The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO FORMER ALABAMA AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER A.W. TODD” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S3620 on April 18, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO FORMER ALABAMA AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER A.W. TODD
Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, my long-time friend A.W. Todd, who served 3 terms as Alabama's commissioner of agriculture, passed away at his home on March 29, 1996. He was regarded as one of our State's most popular government leaders and one of the most colorful and effective politicians to ever hold office in Alabama.
A long-time Democrat, A.W. Todd represented Franklin, Colbert, and Marion Counties in the State Senate from 1950-1954. Colbert is my home county. His terms as commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Industries ran from 1955-1959, 1963-1967, and 1991-1995. He was also a gubernatorial candidate in 1958 and 1966. He had boundless energy and was a tireless campaigner. In fact, the last time I saw him, A.W. told me that he was planning to run again for agriculture commissioner in 1998.
He is regarded by many as the best agriculture commissioner Alabama ever had. The small, family farmer was always foremost in his mind, and the agriculture community in the state benefitted directly from his devotion and hard work. Among his many accomplishments as commissioner was the coliseum program, which resulted in 6 coliseums being built statewide. He also oversaw the expansion of the farmers' market program to Birmingham, Montgomery, Slocomb, and Mobile. The quality of eggs sold in the State was dramatically improved through the Todd Egg Law, which placed new inspection requirements on eggs and established a grading system.
While serving in his last term, A.W. Todd had the distinction of being the oldest elected State official in Alabama and was among the oldest in the entire country. He took pride in introducing himself as the country's oldest ``Young Democrat.'' He was an old-school Democrat who grew up in Belgreen, Alabama. When he was only 13, he was permanently injured in a hunting accident that resulted in his left arm being severed.
This did not slow him down at all. He used a job on Auburn University's experiment farm to work his way through college. After graduating, he returned to Franklin County, where he operated a feed mill and poultry company and served in State government. One of his children, Elizabeth Campbell, followed him into public service, becoming a Federal magistrate in Birmingham.
A.W. Todd was an outstanding public servant who will be greatly missed. I was proud to have known and worked with him over the years. I extend my sincerest condolences to his wife, Robbie, and their entire family in the wake of this tremendous loss.
____________________
