In the News
Lawmakers mourn Senator Pat Lindsey
January 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009By GEORGE R. ALTMAN - Mobile Press-Register
Capital Bureau
MONTGOMERY -- Lawmakers from southwest Alabama and across the state grieved the death of Sen. Pat Lindsey on Monday, as plans for the Butler Democrat's funeral were released.
Lindsey, 72, a seven-term senator and Montgomery fixture, was found dead in his bed Sunday morning while on a hunting trip with friends and fellow politicians, including state Sen. Roger Bedford, D- Russellville, and Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. Bedford began a state budget hearing Monday by recounting Lindsey's happy last hours.
The group went hunting for squirrels and deer Saturday, he said, then had a steak dinner together and watched football.
"I can tell you, it's been a long time since I laughed that hard and enjoyed a conversation as much," Bedford said as he fought tears. "We all turned in and went to bed, and Pat went to sleep and woke up in heaven."
Bedford later announced that a budget hearing planned for Wednesday would be rescheduled so lawmakers could attend Lindsey's funeral.
Visitation is scheduled for 5:30 to 8 tonight at Bumpers Funeral Home in Butler. The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church of Butler, with burial in Butler City Cemetery.
Lindsey is survived by his sister, Kay Kimbrough; two children, Patrick Lindsey and Lori Champion; and two grandchildren.
Randy Davis, R-Daphne, said that despite their different party affiliations, Lindsey was never adversarial and even mentored Davis in his first years as a lawmaker.
"He was just a go-to kind of senator for me," Davis said. "His experience was just invaluable."
Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem, D-Union Grove, said Lindsey had a reputation as a "walking encyclopedia" of state law and was kind and had a great sense of humor.
"If Pat Lindsey was your friend, you had a friend for life," Mitchem said.
U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, said in a statement that Lindsey's friendship was valued by many in the state.
"His courtly Southern manners did not prevent him from being a fierce advocate for the causes he cared about most," the statement read, adding that Lindsey discussed his plans for the upcoming legislative session during their last conversation.
"God had other plans, but politics and public service will miss Pat Lindsey," the congressman said.