public schools in Washington, DC, and He served as an assistant solicitor of Jefferson County Dixondale, Virginia, as well as Phillips Exeter Preparatory from 1919 to 1923, delegate to Alabama convention School, Columbia University, and the University of to ratify 21st amendment at-large, 1933, and ran Virginia from which he received his law degree in 1916. unsuccessfully for governor in 1934. On November Dixon was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 1917, He 8, 1938, Dixon was elected Governor of Alabama began his law career that same year in Birmingham, (Democrat), defeating Chauncey Sparks by presenting Alabama, in the office of Frank W. White. His practice a platform that called for efficient reforms in the state was interrupted, however, by WWI. Dixon served as government, and on January 17, 1939, was sworn an aerial observer and machine gunner with the French into office. During his term, the state debt was Escadrilles until July 21, 1918, when he was wounded, reduced, the Pardon and Parole Board was created, resulting in the amputation of his right leg. Dixon was and a State Civil Service System was established. decorated by the French government with the Croix de Teacher retirement was initiated and several new Guerre with Palm, named a Chevalier of the French departments were formed, including personnel, Legion of Honor, and was discharged in May 1919 at commerce, revenue, finance, conservation, and the state the rank of major. Returning to Birmingham he became a docks and terminals. The office of Price Administration partner in the legal firm of Bowers and Dixon, a position was integrated through state government, the Legislature he retained until his inauguration as governor in 1939. continued on page 2 JULY 2017 continued from page 1 purchased 10,000 barrels and 173,813 cases of two- Reference Service was established, and the legislature's year-old 80 proof liquor from the American Distilling sessions changed from quadrennial to biennial. Also, Company of Pekin, Illinois. The liquor was bottled and the first illuminated intercity highway in the state opened sold as "Spot Bottle" in state package stores at the in December 1939. Dixon left the governor's office customary 50 percent markup alongside four-year- on January 19, 1943, and returned to his law practice old 86 proof liquor priced the same. There was no in Birmingham. He stayed active in politics, leading legal problem with this part of the transaction but the Dixiecrat movement from 1948 to 1951, and as controversy concerned the price paid by the state to a presidential elector to the 1960 Democratic National the American Distilling Company. In 1943 the Office Convention. Dixon Died in Birmingham, Jefferson of Price Administration filed suit against the Illinois County, Ala., October 11, 1965 (age 73 years, 78 days), company asking for treble damages of $7,509,335 for and is buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, whiskey sales made in excess of OPA price ceilings. Alabama. Although he was a conservative states' rights The case was settled in 1946 but the incident was widely advocate, Dixon achieved significant progressive publicized during Dixon's administration. After he left reforms in state government during his term in office. office, Dixon returned to his private law practice with Bowers, Dixon, Dunn, and McDowell in Birmingham. He eliminated much duplication of effort and services He was a leader in the Dixiecrat movement from as well as excess cost by centralizing the administrative 1948-1951 that opposed the civil rights and trade union power in the governor's office. Another important policies of the Democratic Party under President Harry reform was the elimination of the spoils system and S. Truman. In 1960 he again opposed the civil rights adoption of the merit system, a much needed reform in movement by running as one of ten States' Rights light of the 20,000 applications for appointments to state candidates for presidential elector to the Democratic positions Dixon received prior to taking office. Dixon National convention in Los Angeles. He and his wife, also encouraged reforms in taxation, education, and the Juliet Perry of Green County, had one son, Sam judicial system. He abolished the pardon, parole, and Perry Dixon, and one daughter, Launa Dixon. Dixon probation system and created the Pardon and Parole died in Birmingham on October 11, 1965. Board. Teacher retirement was established, the state debt was reduced and several new departments The Dickson/Dixon family connects with many were created including Finance, Industrial Relations, of the Dedmon and related families many times. Conservation, Personnel, Commerce, Revenue, and As is the case of most families, the variation in State Docks and Terminals. Most of these absorbed spelling does not determine kinship. My grand- functions and activities that had been scattered among father was George Dickson, but he had brothers several smaller boards and commissions. The Legislative who chose the DIXON spelling for their surname. Reference Service was established to assist the governor In fact, his tombstone has George Dixon, although and members of the state legislature. Also under Dixon's he never spelled it that way. My mother’s great administration, the legislature changed from quadrennial grandfather, David McArthur Dickson married my sessions to biennial sessions. Dixon's administration came father’s great aunt, Hannah Dedmon. on the tail-end of the Great Depression and the beginning There are several members of the Dedmon/ of WWII. The war impacted greatly on Dixon's Dedman family who are named Dixon Dedmon/ acomplishments. Military installations were established Dedman. I am not sure how that came to be, but it throughout the state, the Selective Service System was usually indicates a maternal surname that is used organized and the Office of Price Administration (OPA) as a first or middle name. One of the sons of the was coordinated through state government. Another of aforementioned great grandparents of my mother Dixon's reforms later became embroiled in controversy. wore the name Calvin Dedmon Dickson. The alcoholic beverage control law provided a way to Samuel Dedmon, b. abt 1720 married Mary license the sale of beer and wine and established a Elizabeth Dixon in 1746 in Virginia. My mother system of state package stores to control the sale of was Ruby Dickson and married my father, Gordon hard liquor. During Dixon's administration the state Lee Dedmon. I know there are more.... PAGE 2, VOLUME 137 THE CACULATED RISK OF DNA TESTING I sure hope I am not misunderstood in this article but there are some risks in DNA testing. For example, This page of the newsletter is used to help locate we may find some things we do not wish to know. I those “loose ends” (no pun intended in reference remember when Tim Dedmon came to my office, rather to the Dedmon family members) in our family tree. distraught, concerning our Dedmon heritage. He did I have found several Dedmons at FindAgrave.com the DNA test and began getting results that matched with no information to allow me to attach them him to families of whom we had no record in the Dedmon to the tree. I am hoping some of the family will data base. “I may not be a Dedmon at all”, he said. read this and provide us with information. - Leroy However, according ro what we knew, he and I are close kin. We connect at my great grandfather. I am older JONATHAN DEDMON/DEDMAN than him and my grandfather was much younger than John Deadman/Dedman/Dedmon who was born about the brother through whom Tim descends, which actually 1777 in North Carolina, has been a mystery to the family puts me and his grandfather in the same generation and researchers. Danny McBee (deceased), who researched third cousins. So, we should match. this family of Deadman's, Dedmond's etc, for over 30 “I will pay for the test, if you will take it”, he continued. years, thought this John Deadman may have been That sounded like a good deal so I did it. I don’t know the son of Mark Dedmon, possibly before or right after who was the happiest when the results came back serving in the Revolutionary War, before he married showing us a “perfect match”. Jim Dedmon, took the Hannah Bailey, probably in Rowan County NC. The test with the same results. The information we have sole mention of him, found, consists of entries in the is basically the hard work Jim did before the days of "Colony of North Carolina-Abstract of Land Patents computers to prove our ancestory.