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When the 2025 legislative year begins in February, State Senator Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia, will begin his 52nd year in the Alabama Legislature. He is the longest serving state legislator in Alabama history. Jabo Waggoner is more than the senior member of the State Senate, he is one of the most accomplished senators in state history.
Jabo Waggoner has done a lot for Alabama, but especially for his native and beloved Jefferson County. I said words to this effect in a column in May of 2023, and stated that it would take a book to chronicle his legislative accomplishments. Some people came to me afterwards and asked me to write Jabo’s biography. I accepted the challenge and have written Jabo Waggoner: An Alabama Political Legend.
A ceremony and book signing event will be held at the Capitol, commemorating the biography, at the beginning of the 2025 legislative session. It will be attended by every major officeholder in the state, including Governor Ivey, all members of the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives, and numerous judges, along with throngs of lobbyists and admirers.
In all my years of following Alabama politics, I have never seen a more modest or amicable leader than Jabo Waggoner. I have never seen or heard of anyone who has ever met Jabo that did not like him. He will be recorded as not only the longest serving legislator in state history, but also the most beloved and greatest state senator in Alabama history.
Therefore, it goes without saying that Jabo Waggoner is the greatest and most accomplished state senator in the history of Jefferson County, Alabama’s largest and most populous county. The theme of this book, Jabo Waggoner: An Alabama Political Legend, is that over his five decades of leadership, his influence is inextricably tied to the transformation of Birmingham and Jefferson County from a blue-collar steel city to a high-tech international UAB medical mecca and economic center of our state.
He is not the only reason that Jefferson County has been transformed into one of the nation’s premier medical economic centers, but there is a distinct correlation between Jabo’s 51 years of legislative leadership and the transformation of Birmingham since 1966.
In the 1970’s, Waggoner sponsored legislation that spearheaded the purchase of 45 blocks in downtown Birmingham for UAB’s expansion. UAB purchased this property, which was valued at $8.5 million at that time. That land is worth well over $300 million today. That legislative act has enabled UAB to grow into one of the premier medical and research institutions in America, and the “Crown Jewel” of Alabama.
Jabo Waggoner served 17 years in the Alabama House of Representatives before being elected to the Alabama Senate in 1990. During his 35 years in the Senate, he has held most major leadership posts, including his current chairmanship of the powerful Rules Committee. Jabo was the Minority Leader of the State Senate from 1999, until the Republicans gained the legislative majority in 2010. He was the first Republican Majority Leader, then relinquished that role to be the Rules Chairman where he currently serves.
Jabo is revered in Jefferson County, but his popularity extends beyond Jefferson and Shelby counties. When Kay Ivey was running for Governor for her first full term in 2018, she asked Jabo to be her titular campaign manager. He introduced her as she announced her candidacy.
Jabo is adored by his senate colleagues, especially the younger state senators. He has mentored dozens over the years.
Jabo is married to his high school sweetheart, Marilyn. They have been married for more than 66 years. I have never met a more beautiful or sweeter lady than Marilyn Waggoner. She and Jabo have lived in the same home in the heart of Vestavia for 58 years. They raised their four children there. They love Vestavia, and Vestavia loves them.
The Mayor of Vestavia, Ashley Curry, and city fathers have built a showcase museum of Jabo Waggoner and his achievements for Vestavia in the City Hall administrative building on Highway 31, which is adjacent to the magnificent Civic Center. It is worth viewing. In addition, the city recently named the Vestavia Hills High School baseball field, “The Waggoner Family Field.” There is a chapter in the book titled, “Mr. Vestavia.”
Jabo and Marilyn are ardent members of the Homewood Church of Christ. They attend almost every Sunday and sit with their best friends, Dr. Swaid and Christy Swaid. Some of Jabo’s and Marilyn’s children attend the same church. Jabo is a devout member of the Church of Christ. He is on the Board of Trustees of Faulkner University.
Jabo Waggoner’s over 50 years of legislative service will probably never be matched. He has served with eleven governors.
Jabo Waggoner is an icon of Alabama political history.
See you next week.
