Bob Riley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bob Riley
Riley in 2005
52nd Governor of Alabama
In office January 20, 2003 – January 17, 2011
Lieutenant	Lucy Baxley Jim Folsom
Preceded by	Don Siegelman
Succeeded by	Robert Bentley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Glen Browder
Succeeded by	Mike Rogers
Personal details
Born	Robert Renfroe Riley (1944-10-03) October 3, 1944 (age 80) Ashland, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Patsy Adams ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	4
Education	University of Alabama (BA)

Robert Renfroe Riley (born October 3, 1944) is an American retired politician and businessman. He served as the 52nd governor of Alabama from 2003 to 2011. Before that, he was a U.S. representative for Alabama's 3rd congressional district from 1997 to 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early Life and Education

Bob Riley was born in Ashland, Alabama. This is a small town where his family had farmed and ranched for many generations. He went to the University of Alabama. There, he studied business administration. Before becoming a politician, Riley owned several businesses. He had a car dealership and a trucking company. He also worked as a cattleman and a real estate agent.

Serving in the U.S. House

Rep Bob Riley house portrait

Riley with President George W. Bush

Riley was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996. This was his first time running for an elected office. He won by a small number of votes. He became only the second Republican to represent Alabama's 3rd district since the Reconstruction period.

He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2000. He had set a rule for himself to serve only three terms. Because of this, he did not run for reelection in 2002.

Governor of Alabama

The 2002 Election

In 2002, Bob Riley ran for governor of Alabama. He won against the current Democratic governor, Don Siegelman. The election was very close, with Riley winning by about 3,000 votes. This was the closest governor's race in Alabama's history.

First Term as Governor

Public Opinion

During his first term, people's opinions about Governor Riley changed. In May 2005, his approval ratings were lower. But by September 2005, they had gone up a lot. This increase was likely because of how he handled Hurricane Katrina. By August 2006, most people approved of his work.

State Taxes and Changes

Early in his time as governor, Riley suggested a plan called "Amendment One." This plan aimed to change Alabama's tax system. It would have lowered income taxes for some people. It would also have raised taxes on other things, like property. The goal was to make the state budget more stable. It also included ideas for better schools and scholarships.

Many groups supported this plan, including business and education organizations. However, some groups, like the Alabama Farmers Federation, were against it. They worried that taxes would go up for many people. Voters rejected Amendment One on September 9, 2003. Even though it was rejected, Riley was recognized nationally for trying to fix the state's money problems. He was called a "courageous politician" by Time magazine.

Boosting the Economy

Governor Riley worked to bring new businesses and jobs to Alabama. Under his leadership, unemployment in Alabama dropped. In March 2006, it reached 3.3%. This was the lowest rate recorded in the state since 1976.

One big success was when ThyssenKrupp decided to build a large steel mill near Mobile, Alabama. This was a huge project for the state. It created 2,700 jobs. Alabama also received awards for its efforts in job creation and economic growth.

Responding to Hurricanes

In 2005, Alabama faced Hurricane Dennis and Hurricane Katrina. Governor Riley declared a state of emergency for Hurricane Katrina. He asked President George W. Bush for help for several counties in south Alabama.

Second Term as Governor

Economic Challenges

In April 2007, Alabama's unemployment rate was still low at 3.3%. However, during the global economic downturn, the unemployment rate in Alabama increased. By May 2009, it reached 9.8%. This was the highest unemployment rate for Alabama in 25 years at that time.

Despite these challenges, Alabama received awards for its workforce development programs. The state's tourism efforts also won national recognition.

Open Government

Governor Riley worked to make government more open. He shared information online about how state money was spent. He also posted records of state airplane flights.

Apology for Slavery

In 2007, Governor Riley signed a resolution. This resolution was passed by the state legislature. It apologized for slavery in Alabama's history.

Life After Being Governor

After leaving office in 2011, Bob Riley continued his personal life. He is married to Patsy Adams, and they have four children. One of their daughters, Jenice, passed away in 2001. They have several grandchildren.

In 2011, Riley was in a motorcycle accident in Alaska. He had serious injuries but recovered.

Images for kids

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  Riley in 2005

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  Rep Bob Riley house portrait

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  Riley with President George W. Bush

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  Governor Bob Riley with Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne in October 2007.