State Auditor Andrew Sorrell has nominated former State Auditor Agnes Baggett for the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame.
Sorrell realized that Baggett had not been placed into the Hall of Fame even though she was the most-elected woman in Alabama history starting 70 years ago. She served as:
State Auditor 1955-1959.
Secretary of State 1952-1955, 1963-1967, and 1975-1979.
State Treasurer 1959-1963 and 1967-1975.
Do you wonder why all the changing of offices? There was a good reason at the time. Alabama had a provision that a statewide constitutional officer could not run for re-election — they could not succeed themselves. After one term, the official had to either go home or go elsewhere. Agnes Baggett was not ready to go home, so she ran for a different state constitutional office each time. It worked.
After Sorrell nominated Baggett for induction, it was approved. Sorrell is traveling to the University of West Alabama in Livingston for the induction of Baggett on March 6.
In the 1980s, Baggett decided to attempt a big leap. She ran for Congress in Alabama’s Second Congressional District against incumbent Rep. Bill Dickinson (R-Montgomery). She had always used colorful slogans in her campaigns, and she did so again in this biggest of her races:
“Know yo’ ABC’s. Agnes Baggett for Congress.”
It did not work, and Baggett did not win the Democratic nomination, and Dickinson won again in the November general election.
Sorrell said of his nomination, "I was proud to nominate Agnes Baggett for the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame. She was elected to six different terms in three different Constitutional Offices. Including her work as a law clerk for the District Attorney in Montgomery, the clerking for the Secretary of State's office, and the clerking at the Alabama Supreme Court, she served the citizens of Alabama with distinction for over 50 years. She is one of the most elected officials in Alabama history. She was also the first female to ever serve in the office of State Auditor. It is appropriate that we recognize and honor her accomplishments, and I am so pleased to be giving the speech at her induction ceremony at the University of West Alabama."
Agnes Baggett died on December 15, 1992, at age 87.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
