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Former Governor Bill Allain, 1928-2013
Former Mississippi governor Bill Allain died December 2 in Jackson. He was 85.
William A. Allain was bom February 14, 1928, near Natchez in Washington, Mississippi. He graduated from Notre Dame University and in 1950 earned a law degree from the University of Mississippi. During the Korean War, Allain served three years in the United States Infantry, much of which was spent in combat zones in Korea. After his discharge in 1953, Allain practiced law in Natchez until 1962 when he was appointed assistant state attorney general.
In 1979 Allain was elected state attorney general. In that office, he brought a lawsuit that eventually prohibited members of the legislature from serving on executive boards and agencies. Allain built a strong reputation as a consumer advocate. Two of his most notable achievements were the prevention of a utility rate increase and the exclusion of Mississippi as a nuclear waste site.
In 1983 Allain was elected governor, carrying seventy-four of eighty-two counties. As governor, he continued his support for constitutional reform, appointing a 350-member commission to study the state’s 1890 Constitution. The commission drafted a new document, which Allain recommended for adoption. The Mississippi Legislature, however, took no action on
Governor Allain’s proposal.
The constitutional amendment restructuring the state board of education, which was part of the Education Reform Act of 1982, was implemented during Allain’s administration. That amendment provided for an appointed state superintendent of education and a nine-member state board of education.
A constitutional amendment allowing the governor to succeed himself was passed near the end of Governor Allain’s term, and he considered running for re-election but eventually decided not to seek a second term.
In 1985 Allain appointed current MDAH board member Reuben Anderson as the first African American to the Mississippi Supreme Court. “I spent my early career as a civil rights lawyer with what began as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Mississippi Office,” said Anderson.
“Bill Allain was the chief assistant attorney general for the state for civil rights matters, thus we were frequently on opposite sides in court. Although we were presenting differing viewpoints, I found him to be one of the most talented and professional persons I ever dealt with.
“After court, we would often have lunch or dinner together. He had quick wit and a great sense of humor, and we became friends. In 2002 Governor Allain and I were co-counsel to the State of Mississippi in its legislative redistricting efforts. We traveled together all over the state which he loved and knew so well. I learned so much from him and admired his integrity and his love for Mississippi and its people. His gubernatorial tenure was courageous and innovative. Our state owes him a great deal of gratitude for his service.”
MOUNDS TRAIL, continued from p. 1
accessible to the public. All the other sites will have interpretive signage at a nearby pull-off, but not all mounds will be visible from the road at all times of the year, and no other mounds will be open for the public to walk or climb on.
“Most of these mounds are privately owned,” said Pam Lieb, MDAH chief archaeologist. “This driving trail gives people the opportunity to experience this rich aspect of the region’s history in a systematic way that has not been possible up to now. They have been a secret treasure hiding in plain sight, in the case of each of these just a few yards from a public road.”
The highway department has
One of the Pocahontas mounds.
situated each pull-off to balance visibility of the mounds with absolute safety for the motorists. A driving tour brochure and smart
phone application will provide a map and additional information about the history of each site. “This project has given the
state the opportunity to conduct new research to help us better understand life in the area during the times these mounds were built,” said Lieb. “Just as important, the mounds trail has the additional benefit of helping the landowners preserve the earthworks as archaeologists have provided technical services.” Construction of the first pull-offs has begun, and the first signage is expected to be installed in the coming months. The Mississippi Mounds Trail is a joint project of MDAH, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Mississippi Lower Delta Partnership, and local American Indian tribes.