Griffin Speaks

"A LETTER FROM BILL"

Almost two years ago I had the opportunity to sit and hear Bill Baxley share with the Chief Counsels of the State of Alabama, “Recollections of 30 Years of Public Life”. It was a fascinating and unforgettable experience. A watershed moment.

Baxley served as Alabama’s Attorney General from 1971 to 1979 and Lieutenant Governor from 1983 to 1987. During his two terms in the office of Attorney General, Baxley prosecuted with vigor industrial polluters, strip miners, and crooked politicians. Among his numerous accomplishments as attorney general was his successful prosecution of Ku Klux Klansman Robert Chambliss for his part in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing that took the lives of four little girls.

Bill Baxley, a native of Dothan, Alabama attended the University of Alabama Law School. He became the youngest person to hold the office of district attorney for Houston County at age 25. Today he maintains a successful law practice in Birmingham, Alabama.

I was very impressed with Bill Baxley’s speech. I went back to my office and wrote him a note expressing my appreciation for all that he had done in bringing about much needed and long overdue changes in our state. Nearly two years after my initial note to Bill Baxley he responded. He wrote me a short letter that I will treasure forever. I want to share with you: “MY LETTER FROM BILL”

JAN. 15, 2003

DEAR GREG,

MAYBE UNLIKE JUSTICE----“THANK YOUS” DELAYED ARE NOT “THANK YOUS” DENIED.

IT HAS BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS BUT I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTE THAT MEANT MORE TO ME THAN THE ONE YOU SENT ME AFTER MY TALK TO THE CHIEF COUNSEL’S MEETING. I KEEP IT IN MY DESK DRAWER AND ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS RE-READ IT.

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL CAREER AND PRESENTED WITH SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP BRING ABOUT MUCH NEEDED AND LONG OVERDUE CHANGES IN OUR STATE. FOR THIS I AM GRATEFUL.

I AM CERTAIN THAT YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I JOIN WITH THEM AND SHARE THESE FEELINGS.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

SINCERELY,

BILL BAXLEY

Greg Griffin is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at www.greggriffin.com