William Jelks Cabaniss, Jr., a former Alabama GOP legislator who later served as a U.S. ambassador for President George W. Bush, has died. He was 86.
"His life was based on love of family, community and country, and he lived it with honor and dignity every step of the way,” an obituary read.
Over the course of his long career in politics, Cabaniss helped turn Alabama Republicans into a political force and became good friends with the Bushes.
Born on July 11, 1938, Cabaniss graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and served in the Army as an Airborne Ranger for three years' active duty in Germany. He received the Army Commendation Medal in 1964.
Returning home to Alabama after his service, he started a family with his wife, Catherine, and started a successful steel plate processing and metal machining company, Precision Grinding, Inc, before launching his career in politics.
He won election to the Alabama House in 1978 as a Republican, at a time when Alabama was still solidly Democratic. In 1982, he won a seat in the state Senate, where he served until 1990.
During this time, he helped build Republicans into the state's majority party for the first time since Reconstruction. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1990 and lost to Democrat Howell Heflin; then-president George H.W. Bush came to Birmingham to campaign for Cabaniss at the time. Heflin would become the last Democrat to win and serve a full U.S. Senate term from the state.
From 2004 to 2006, Cabaniss was President George W. Bush's ambassador to the Czech Republic. Cabaniss and his wife Catherine became good friends of the Bush family.
“Their legacy will live forever really. This country was very lucky to have them,” Bill said after the deaths of George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara in 2018. “And people like us were very lucky to have them as friends.”
Cabaniss was predeceased by his son, William Jelks Cabaniss, III, his sister, Joan Cabaniss Harrison, and his wife of 58 years, Catherine Caldwell Cabaniss. He is survived by his two daughters, Mary Cabaniss Ballard and Frances Cabaniss Johnson (Kenny), his sister, Florence Cabaniss Parnegg, his five grandchildren, and his fiancé Linda Parker Johnson.
“Bill loved tennis, golf (especially with long-time friends) and supporting Catherine, a talented artist, in her artistic endeavors,” reads his obituary.
"Bill has left behind a legacy of a life well lived. He gave back more than he was given and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.”
