Albert J. Lingo
Encyclopedia
Colonel Albert J. Lingo, also known as Al Lingo (January 22, 1910 - August 19, 1969) was a career Alabama Highway Patrol
man who served as Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety
from 1963 to 1965, including the turbulent early 1960s
years marked by marches and demonstration
s that characterized the civil rights movement
in the U.S. South. Lingo's service under Alabama governor
George Wallace
with regard to the Selma to Montgomery marches
has been characterized in a negative light, though Lingo himself disputed that characterization, stating that he was following orders as required by his oath of office
. He resigned as director effective October 1, 1965, and later ran for election to be sheriff
of Jefferson County, Alabama
; he died at age 59 on August 17, 1969.
Lingo has been portrayed by an actor Skipp Sudduth
in 1997 TV movie George Wallace
.
Alabama Highway Patrol
The Alabama Highway Patrol is a division of the Alabama Department of Public Safety and is the highway patrol agency for Alabama, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the state. It was created to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people in Alabama.In 1971, the Alabama Highway...
man who served as Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety
Alabama Department of Public Safety
The Alabama Department of Public Safety is a law enforcement agency serving the U.S. state of Alabama. It is made up of six divisions: Administrative Division, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Driver License, Highway Patrol, Protective Services Division, and Service Division.-History:The Alabama...
from 1963 to 1965, including the turbulent early 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
years marked by marches and demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
s that characterized the civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
in the U.S. South. Lingo's service under Alabama governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
with regard to the Selma to Montgomery marches
Selma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
has been characterized in a negative light, though Lingo himself disputed that characterization, stating that he was following orders as required by his oath of office
Oath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
. He resigned as director effective October 1, 1965, and later ran for election to be sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
; he died at age 59 on August 17, 1969.
Lingo has been portrayed by an actor Skipp Sudduth
Skipp Sudduth
Robert Lee Sudduth IV , generally known by his stage name Skipp Sudduth, is an American theater, film, and TV actor. Sudduth is perhaps best known for his role in the movie Ronin and his lead in the TV drama Third Watch....
in 1997 TV movie George Wallace
George Wallace (film)
George Wallace is a 1997 television film starring Gary Sinise as George Wallace, the former Governor of Alabama. It was directed by John Frankenheimer, who won an Emmy award for it; Sinise and Mare Winningham also won Emmies for their performances...
.