Baldwin County Historical Society to Meet July 18

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The Baldwin County Historical Society quarterly meeting is scheduled for Sunday, July 18, at 2 p.m., at the Loxley Town Hall.

Former Congressman Jo Bonner is on the calendar to speak. He will give personal insight into the life of the late Sonny Callahan, former congressman from District One. Rarely seen photographs will be shown and Bonner will share his impression of the qualities that enabled Congressman Callahan to accomplish so much for our area, the United States, and the world.

Before being elected to the first six terms in the U.S. Congress in November of 2002, Jo Bonner served as press secretary and later chief of staff to Callahan. After he left Congress, Bonner served as vice chancellor for government relations and economic development for The University of Alabama system. Bonner is currently serving as chief of staff to Governor Kay Ivey.

H.L. “Sonny” Callahan served in elected office for 30 years, first in the Alabama legislature and then as the U.S. House of Representative for District One. Bonner was the Eulogist for the Funeral Mass of Sonny Callahan on June 29, 2021, at St. Joseph Chapel on the Spring Hill College Campus. Bonner shared humorous and meaningful anecdotes that presented snapshots of the statesman. He announced that Callahan is the subject of the book “Callahan Connections: Bridging the Congressional Divide”, recently published, and capsuled the content of the book.

Judge Tim Russell, one of the four sponsors of the book, will introduce Bonner, and share some of the many accomplishments that Callahan achieved in our area. Callahan’s position in Congress enabled many projects that have improved the quality of life in Baldwin County, among them are the Sonny Callahan Airport in Fairhope, the Baldwin Beach Express, and the preservation of the USS Alabama.

The Historical Society was formed in 1923 to preserve interest in the county history. The society meets quarterly for programs of local interest. Co-presidents are Harriet and Perry Outlaw. For more information email bchsociety1923@yahoo.com.