Walter C. Givhan

Walter Coats Givhan (May 7, 1902 – February 18, 1976) was an American politician. An unrepentant white supremacist, he served in both houses of the Alabama Legislature, where he was a strong proponent of racial segregation.^[1] He was a Democrat and a Methodist.^[2]

Walter C. Givhan
Member of the Alabama Senate
In office November 3, 1954 – February 18, 1976
Succeeded by	Earl Goodwin
Constituency	30th (1954–1966) 14th (1966–1974) 29th (1974–1976)
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from Dallas County
In office November 4, 1942 – November 3, 1954
Preceded by	James A. Hare Jr.
Succeeded by	Val Hain
In office November 5, 1930 – November 7, 1934
Preceded by	Clifton Kirkpatrick
Succeeded by	Reuben F. Hamner
Personal details
Born	Walter Coats Givhan (1902-05-07)May 7, 1902 Perry, Alabama, U.S.
Died	February 18, 1976(1976-02-18) (aged 73) Safford, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Audrey Cheatham ​ (m. 1932)​ Geneva Yelverton ​ (m. 1960)​
Education	North Georgia College (BS)

He was a member of the state sponsored Alabama State Sovereignty Commission, a state government organization created to fight the federal government mandated integration in schools after Brown v. Board of Education (1954).^[3]

Electoral history

Alabama Senate election results (1954–1976)

Election	Winner			Runners-up
District 29 (1973–1973)
1974 gen	Walter C. Givhan (D)	15,070	69.90%	Amelia B. Robinson (NDPA)	6,483	30.07%	Haywood F. Stokes (WI)	7	0.03%
1974 prim	Walter C. Givhan (D)	16,988	57.83	J. L. Chestnut (D)	12,390	42.17%	—
District 14 (1965–1973)
1970 gen	Walter C. Givhan (D)	Unk.	100.00%	—			—
1970 prim ro	Walter C. Givhan (D)	14,560	65.56%	L. L. Anderson (D)	7,650	34.44%	—
1970 prim	Walter C. Givhan (D)	6,865	44.22%	L. L. Anderson (D)	4,820	31.05%	Carl C. Morgan (D)	3,839	24.73%
1966 gen	Walter C. Givhan (D)	18,847	100.00%	—			—
1966 prim	Walter C. Givhan (D)	16,534	69.17%	Dave Ellwanger (D)	7,371	30.83%	—
District 30 (1901–1965)
1962 gen	Walter C. Givhan (D)	4,599	100.00%	—			—
1962 sp prim	Walter C. Givhan (D)	Unopp.		—			—
1962 prim	Walter C. Givhan (D)	Unopp.		—			—
1958 gen	Walter C. Givhan (D)	2,353	100.00%	—			—
1958 prim	Walter C. Givhan (D)	Unopp.		—			—
1954 gen[4]	Walter C. Givhan (D)	3,918	100.00%	—			—
1954 prim	Walter C. Givhan (D)	Unopp.		—			—

Alabama House of Representatives election results (1942–1950)

Election	Winner
Dallas County, place 3
1950 gen[5]	Walter C. Givhan (D)	1,860	100.00%
1950 prim[6]	Walter C. Givhan (D)	Unopp.
1946 gen[7]	Walter C. Givhan (D)	1,989	100.00%
1946 prim[8]	Walter C. Givhan (D)	3,727	100.00%
1942 gen[9]	Walter C. Givhan (D)	777	100.00%
1942 prim[10]	Walter C. Givhan (D)	3,315	100.00%

Alabama House of Representatives election results (1930)

Election	Candidate	Party		Votes	Pct.	Place
1930 gen	Walter C. Givhan		Democratic	?	?	Elected ? of 3
1930 prim[11]	Walter C. Givhan		Democratic	1,912	20.81%	Nominated 2nd of 6