Henry Sanders (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Sanders
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| Member of the Alabama Senate from the 23rd district |
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| In office 1983–2018 |
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| Succeeded by | Malika Sanders-Fortier |
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| Born | October 28, 1942 Baldwin County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Faya Ora Rose Touré |
| Children | 3, including Malika |
| Education | Talladega College (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Henry "Hank" Sanders (born October 28, 1942) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as a member of the Alabama Senate from 1983 to 2018. He is married to Faya Ora Rose Touré. Hank Sanders was a very important leader in the Alabama Senate. He was the longest-serving chairman of a budget committee in Alabama.
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Early Life and Education
Hank Sanders was born in Baldwin County, Alabama. He was the second of 13 children. His mother gave him the nickname "The Rock." This was because he was always solid, steady, and reliable. This nickname later became a slogan for his political campaigns.
He went to Douglasville High School. Then he attended Talladega College and Harvard Law School. After finishing his education, he started his own law firm. He was also the first African American State Senator from the Alabama Black Belt region.
When Hank was twelve, he read about Thurgood Marshall. Marshall was a famous lawyer and civil rights leader. Reading about him made Hank want to become a lawyer too. Hank did very well in school. He graduated near the top of his class in high school in 1960. He also did great in college in 1967. He even won an award for being the student who helped Talladega College the most.
He received special scholarships to study at other universities. He went to Boston University and Harvard Summer School. He attended Harvard Law School on a special scholarship for promising young men. While there, he led the Harvard Black Law Students Association. In 2008, Talladega College gave him an honorary degree.
Career Highlights
Helping People Through Law
After law school, Hank Sanders received special fellowships. These allowed him to work in Africa for a year. He also helped poor people in Huntsville, Alabama, through Legal Services.
In 1971, Hank started his own law firm. It was called Chestnut, Sanders, Sanders, and Pettaway, P.C. At one point, it was the largest Black law firm in Alabama. His law practice focused on helping people. He helped poor and Black people keep their land. He also worked to protect the rights of citizens. He helped new towns get started and build strong governments.
Hank was also very active in his community. He helped start or build many organizations. These include the Alabama New South Coalition. He also helped create the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement. He was involved with the Alabama Lawyers Association. He also helped establish The National Voting Rights Museum and Institute. He worked with groups like C.A.R.E. (Coalition of Alabamians Reforming Education). He also helped with the Slavery and Civil War Museum. In 2007, he received an award for his lifelong work. This award was from the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.
Serving in the Alabama Senate
Hank Sanders was first elected to the Alabama State Senate in 1983. He worked hard on many important issues. He supported better education for children. He also worked on health issues and women's rights. He even fought to remove sales tax from food.
He was the chairman of the powerful Finance and Taxation Education Committee. This committee handles money for education. He was named an Outstanding Legislator by the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus. His fellow senators also chose him as a finalist for Legislator of the Year. In 1999, he received a Nation Builder Award. This was from the National Caucus of Black State Legislators.
To keep people informed, Sanders wrote a weekly column. It was called "Senate Sketches." He also had three weekly radio programs. These programs taught about Sunday School, education, and law.
Author and Speaker
In 2004, Sanders wrote a novel called Death of a Fat Man. In this book, he shared his personal journey. He wrote about his struggles with obesity and health challenges. The book is written as short letters. They are from an older man to his young granddaughter. When he started writing, it was hard for him to walk. Even short distances were difficult. After the book, he had knee surgery in 2008. The surgery was successful. Now, he walks two miles every day.
Besides his novel, Hank Sanders is working on another book. It is called The Gift of Struggle. He also travels and speaks to many groups. He especially enjoys talking to young people.
Personal Life
Hank Sanders is married to Faya Ora Rose Touré. They have three children together. He is a member of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Selma. He also reviews Sunday School lessons there.
