INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE
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Posted by: Steve51
Date: Aug 14 2019 12:24 AM
Inside the Statehouse
By Steve Flowers
The Story of Floyd Mann
One of the legendary figures in
Colonel Mann was Public Safety Director for two governors. His lifetime friend, John Patterson, made him his Public Safety Director while he was governor, 1958-1962 and Governor Albert Brewer chose Colonel Mann to be his Director while he was governor, 1968-1970.
The Public Safety Director in those days was referred to as the Head of the State Troopers. It was during the Patterson administration that Mann made his mark in
The hot winds of segregation began to blow after the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. They had reached a crescendo inferno in the Heart of Dixie by 1958.
There were buses of freedom riders who bravely traveled to
They first arrived in
Not surprisingly, Gov. Patterson and all the white law enforcement communities ignored the plea for help and security.
When the Freedom Riders arrived at the old Greyhound Bus Station behind the Federal Court House in
Colonel Mann got word of the scenario. He immediately jumped into the Head of Public Safety Trooper car and drove 90 miles an hour down
Let me share a great story that Colonel Mann personally shared with me.
Colonel Mann was destined to be a legendary lawman. He became Chief of Police of Opelika at an amazingly young age.
Mann agreed that if that was happening he would handle it. The following Saturday night about 30 minutes before the freight train was due in, Mann drove down near the railroad station, parked his car some distance away and then hid in the shadows. Sure enough, minutes before the train was to arrive, a police car pulled up and out stepped Big Un with his billy club in his hand.
When the train came to a stop, Big Un began walking alongside the freight cars, sliding the doors open looking for hobos. He opened a door and lying right in front of him was a man. Big Un slapped him across the head and ordered him out of the car. The hobo turned ever so slowly and as he did, he laid the barrel of a pistol between the eyes of Big Un. The policeman froze in terror.
“Mr. Policeman the hobo said slowly, I’ve got a momma in heaven, a papa in hell, and a sick sister in
See you next week.
Steve Flowers is
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