Elect John H Merrill - Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery University of Alabama

John with his college friends Joe Barganier and Greg Faulkner Joe, left, and Greg, center, enjoy a great time with John as they eat bar-b-qued chicken and corn on the cob at the “Welcome Back” picnic at the University’s Ferguson Center in the fall of 1984. Joe, a native of Mobile and a graduate of Davidson High School was president of the UA’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) as a freshman and sophomore. He was also a student senator in his sophomore year as well. Greg, a native of Birmingham, was president of the Baptist Student Union, now Baptist Campus Ministries. He was very active in many University organizations and honoraries. John is apparently enjoying his meal in his knee high socks and orange Mary Burke Bandits tee shirt. He was beginning his second year as a Resident Assistant (RA) at Burke East that fall.

University Portrait This photograph of John appeared in the University of Alabama’s student newspaper, The Crimson White dozens of times between 1984 and 1987 while John was actively involved in the Student Government Association.

John’s University of Alabama SGA Presidential campaign literature John’s time as a University of Alabama student was spent preparing for his life’s calling into public service. During his years at the University, John served in the Student Senate, was elected Vice President and later President of the Student Government Association, which marked him as the first person to ever hold those two positions in their college career at the Capstone. He was also the last independent (non-Greek) SGA President (1986), and the first SGA president in history to be married while serving. In addition, John spent two summers interning in Washington, D. C. working for Congressman Bill Nichols (D) in 1983 and Senator Howell Heflin (D) in 1984. John spent his summers, just like his semesters at the University, productively preparing for public service by meeting as many members of Congress as his time would allow. However, in the summers of 1985 and 1986, while he was serving as Vice-President and President of the SGA, John stayed on campus and worked as a helper in University Housing Maintenance.

John with his SGA Administration The 1986 Student Government Association election at the University of Alabama marked only the seventh time in the history of the organization that an independent, non-Greek “machine” backed candidate, was elected to the office of President. John defeated Buck Phillips in a run-off on February 4, 1986. John is pictured here as the University’s SGA President with Treasurer Lisa Durrett from Eutaw on John’s left and Vice President Chris Dorris from Birmingham on Lisa’s left. Jane Geiger, seated on John’s right, was one of John’s four Executive Assistants. She is now a Christian counselor in Birmingham. Michael Burt, from Florence, Alabama, on Jane’s right was a transfer student from the University of North Alabama and came to Tuscaloosa and went right to work with the SGA. Behind Michael on the second row is Rob Riley, one of John’s long-time friends. Rob and John became close when they attended Boy Scout camp together at Comer Scout Reservation in Mentone in 1977. Rob is from Ashland in Clay County, about twenty miles from Heflin, John’s hometown. John helped Rob get involved in SGA at the University and Rob followed John as SGA President in 1987. He is now an attorney in private practice in Birmingham, where he and his wife Leslie live with their four children. Rob’s dad is Alabama’s Governor Bob Riley. Down from Rob and behind Lisa is the younger brother John never had. Scott Sims is from Jasper in Walker County and managed John’s successful campaign for SGA President and then served as his Chief of Staff during his term. John has often said that he would not have been elected had it not been for Scott’s efforts. Scott lives in Birmingham and practices law with Sirote Permutt in Birmingham, where he and his wife Andi live with their four children. Next to Scott is John’s friend, Mobile native David Thomas. David is a University graduate and has served at Bishop State and as an elected member of the Mobile Public Schools Board of Education.