As the legislative session evolves, I find myself missing my old friend Mac McArthur around the Statehouse. We would visit in the halls and sometimes sit together in the gallery. He would be busier than a one-armed paper hanger as he was always having to work on legislative matters for the state employees. We would reserve our long hours of talking politics for lengthy phone conversations in between legislative sessions. We both very much enjoy our political discussions. Mac knows Alabama politics and our political history as well as anyone and was a part of it for a long time.

Mac McArthur was born and raised in Ashford in Houston County. His McArthur ancestors were some of the first settlers of that Wiregrass County. About half the folks in Ashford were named McArthur or were kin to them when Mac was growing up. Bill Baxley was Mac’s mentor and idol in politics. Baxley’s relatives were also some of the first settlers of Houston County. His people lived in Dothan. Bill and Mac are actually cousins.

Bill grew up watching court in Dothan as his daddy, Judge Kenner Baxley, presided over his Houston County courtroom. Bill was a two-term Attorney General who blazed an unprecedented civil rights trail that is unparalleled. He was the most renowned, progressive Attorney General in Alabama history. Baxley’s prosecution of the “Kluxers,” who bombed Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church and killed four little girls on one of the most tragic and horrific Sunday mornings in Alabama history, will be featured in an upcoming Alabama Public Television documentary. He was also the youngest person ever elected attorney general in Alabama and holds the record for being the youngest Attorney General ever elected in the country. He was elected as the state’s top lawyer at age 28. Baxley is now 83 and still practices law in Birmingham.

Mac Began his career being Baxley’s chief of staff when Bill was Lt. Governor from 1982 to 1986. Mac has been more like a brother to me than a friend. His daddy, Gene McArthur, and my great uncle, Maurice Miller, were best friends and more like brothers. Alabama is just one big front porch.

My friend Mac McArthur retired as executive director of the Alabama State Employees Association late last year after 26 years leading the organization. He not only ran the organization, he was their lobbyist. In his last six years, he accomplished something no other ASEA Director accomplished or probably ever will – getting five cost of living raises in the last six years. Mac fought many a battle for state employees over the years and won most.

Let me tell you, the legislative wars are a real battlefield. Legislative politics is a messy business and not for the faint of heart. Mac McArthur is diplomatic and disarming with his country charm, but Mac McArthur is not faint-hearted. Prior to becoming head of ASEA, Mac was an Assistant District Attorney and was Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission.

Mac is retiring at a young age. He is only 66. He and his wife, Cheryl, have moved to a home on Logan Martin Lake, near Pell City, to be near their daughter and two grandchildren. They have taken to their new home like a duck to water, probably because they are constantly around the grandkids.

We still have our hour-long political talks by phone, and probably always will. Mac’s protégé, Cameron Espy, has taken Mac’s job as Executive Director of the Alabama State Employees Association. It seems like yesterday Mac hired young Cameron to be his Public Relations Director. However, it was 22 years ago that Cameron began handling marketing, public relations, and events for ASEA. She became Assistant Director and Mac’s Chief Lieutenant several years ago. It was a natural transition for her to replace Mac. He will be hard to replace.

Steve Flowers served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.