Frank William Boykin

Democrat Representative of Alabama's 1st district

  • Representative

    Alabama, district 1

    January 3, 1961 - January 3, 1963

14

Congresses Served

14

House Terms

February 21, 1885 (84 years old)

Birthday

March 12, 1969

Death

  • Served as a Democratic Congressman for Alabama’s 1st congressional district from 1935 to 1963.
  • Grew up in a family of sharecroppers and had limited formal education, ending in the fourth grade.
  • Became a successful businessman with interests in lumber, turpentine, commissaries, and real estate.
  • Played a significant role in the industrialization of Mobile during World War I through shipbuilding contracts.
  • Elected to Congress after the previous Congressman was appointed to a federal judgeship; had to pay back poll taxes to vote for himself.
  • Advocated for aid to the United Kingdom during World War II and supported the Lend Lease Act.
  • Chaired the House Patents Committee from 1943 to 1947.
  • Known for his focus on serving his district’s citizens, despite a high rate of missed roll call votes.
  • Supported racial segregation but had a reputation for assisting black constituents.
  • Signed the Southern Manifesto opposing desegregation and voted against the Civil Rights Act in 1957.
  • Lost his congressional seat in 1962 due to redistricting and a statewide election format.
  • Faced legal issues, including being a prominent defendant in whiskey trials during Prohibition and later convicted of conspiracy and conflict of interest related to land deals.
  • Received a presidential pardon in 1965.
  • Married for nearly 56 years and had five children, with a reputation for infidelity.
  • Died in 1969 and was interred in Mobile, Alabama; several locations and a scholarship are named in his honor.