Terry Everett was a Republican who represented southeast Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2009.
- Died: March 12, 2024 (Who else died on March 12?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Rehobeth, Alabama, in his sleep at the age of 87.
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Terry Everett’s legacy
Before beginning his political career, Everett served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1959, an intelligence analyst with the Air Force Security Service. After returning to civilian life, he became a journalist, first as a reporter and then as editor and publisher of the Graceville News and the Hartford News Herald. Everett remained in journalism for decades, launching other daily and weekly newspapers such as the Daily Ledger and the Army Flier, and founding the Gulf Coast Media group.
His work as a publisher made him a prominent local businessman, and Everett entered political life in 1992 when he first ran for office in an area that had been represented by Rep. Bill Dickinson since 1964. Everett pulled off a surprise upset in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election by a narrow margin, taking office in 1993.
In office, Everett became known for his strongly conservative views and for his work on behalf of small businessmen, farmers, and veterans and active-duty military back home in Alabama. He chaired the Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and he was the ranking member of the Strategic Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. He was honored in 1998 by House Republican leadership with the Excellence in Programmatic Oversight Award. Everett was reelected seven times, serving through his 2009 retirement.
After retirement, Everett farmed fruit trees and did woodworking. Troy University’s Dothan Campus houses the R. Terry Everett Hall, which hosts the Everett Congressional Library.
Tributes to Terry Everett
Full obituary: AL.com
