Jim Folsom Jr documentary to premiere on Alabama Public Television in March

February 27, 2025 – JACKSONVILLE, AL – An advance screening of a documentary on the life of Alabama Governor Jim Folsom Jr. (D) was held. The documentary was produced by J Seth Johnson and Jacksonville State University's Longleaf Studios and will air on Alabama Public Television. Longleaf has also done documentaries on the Freedom Riders and the late Congressman Tom Bevil (D-AL04).

JSU President Don Killingsworth Jr. said that Folsom, "Championed policies to lifted up all Alabamians."

Folsom is a graduate of JSU and served over 20 years on it's Board of Trustees. A reception was hosted by JSU prior to the first-time screening of the documentary, followed by a roundtable discussion featuring Folsom, his wife Marsha, his former Chief of Staff Charlie Waldrep, and former state Representative Steve Flowers of Troy. Flowers is the most read political columnist in the state of Alabama. His columns are published in over 50 publications, including the Alabama Gazette.

Folsom was born in 1949 into the world of Alabama politics. His father, Jim Folsom Sr., was the Governor of Alabama from 1947 to 1951 and again from 1955 to 1959 (Prior to 1970 Alabama governors could not run for consecutive terms.

Folsom Sr. was a populist who is best remembered for paving the roads across Alabama in his farm-to-market roads policy. He also avoided the racial animosity that characterized that era.

Folsom Jr. had eight brothers and sisters so grew up with more limited means than one would expect from a former Governor's son. He married Marsha and then ran for the Public Service Commission (PSC) in 1978. Marsha was the Treasurer of the campaign.

As a member of the PSC, he ordered a cut in telephone rates for South Central Bell – this was before the federal court broke up the phone system.

At age 30 he challenged incumbent U.S. Senator Donald W. Stewart (D-Alabama) because, "I thought I could do a better job." Folsom beat Stewart in the Democratic primary; but was defeated by Vietnam War POW Jeremiah Denton (R) in the general election.

Folsom ran for Lieutenant Governor in 1986. He beat state S3enator John Teague in the Democratic primary runoff and then beat the Republican in the general election.

Folsom said that Lt. Gov was "Then an extremely powerful position. The Lt Governor made committee assignments and assigned bills to committee."

Folsom worked with the State Senators he presided over; but "There were quite a few who didn't want me there."

Folsom appointed chairmen from both parties. He did not shut out the Republicans. While Lt. Gov. the legislature passed tort reform to put Alabama on a better footing to lure investment. He was re-elected in 1990.

In 1993 incumbent Governor Guy Hunt (R) was on trial for misappropriation of funds and ethics violation. Folsom and his team did not believe that Guy Hunt would be convicted; but ultimately he was found guilty of a felony ethics violation.

"I really never thought that I would become Governor that way," said Folsom. "I planned to run in 1994."

Charlie Waldrep headed the transition.

Folsom made two decisions early on as Governor. The first was to sell the state plane and the second was to remove the Confederate flag off the state capital. Removing the Confederate battle flag was very controversial at the time.

Next Folsom had to pick a cabinet. Charlie Waldrep and Peck Fox vetted the candidates and presented the Governor with at least two picks per cabinet spot. The Governor then chose who he wanted. It was the most diverse cabinet in the history of Alabama. He made the Director of Minority Affairs a cabinet position.

Because of the way that Gov. Hunt was ousted his opponents filed ethics complaints weekly. The Folsoms were even accused of not paying for their home.

"I did not expect the attacks – personal and family – I was not prepared for that," said Marsha Folsom.

The Folsom administration focused on education reform and economic development.

The Alabama Development Office was the principal economic recruiter at that time.

The Alabama Power Corporation CEO Elmer Harris recommended Billy Joe Camp – then the Secretary of State to be the chief economic recruiter. He resigned as Secretary of State to accept the new position.

Camp was then informed by his predecessor with the Hunt Administration of a Project Rosewood – that turned out to be an invitation for bids from Mercedes Benz. They were looking to site somewhere in the 48 states or Canada.

"We have a long shot chance but Governor we do have a chance." Camp told Folsom.

Mercedes had never built a sports utility vehicle before but that is what they were going to build in the U.S. since that appeals to the American market. Folsom went for it; but the incentive package that it took ultimately to win the project was $253 million. That was a staggering amount for the time and his 1994 gubernatorial opponent former Governor Fob James (R) attacked Folsom for it on the campaign trail and ultimately prevailed.

Folsom would be again elected Lt. Gov. in 2006; but was defeated by then state Treasurer Kay Ivey in 2010.

Steve Flowers served 20 years in the Alabama House of Representatives and we Folsom's floor leader in the House where he fought for the incentives package.

"We were accused of stealing that (Mercedes)," Flowers said on the panel. "We did, and we're laughing all the way to the bank."

Honda and Hyundai later also located in Alabama.

"The only reason they came here was because of Mercedes," Flowers said. "

Waldrep praised Marsha Folsom and her role as First Lady.

"When Jim Folsom became governor it was really a two fer for the State of Alabama," said Waldrep. "Marsha took the time to go all over the state for listening sessions. We had never had that before, and we really haven't had that since."

Waldrep said that addressing the mansion was one of the first things they had to do.

"They (the Hunts had planted collard greens in the flower beds and "There was pond scum in the pool that his father had built. Marsha planted roses. Mac Robertson found the money to pave the parking lot and fix up the mansion."

"It looked like an Emmy even though I am in it," Folsom said of the documentary.

"Our children were very young; but we were careful not to use our children as political

The documentary will air on APT on March 27.

The documentary will also be shown next week at a special showing at the Hoover Library on Thursday, March 06 from 6:30pm - 9:00pm in the Library Theatre. There will be a reception preceding and following the event.

https://events.hooverlibrary.org/event/12741578

Longleaf Studios is also doing a documentary on First Ladies Marsha Folsom and Patsie Riley that will be released later this year.