George Wallace
Though Governor George Wallace was popular among white conservatives for his staunch opposition to desegregation, Alabama term limits blocked him from seeking a consecutive term. So Wallace had his wife, Lurleen, run for election instead. She won, but served less than two years; Lurleen Wallace died of cancer while in office. Her husband was re-elected governor in 1970, but an assassination attempt during his 1972 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination left him paralyzed from the waist down and forced a brief leave of absence. Wallace didn't win the presidential nomination, but he did easily win re-election to the governorship in 1974 (the laws restricting two consecutive terms were changed in 1968). After four years out of office — and an unsuccessful fourth bid for the presidency — Wallace renounced his "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!" stance and sought reconciliation with civil rights leaders. He was again elected to the governorship in 1982, this time garnering substantial support from black voters.