By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
BIRMINGHAM—Longtime member of the Alabama State Senate Gerald Dial (R from Lineville) announced in a written statement on Monday, November 11 that this term will be his last in the State legislature.
Sen. Dial said in a statement, “Winning this election by my biggest margin ever of my career is bittersweet because I know that it is my last term of service to our State. I don’t plan to go quietly as there is still a lot of work to do to make Alabama an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Sen. Dial continued, “It is a humbling and grateful experience to have been able to represent the people of East Alabama for over forty years. First, I thank God for the opportunity. Deepest thanks to my amazing wife, Faye, for putting up with me and for supporting me in every campaign as well as the legislative sessions. I thank the hundreds of campaign volunteers who have helped me during the last 11 campaigns. Lastly, I want to thank the tens of thousands of people who came out to vote, because voting is a sacred right that can not be taken lightly.”
In this election, Senator Dial received 54.3 percent of the total vote in a three way race across the six counties of Senate District 6. Republican Gerald Dial beat Democrat Darrell Turner by 20.5 percent and independent Bill Fuller by 42.3 percent.
Dial won the majority of the votes cast in five of the six counties winning: Cherokee County with 68.6 percent, Lee County with 66.5 percent, Cleburne with 66.5 percent, Clay with 58.6 percent and Randolph with 45.7 percent.
During the 2014 campaign Dial also had to overcome a well funded challenge in the Republican Primary from Cleburne County Republican Party Chairman Tim Sprayberry. Dial bested Chairman Sprayberry by just 423 votes.
Gerald Dial grew up in Delta, Alabama, graduated from Lineville High School and has received degrees from Livingston University and Jacksonville State University. Shortly after graduating from high school, Senator Dial attended basic training for the United States Army and became a member of the Alabama National Guard. In 1961, he married Faye Bonner Dial. Mrs. Dial is a retired schoolteacher and counselor. Gerald Dial spent nearly 38 years in the military. At the time of his retirement in 1997, he had achieved the post of Assistant Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard. In 1972, Senator Dial served two years on the Lineville City Council. He was elected in 1974 to the Alabama House of Representatives and was elected to the Senate in 1983. In 2010 Dial was elected to the state Senate as a Republican. Dial has been a teacher and coach at Lineville High School and in recent decades has been a small business owner and a real estate developer.
In March 2007, Dial was appointed by Governor Bob Riley (R) to serve as the Executive Director of the Alabama Rural Action Commission, a position he held until May. Dial and Faye still live in Lineville. The Dials have two children: Melanie and Jason, and are members of Lineville Baptist Church.
