Stevens, Leroy, 1897-1972,

Leroy Stevens (1897-1972) was born in the Union Church community in south Mobile County. He began his long career with the county in 1913 at the age of 16, working as a laborer. He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming superintendent of roads in 1931. In 1942, he was elected to office for the first time, winning a seat on the Mobile County Board of Revenue and Road Commissioners (changed to Mobile County Commission in 1957). Stevens would serve seven consecutive terms on the commission, winning re-election every four years from 1946 to 1968. During this time, he also served as commission president from 1954 to 1969. There would be only one month during that 15-year period where he was not president, having been ousted in December 1957 due to a dispute over a new vehicle for the county sheriff. The issue was solved and he resumed his spot as chairman at the end of January 1958. He retired from service at the end of his last term in 1972. During his tenure, the county would build an extensive system of new roads, complete the bridge to Dauphin Island (1955), open Municipal Park (1957), construct a new county courthouse (1959), and build the new Mobile General Hospital (1966). Stevens decided not to seek re-election in February 1972, and died two months later from complications resulting from surgery for an abdominal aneurysm.