Birmingham City Commission

The Birmingham City Commission (or Birmingham Board of Commissioners) was the form of Birmingham's government from 1911 to 1963. The city moved from a Mayor-Aldermen system to a three-member commission at the time that Greater Birmingham was annexed into the City. The idea was that the municipal government should be run less like a small town and more like a business enterprise. The proposal was overwhelmingly favored by voters in a 1910 referendum, and was initiated by a new City Commission election in 1911

Presidents of the Commission, beginning with Culpepper Exum, who inherited the role as the sitting Mayor, are listed at Mayor of Birmingham. This listing includes the full commission for the years 1911 to 1963, when the present Mayor-Council Act was passed, providing for a nine-member City Council.

Commissions

• 1911-1913: Culpepper Exum, president, A. O. Lane, James Weatherly
• 1913-1915: George Ward, president, A. O. Lane, James Weatherly
• 1915-1917: George Ward, president, Arlie Barber, J. R. Hornady, J. D. Truss, James Weatherly
• 1917- November 7, 1921: Nathaniel A. Barrett, president, J. Ellis Brown, Henry Page Burrus, J. R. Hornady, John H. Taylor
• November 7, 1921 -1925: D. E. McLendon, president, W. B. Cloe, W. E. Dickson, Mary Echols, William E. Harrison
• 1925-1929: James M. Jones, Jr, president, W. E. Dickson, John H. Taylor
• 1929-1933: James M. Jones, Jr, president, W. E. Dickson, John H. Taylor
• 1933-1937: James M. Jones, Jr, president, W. O. Downs, Lewey Robinson
• 1937-1941: James M. Jones, Jr, president (unexpired term filled by Cooper Green at his death in 1940), Bull Connor, James W. Morgan
• 1941-1945: Cooper Green, president, Bull Connor, James W. Morgan
• 1945-1953: Cooper Green, president, Bull Connor, James W. Morgan
• 1953-1957: James W. Morgan, president, Robert Lindbergh, Wade Bradley (resigned, term completed by Jabo Waggoner)
• 1957-1961: James W. Morgan, president, Bull Connor, Jabo Waggoner
• 1961-1963: Art Hanes, president, Bull Connor, Jabo Waggoner

References

• Norton, Bertha Bendall (1970) Birmingham's First Magic Century: Were You There?. Birmingham: self-published/Lakeshore Press

Preceded by: Birmingham Board of Aldermen

Legislative Body for the City of Birmingham 1911 - 1963

Succeeded by: Birmingham City Council