Zadoc L. Weatherford
Encyclopedia
Zadoc Lorenzo Weatherford (February 4, 1888 – May 21, 1983) was a U.S. Representative
from Alabama
for the Democratic Party
.
Born on a farm in Marion County, Alabama
, near Vina, Franklin County, Weatherford attended the public schools. He earned an M.D.
from the University of Tennessee at Memphis in 1914, and served as an intern at St. Joseph Hospital in Memphis from 1914 to 1916. He moved to Red Bay, Alabama
, in 1916 and began a general medical practice.
During World War I
, he served from August 26, 1917, as battalion surgeon in the Three Hundred and Twenty-sixth Infantry and was discharged on October 6, 1920. He was awarded a Purple Heart
. After leaving the army, he was subdistrict medical officer for the United States Veterans' Bureau in Montgomery, Alabama
from 1922 to 1924, and then resumed medical practice in Red Bay.
He was also interested in banking and agricultural pursuits, and held farming interests in both Alabama and Mississippi
. He became president of the Bank of Red Bay in 1938, a position he would hold until 1970.
Weatherford served as vice chairman of the Franklin County Democratic Committee from 1933 to 1937, and then in the Alabama State Senate from 1939 until his election to the U.S. Congress in 1940. He was elected to fill a vacancy caused by the death of William B. Bankhead
, and served out the last few months of Bankhead's term, from November 5, 1940, to January 3, 1941, but did not run for reelection to a full term. After leaving Congress, he resumed his medical profession and entered local politics, serving as mayor of Red Bay from 1945 to 1948. He retired from active medical practice on January 1, 1958, and died in Red Bay on May 21, 1983.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Born on a farm in Marion County, Alabama
Marion County, Alabama
Marion County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Marion County was created by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818. The county is located in the northwestern part of the state, bounded on the west by the state of Mississippi. It encompasses . Marion County...
, near Vina, Franklin County, Weatherford attended the public schools. He earned an M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Tennessee at Memphis in 1914, and served as an intern at St. Joseph Hospital in Memphis from 1914 to 1916. He moved to Red Bay, Alabama
Red Bay, Alabama
Red Bay is a city in Franklin County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,374.-Geography:Red Bay is located at .According to the U.S...
, in 1916 and began a general medical practice.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served from August 26, 1917, as battalion surgeon in the Three Hundred and Twenty-sixth Infantry and was discharged on October 6, 1920. He was awarded a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. After leaving the army, he was subdistrict medical officer for the United States Veterans' Bureau in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
from 1922 to 1924, and then resumed medical practice in Red Bay.
He was also interested in banking and agricultural pursuits, and held farming interests in both Alabama and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. He became president of the Bank of Red Bay in 1938, a position he would hold until 1970.
Weatherford served as vice chairman of the Franklin County Democratic Committee from 1933 to 1937, and then in the Alabama State Senate from 1939 until his election to the U.S. Congress in 1940. He was elected to fill a vacancy caused by the death of William B. Bankhead
William B. Bankhead
William Brockman Bankhead was an American politician from Alabama who served as U.S. Representative and Speaker of the House. He was a Democrat. Bankhead was a prominent supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal of pro-labor union legislation, thus clashing with most other southern...
, and served out the last few months of Bankhead's term, from November 5, 1940, to January 3, 1941, but did not run for reelection to a full term. After leaving Congress, he resumed his medical profession and entered local politics, serving as mayor of Red Bay from 1945 to 1948. He retired from active medical practice on January 1, 1958, and died in Red Bay on May 21, 1983.