Ernest Rankin Fite (September 1, 1916 – November 6, 1980) was an

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

state legislator and attorney.

Biography

Fite was born in

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama. Named for Continental Army major general Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River on the Gulf Coastal Plain. The population was 2 ...

to Ernest Baxter and Minnie Watt Fite. His grandfather, Bloomer Rankin Fite, established a firm and practiced law in the Hamilton, Alabama area in the 1880s, with four of his sons, including Ernest Rankin's father. Ernest Baxter Fite also served in the

Alabama House of Representatives The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature (United States), state legislature of state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal number of districts, with ...

and

Alabama Senate The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, with each district con ...

for Marion County, Alabama. Fite graduated from the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...

with a LL.B degree in 1939 and joined his family firm after being admitted to the bar. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant for

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

where he went overseas to fly as a navigator. After the war, he returned to law practice in 1945. He was elected to the

in 1946 and served as a floor leader. He ran successfully for the House of Representatives in 1950 and served five consecutive terms there, serving as speaker on two occasions. While serving in the house and senate, Fite also served as bank director for the Bank of Hackleburg and president of the Marion County Banking Company. During his time in the house, he sought improvements to his hometown of Hamilton, revamping streets and sewer systems. On February 16, 1968, Fite, then Speaker of the House, placed the ceremonial first

9-1-1 911, sometimes written , is an emergency telephone number for Argentina, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, Maldives, Palau, Panama, Iraq, the Philippines, Sint Maarten, the United States, and Uruguay, as well as ...

call from the town of Haleyville at the invitation of the Alabama Telephone Company. The emergency system had been rushed into service by the Alabama Telephone Company in an effort to show the innovative prowess of the independent telephone industry. Fite's call was answered by then-Congressman Tom Bevill. He retired from politics in 1974 due to failing health, having suffered from

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...

prior to retiring. He died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

in 1980. He was married in 1941 to Ruby Alene Morris with whom he had one son, Ernest Adams. Upon his death in 1980, Fite was described as "one of the most masterful members of the state legislature". Former governor George C. Wallace commented that " oday wastruly a sad day, as we experience the loss of a man who in legislative circles had already become a legend".

References

1916 births 1980 deaths Members of the Alabama House of Representatives Alabama state senators Speakers of the Alabama House of Representatives 20th-century American lawyers People from Hamilton, Alabama 20th-century members of the Alabama Legislature {{Alabama-politician-stub