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George McMillan (politician)

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George McMillan, Jr.
23rd Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
In office
January 15, 1979 – January 17, 1983
GovernorFob James
Preceded byJere Beasley
Succeeded byBill Baxley
Member of the Alabama Senate
from the 11th[1] district
In office
1974–1978
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office
1973–1973
Personal details
Born
George Duncan Hastie McMillan Jr.

(1943-10-11)October 11, 1943
Greenville, Alabama, U.S.
DiedApril 18, 2025(2025-04-18) (aged 81)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAnn Louise Dial
Children2

George Duncan Hastie McMillan Jr. (October 11, 1943 – April 18, 2025) was an American Democratic politician who served as the 23rd lieutenant governor of Alabama from 1979 to 1983. In 1989, he founded the City Stages music festival in downtown Birmingham, Alabama.

Early life and education

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McMillan was born in Greenville, Alabama. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Auburn University in 1966, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1969.[2]

Political career

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Legislative career

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McMillan was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives and served for one term in 1973 for Jefferson County.[3] He was then elected to the Alabama Senate in 1974, with his term lasting until 1978.[4]

Lieutenant governor

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McMillan was elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Alabama on November 7, 1978 under Governor Fob James.[5][6]

Gubernatorial campaign

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McMillan ran in the Democratic gubernatorial primary election in 1982, but was beaten by incumbent Governor George Wallace, coming in second place. A run-off election was held between McMillan and Wallace, which Wallace won, going on to win the general election against Republican Mayor Emory Folmar of Montgomery.[7] He would have been considered a potential New South governor, if he had won the election.[2]

Personal life and death

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Starting in 1989, McMillan served as Birmingham Cultural and Heritage Foundation's President and Executive Producer, for 21 years.[8]

McMillan founded the City Stages music festival in Birmingham, Alabama, which ran for two decades.[9]

He was married to Ann Louise Dial and had two children with her, George D.H. McMillan III and Ann Dial Sims.[10]

McMillan died from complications of surgery on April 18, 2025, at the age of 81.[2] Governor Kay Ivey memorialized him as "a man of great ideas".[11] Ivey also ordered the state flag to fly at half staff for McMillan once funeral arrangements could be made.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns – Candidate – George McMillan". Our Campaigns. December 4, 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Former Lt. Governor, gubernatorial candidate George McMillan dies at 81". 1819 News. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  3. ^ Shipley, Austen (April 21, 2025). "Former Alabama Lt. Governor George McMillan passes away at 81". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  4. ^ "Lieutenant Governor Campaign Ad". Gadsden Times. September 23, 1978. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  5. ^ "Former Lieutenant Governor George McMillan passes away at 81". Birmingham WBRC. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  6. ^ "Former Alabama Lt. Gov. George McMillan dies". WIAT Birmingham. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  7. ^ "Alabama Governors—George C. Wallace". Alabama Department of Archives and History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  8. ^ "Former Alabama Lt. Governor dies at 81". WHNT-TV Huntsville. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  9. ^ "George McMillan, who nearly beat Wallace and revitalized Birmingham with music, dies at 81". AL.com. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  10. ^ "Former Alabama Lt. Gov. George McMillan dies at 81". Alabama Political Reporter. April 21, 2025. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "Former Alabama Lt. Governor dies at 81". WHNT News 19. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  12. ^ "Former Alabama Lt. Governor George McMillan dies at 81". WAKA. April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
1978 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
1979–1983 		Succeeded by
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