Many Alabama political stories came to an end Saturday evening with the death of George Callahan of Theodore. He was a former state senator and Republican activist. He was the brother of the late H.L. "Sonny" Callahan, who represented Alabama's first district in Congress.
His son, Greg Callahan, Sr., posted this heartfelt message on his Facebook page Sunday:
George had also served on the Mobile County Republican Executive Committee, the St. Vincent DePaul School Board from 1996 to 2000 and as Mobile County Racing Commissioner from 1984 to 1996.
He was preceded in death by his wife, "Miss Betty" Callahan. During their long marriage, they often traveled throughout the United States, including their week-long 50th anniversary honeymoon to Hawaii. Miss Betty died in 2018.
George and Miss Betty loved old convertible automobiles and had owned a 1967 Ford GTA convertible, a BMW and a Mercedes.
George attended McGill Institute and Auburn University. He had served in the U.S. Navy and the Marine Reserves.
George had been active in the Tillman's Corner Chamber of Commerce (now the Southwest Mobile County Chamber) and the Mobile County Land Owners Association from 1996 to 2002.
The Mobile County Water & Fire Authority Building was named for George Callahan.
George's political life included a family business, ABC Signs, which prints more political signs than any business in Alabama. He worked it with his son Greg Callahan. Son Mike Callahan came aboard with a T-shirt division. Mike is a former executive with the Mobile BayBears baseball team.
ABC Signs is continuing, the Callahan name will continue and the Callahan legacy will continue to bless Mobile and Alabama.
Services will be announced.
Jim 'Zig' Zeigler's beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her 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].
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