Andrews, Elizabeth Bullock, 1911-2002

Elizabeth Bullock Andrews (February 12, 1911 – December 2, 2002) was the first woman to represent Alabama in the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the wife of congressman George William Andrews.

Born Leslie Elizabeth Bullock in Geneva, Alabama, she attended public schools there before earning a B.S. in home economics from Montevallo College (now the University of Montevallo) in 1932. She went on to become a high school teacher at Livingston and Union Springs, Alabama for the better pay during the Depression. While teaching in Union Springs, she met George William Andrews, marrying him on November 25, 1936. After her husband's election to the U.S. House in 1944, Elizabeth relocated to Washington, DC, becoming active in the Congressional Club, made up of spouses of Members of Congress. Eventually, she served as vice president of the organization in 1971.

After her husband's death at the end of 1971, Elizabeth Andrews was encouraged to run for his seat to carry on his legacy. In part thanks to an endorsement from Alabama Governor George Wallace, the Alabama Democratic Executive Committee chose Andrews run for her husband's seat. With the Republican Party not fielding a candidate, Andrews easily won the election, seamlessly transitioning into the role after nearly three decades in Washington. She served on the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, occupying the same office space her husband had from 1950 to 1964. From her committee post, Congresswoman Andrews introduced several amendments to protect medical and Social Security benefits. She was not a candidate for re-election that November.

After leaving Congress, Andrews retired to Union Springs where she was active in civic affairs. She died in Birmingham, Alabama in 2002.