Griffin Speaks

Governor Troy King

My family and friends are often stunned at my ability to perceive matters beyond the range of ordinary perception. Even as a child I experienced this ability. I still am not sure that my hunches aren’t the result of lucky guessing. You be the judge.

I won’t bore you with another Spike Lee story, but I will remind you that I predicted Spike’s success while we were classmates at Morehouse. In 1978, I appointed Spike to be creative director for the Miss Maroon and White Pageant. I also predicted Jasmine Guy’s fame the night she danced in that very same pageant. She was just a high school student at the time. Jasmine’s father was my religion professor and pastor.

In 1993, I met Attorney General Bill Pryor at the Wynfrey Hotel. I was running for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. My opponent was Judge Sue Bell Cobb. I handed Bill one of my campaign cards. He read the card and asked me a few questions. I later learned from Bill that he was in charge of recruiting judicial candidates for the republican ticket. He convinced me on that night to join the Republican Party. I became the Republican Nominee for the Court of Criminal Appeals. I would later be elected to chair the Republican Council and serve on the Republican Executive Council.

When I returned to Montgomery I told my wife about the incredible person I met while campaigning in Birmingham at a State Bar function. I saw something in Bill Pryor beyond the range of ordinary perception.

All of the Republican candidates that Bill recruited won, except me. I was disappointed, but not for long. Soon after the election I received a call from my new friend Bill Pryor. Bill informed me that Jeff Sessions had convinced him to leave his Birmingham law firm and join him at the Attorney General Office. I asked Bill if I could show him around on his first day.

Bill was hired as one of Session’s top deputies. I was delighted to introduce him to his new co-workers. My introduction went like this: “ I WANT YOU TO MEET BILL PRYOR. HE WILL BE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN A FEW YEARS.” (this was two years before his 1997 appointment by Governor Fob James) People laughed mainly because Bill was about 30 years old at the time. I had no doubt that he would be attorney general. As the old lady would say I could see it in the tea leaves. Bill was elected to a full term in 1998. He was challenged by former Supreme Court Justice Terry Butts.

My ability to perceive matters beyond the range of ordinary perception has led me to another young man, Troy King. I met Troy King while he worked in a number of positions in the James administration. Troy ended up being one of Governor James’ most trusted and capable employees.

All of my dealings with Troy King gave me an overwhelming feeling that he was the most competent employee in state government. It soon became common knowledge that if you wanted results in the James Administration you called Troy King. I did not become a friend with Troy until after he left the Governor’s office. Ironically I was close friends and frequently ate lunch with one of his employees, Phillip Jauregui. Phillip ended up moving to Birmingham. Phillip Jauregui recently served as Chief Justice Roy Moore’s campaign manager.

When Troy King called and asked me to serve on his exploratory committee to explore the possibility of his running for SECRETARY OF STATE, I was honored. Once Troy King decided to enter the race for Secretary of State I gave him my total support. My wife and I have contributed five hundred dollars to his campaign for Secretary of State, because we believe in him. We know that Troy King will make Alabama better.

Well here is my latest prediction: “ I SEE SOMETHING BEYOND THE RANGE OF ORDINARY PERCEPTION IN TROY KING. I SEE A FUTURE ALABAMA GOVERNOR.” (THE YEAR WILL BE 2011).

Greg Griffin is a columnist for the historic Montgomery-Tuskegee times. For an unedited copy of this article, you can log on www.greggriffin.com