Ronnie Flippo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Robert E. Jones Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Bud Cramer |
| Member of theAlabama Senate from the1st district | |
| In office November 6, 1974 – November 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Stewart O'Bannon Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Ray Peden |
| Member of theAlabama House of Representatives from the1st district | |
| In office November 4, 1970 – November 6, 1974 Serving with Robert M. Hill Jr. | |
| Preceded by | James H. Haygood |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Greer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ronnie Gene Flippo (1937-08-15)August 15, 1937 (age 88) Florence, Alabama, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of North Alabama (BS) University of Alabama (MS) |
Ronnie Gene Flippo/ˈflɪpoʊ/ (born August 15, 1937)[1] is an American politician and accountant who served seven terms as a United StatesCongressman fromAlabama from 1977 to 1991.
Flippo was born August 15, 1937, inFlorence, Alabama, to Claude Nathaniel Flippo and Esther McAfee. Claude Flippo was killed in a construction accident in 1943.[2]
In 1955 Ronnie graduated from Coffee High School in Florence. After high school, he began work as an iron worker. In 1958, he married Faye Cooper, with whom he would have six children.[2]
Like his father, Ronnie suffered a significant construction accident, falling 55 feet while working at aTennessee Valley Authority steam plant in 1961. He survived, but was hospitalized for more than a year with major injuries.[2]
He then attended theUniversity of North Alabama and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. This was followed up by a master's degree in accounting from theUniversity of Alabama.
Flippo worked as aCPA after graduating from college, eventually starting his own accounting firm in 1971. He also taught accounting at UNA prior to running for the state legislature.[2]
In 1970, he successfully ran as aDemocrat for a seat in theAlabama House of Representatives from the1st distrist, serving from November 4, 1970 to November 6, 1974 and succeeded byLynn Greer.[3] After one term, he gave up his State House seat for a successful run for theAlabama Senate, serving from November 6, 1974 to November 1976.[4]
In 1976, incumbent congressmanRobert E. Jones, Jr. retired, necessitating a special election to fill the vacancy. Flippo won the runoff on November 2, 1976. He developed a reputation as a conservative Democrat, supporting business interests and fiscally conservative budgets. In 1980, he addresses the Democratic National Convention, speaking about the role of the Democratic Party in the American South.[2]
During his tenure, he was a leader on tax reform issues, as well as the debate on the modernization of the Tennessee Valley Authority. He also led a successful three-year legislative battle to protect 28,000 acres in the Sipsey Wilderness Area within theBankhead National Forest.[2]
Flippo voted for theAbandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987.[5] The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventingtreasure hunters and salvagers from damaging them. PresidentRonald Reagan signed it into law on April 28, 1988.[6]
He served in the House until 1991, when he retired from his seat to run forGovernor of Alabama. He was defeated in his bid, finishing fourth in a field led by eventual winnerPaul Hubbert.
After leaving politics, Flippo founded a privatemanagement consulting firm, R.G. Flippo & Associates. He served on several boards and governing bodies, including thePotomac Institute for Policy Studies, the Alabama Commission on Infrastructure, and the University of North Alabama Foundation.[2]
He currently resides in Florence, Alabama.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 5th congressional district 1977–1991 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| National | |
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| People | |
