George Corley Wallace

Wallace, George Corley (1919–98), U.S. political leader, governor of Alabama (1963–67, 1971–79, 1983–86). Wallace, a segregationist, achieved notoriety in 1963 with his unsuccessful attempt to prevent racial integration at the University of Alabama. He ran for president 3 times, and in 1972 was shot and paralyzed in an attempted assassination while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. Unable by Alabama law to succeed himself as governor, he had his wife, Lurleen, run for office to replace him (she won the election). He won the 1982 gubernatorial election with black support, and retired in 1986.