Elect John H Merrill - National Heros

Photo Gallery National Heroes

President George W. Bush

During Texas Governor George W. Bush’s campaign visit to Tuscaloosa in May of 2000, John met the future President during his stop at Randall Publishing Company on Rice Mine Road. Learn more about President Bush in his autobiography, A Charge to Keep.

Mike Huckabee

John helped coordinate a campaign visit to Tuscaloosa by Governor Mike Huckabee during the 2008 Presidential campaign. John greatly admires Huckabee’s commitment to integrity and truth. Although Huckabee did not win the Republican nomination for President, he has gone on to do great things including hosting the number one rated weekend hit “Huckabee” on Fox News Channel.

Rudy Giuliani

John also helped coordinate a Presidential campaign visit to Tuscaloosa by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. John greatly admired Giuliani’s response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and enjoyed spending time with him during his visit to Tuscaloosa. After the Presidential campaign, Giuliani returned to work at Giuliani Partners and Bracewell & Giuliani.

John McCain

John met Senator John McCain at Governor Riley’s Inaugural Breakfast at the Governor’s Mansion in 2007. John was honored to meet the Arizona Senator and future 2008 Republican Presidential nominee. John greatly admires Senator McCain’s stance on strengthening America’s national security and his dedication to this country.

Brit Hume

John served as the Chairman of the 2009 West Alabama Leadership Prayer Breakfast featuring Brit Hume, the former anchor of “Special Report” on Fox News. John was able to spend some time with Brit and admires his willingness to take a stand for Christ.

Joe Scarborough

John is pictured here with Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Joe served as the keynote speaker for the 2009 Lincoln-Reagan Dinner honoring Governor Bob Riley. He has also written two books, “Rome Wasn’t Burnt in a Day” and “The Last Best Hope.”

John and Joe’s friendship goes back to The University of Alabama where they met when John was a freshman in August of 1982. The two have remained good friends for more than 25 years. Joe was a member of the 1994 “Republican Revolution” class in the United States Congress, where he was elected to serve Florida’s First District for four consecutive terms. John appreciates Joe’s great sense of humor and admires Joe’s willingness to speak the truth regarding the political issues of today.

Tom Osborne

John is pictured here with former University of Nebraska head football coach and current Athletic Director, Tom Osborne. Coach Osborne was elected to Congress in 2000 and served six years in the United States House of Representatives. Coach Osborne served as the keynote speaker for the 2008 West Alabama Leadership Prayer Breakfast, which John coordinated.

John admires Coach Osborne’s consistency as a football coach and Athletic Director, Congressman, and man of God. He was honored to spend some time with him in 2008.

John and Congressman Phil Crane (R), IL

This photo was taken during John’s second congressional internship in Washington in the summer of 1984. Congressman Phil Crane (R) - IL, who was a presidential candidate in 1980, is an accomplished author and is recognized on the Hill as a scholar in the area of American history and tax reform.

Congressman Crane presented John with an autographed copy of his book, The Sum of Good Government in June of 1983. Some of his other works include The Democrats Dilemma, Surrender in Panama, and Liberal Clichés and Conservative Solutions.

To learn more about Congressman Crane and his career, click here.

John Merrill and A Real American Hero - John Glenn, Astronaut and United States Senator

John met John Glenn in Tuscaloosa on February 13, 1984, when he was campaigning for President. However, this picture was taken in Glenn’s Washington D. C. Office in the Hart Senate Office Building in July of 1984.

Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, in the Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962, was a U. S. Marine and one of NASA’s original Mercury Seven Astronauts. Glenn was a United States Senator (D) from Ohio, from 1975 until 1999.

Learn more about Senator Glenn in his autobiography, John Glenn: A Memoir or click here or here. Other works of note that feature the former senator include John Glenn: Astronaut, We Seven and Glenn.

Congressman Jack Kemp and John

Jack Kemp played 13 seasons as a quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. After he retired from his football career, he was elected as a representative to the Congress from New York and served 19 years until 1989 when he became the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for President George H. W. Bush.

A Presidential candidate himself in 1988, Kemp was also chosen as a running mate for Robert Dole’s presidential bid in 1996. Kemp also wrote the books An American Renaissance and Trusting the People with former Kansas Senator and GOP Presidential nominee Bob Dole.

Jack Kemp passed away on May 2, 2009 and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

President John F. Kennedy and Coach Paul William “Bear” Bryant

After the University of Alabama’s 1961 National Championship, President John Kennedy paid tribute to the team and Coach Paul William “Bear” Bryant at the McArthur Bowl Ceremony in Washington D. C. and offered them congratulations on the nation’s most successful football season.

John F. Kennedy is also one of John’s most admired leaders. For the way in which Kennedy reshaped, reinvigorated, and challenged our great nation and for the way he motivated young people to public service, our nation’s 35^th president will always be included in the top ten U.S. Presidents of all time.

While recuperating from back surgery in 1955, then Senator Kennedy wrote Profiles in Courage, which won him the Pulitzer Prize in 1956. To learn more about the life and legacy of President Kennedy, click here, or visit the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum website.

President Ronald Reagan

John had the privilege of seeing and hearing President Reagan in person twice. The first time was during his visit to the University of Alabama on October 15, 1984, and again two years later at the Montgomery Civic Center.

Reagan brought a great deal of pride back to our country and helped revolutionize the American political system. He is one of John’s most admired and inspirational leaders.

To learn more about President Reagan visit his website at www.ronaldreagan.com/ and his book Speaking My Mind.

John with Senator Strom Thurmond (R), SC

Senator Thurmond, the longest serving and oldest Senate member was the first person in history to be elected to a major United States office as a write-in candidate.

John had the privilege to meet him in 1981 when Senator Thurmond was the guest speaker at a leadership conference at Jacksonville State University. The former Democrat and Dixiecrat also authored the book The Faith We Have Not Kept and is a living legend in Washington D. C. This photo was taken in the summer of 1984 on the steps of the U. S. Senate.

For more information about Senator Thurmond visit his website by clicking here.