.. who served as the state's chief executive from 1974 to 1979 is today a state senator. In office since 2005. He was a state representative, House Speaker and Lieutenant Governor before becoming governor in 1974 to succeed Wendell Ford. Later won reelection as a Democrat.
WikipediaJust noted that by reading Wikipedia. I think it's always bizarre if somebody serves in an office lower than the previous one. Especially in this case (not like Jerry Brown, who was mayor and AG between his governorships). I always thought Lester Maddox was an outlier, who had to be lieutenant governor under Jimmy Carter because Georgia had a one-term term-limit in 1970. Jim Folsom of Alabama is another one came to my attention as he was the last statewide-elected Democrat in Alabama before Doug Jones (lt. gov 1987-93 and 2007-11; governor 1993-95).
