Shorter Clyde Hudgens (1892-1963)

From the Montgomery Advertiser, June 9, 1923.

   Although 2019 is nearly at an end, there are still several states that haven't been featured here in quite some time. One term Alabama state senator Shorter Clyde Hudgens is the only political figure from the "Heart of Dixie" to have been profiled this year, and in addition to his service in state government had earlier distinguished himself as a fraternal organizer and high school principal. The son of William Greene and Lousia (Ellison) Hudgens, Shorter Clyde Hudgens was born in Luverne, Crenshaw County, Alabama on December 18, 1892.

  A student in schools local to Crenshaw County, Hudgens graduated from the Luverne High School and would enroll at the Male College at Meridian, Mississippi in 1913. After two years of study, Hudgens went on the road as a "lecturer and organizer" for the Woodmen of the World fraternal organization. For a year he traversed Georgia extolling the benefits of "Woodcraft and fraternalism", with the Montgomery Advertiser remarking that: 

"He accomplished a great deal toward the upbuilding of a better feeling among fraternal orders and his aggressive work gave the Woodmen of the World a greater standing in Georgia than they have ever had before."

  After returning to Alabama Hudgens entered into the insurance business in Crenshaw County, and put his business interests on hold in March 1918 when he enlisted for service during the First World War. Following a period of training at Camp Gordon in Atlanta he was transferred to Camp McClellan at Anniston, Alabama, where he remained until his discharge in March 1919, never having seen combat.
  Following his return from service Hudgens returned to his earlier insurance business in Luverne and turned his efforts towards education. By 1921 he had become principal of the Vernledge Public School in Crenshaw County, and in 1922 announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for state senator from the 25th district. Hoping to represent the counties of Crenshaw, Coffee, and Pike in the senate, Hudgens won the Democratic primary that August, defeating two other candidates and that November won the general election, polling  2,690 votes.

From the Elba Clipper, April 13, 1922.

   Taking his seat at the start of the 1923-27 senate term, Hudgens would chair the committees on Immigration and Industrial Resources, and held seats on the committees on Agriculture, Printing, and Public Roads and Highways. This term also saw Hudgens introduce one of the "most drastic school measures to be introduced in any state legislature", a compulsory bill: 

"Requiring all children between the ages of 8 and 16 years to either attend public schools or to pass an examination in subjects which would be equivalent to an education received in the public schools during that period."

  During his term, Hudgens retired from the insurance business and in 1924 was Alabama state manager for the Loyal Order of Moose fraternal organization. On October 21, 1925, Hudgens married Elizabeth Dowdell "Bessie" Warthen (1895-1999), to who he was wed until his death. The couple would remain childless. Little is known of Hudgens' life after he left the senate in 1927, excepting notice of his death at a Montgomery, Alabama hospital on May 19, 1963, at age 70. He was survived by his wife Bessie, who lived to become a centenarian, dying two months short of her 104th birthday in July 1999. Both were interred at the Rutledge Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Rutledge, Alabama.