Who was Shorty Price?

[KarmaQ]

I asked in the picture thread and no one answered. I have heard the name before and a lot of you seem to know who he is but I haven't the foggiest.

Ralph "Shorty" Price was my grandfather. My grandmother, Delores (Price) Casey, was his third wife who was married to him when he died in a car accident. Actually, he died on the way back from Birmingham where he had come back from taking a deposition about being beaten by a few police officers at a football game. There's been speculation, but no proof, that he had been ran off the road because with his lawsuit, many heads were going to roll. The dent is still there on the bridge where he died and we always stop on the way every time we go see a game or visit family in Tuscaloosa. He was a man that wasn't afraid to "tell it like it is" and believed that no person is too good to hear truth from anyone just because they don't agree and just because of their status. He wrote 2 books about his life and Alabama politics. He did run for Governor many times, and ran for President once. His main concern was that George Wallace was a liar and a cheat and stated many reason why over his career. One of the personal reasons was that Wallace was one of his room mates in college and helped him over the years to get where he was and then when Wallace became successful, he acted as if he didn't know who the hell he was. He thought that if someone could do that to a friend, imagine what they could do to strangers...tax payers... etc. Grandpa Shorty wasn't taken seriously because above all else, he loved to make people laugh, so many of his jokes made him appear to be insincere about his intentions, when in reality he joked about politicians because what else could you do when they can be so ridiculous? He had a way of taking a serious issue and putting a wacky spin on it so that it would keep attention where it belonged since many people like to put negative matters out of site out of mind, especially back then. He once stated that if he was elected to office, he'd change the term from 4 years to 2 because if you are smart enough to make it to office then you should be smart enough to embezzle all you need for the rest of your life in a 2 year term. Of course he was misquoted many times while the humor was dropped from the quote and made to sound as if he was the one wanting to steal when he was a very honest man. He was drunk a lot toward the end, but above anything, honest. He was the type of person to stand up for the the lowliest underdog if it meant upholding truth and he would do it regardless of how it would make him look. Many of those that opposed him were against African Americans having the right to vote and he remembered every move they made against them, then made sure he pointed out how the politicians changed their tune as soon as they could vote. I fully believed he was born during the wrong era. If anyone would like more information about him they can contact me at karma@karmictreasures.com. If I can't answer your questions, my grandmother definitely can because she was right by his side through everything. She even beat Lurleen Wallace to sign up as the first female candidate for governor. Unfortunately at the time she was too young and was dropped from the ticket eventually when they found out her age. Also, if anyone wants one of his books you can contact me at that same e-mail address. Thanks, Jacquelyn aka Karma

 

[Tallytide1]

I met Shorty Price in a bar in the 5 points section of B'ham one Saturday night after a Bama game in the 70's. For a beer and a couple of dollars he would give you a signed Shorty Price painters BAMA hat. I believe I still have that hat around here somewhere.
He took about 10-15 minutes with me and a friend, while drinking his beer, and we talked BAMA football and Alabama politics and he asked us to support him in the next gov. election.
Shorty was a real charter and had everyone's attention and had everyone laughing.

 

[bama61]

a bit of vintage Shorty for those who are still wondering....

Shorty talks politics...

 

[bamanut_aj]

Ralph "Shorty" Price was my grandfather. My grandmother, Delores (Price) Casey, was his third wife who was married to him when he died in a car accident. Actually, he died on the way back from Birmingham where he had come back from taking a deposition about being beaten by a few police officers at a football game. There's been speculation, but no proof, that he had been ran off the road because with his lawsuit, many heads were going to roll. The dent is still there on the bridge where he died and we always stop on the way every time we go see a game or visit family in Tuscaloosa. He was a man that wasn't afraid to "tell it like it is" and believed that no person is too good to hear truth from anyone just because they don't agree and just because of their status. He wrote 2 books about his life and Alabama politics. He did run for Governor many times, and ran for President once. His main concern was that George Wallace was a liar and a cheat and stated many reason why over his career. One of the personal reasons was that Wallace was one of his room mates in college and helped him over the years to get where he was and then when Wallace became successful, he acted as if he didn't know who the hell he was. He thought that if someone could do that to a friend, imagine what they could do to strangers...tax payers... etc. Grandpa Shorty wasn't taken seriously because above all else, he loved to make people laugh, so many of his jokes made him appear to be insincere about his intentions, when in reality he joked about politicians because what else could you do when they can be so ridiculous? He had a way of taking a serious issue and putting a wacky spin on it so that it would keep attention where it belonged since many people like to put negative matters out of site out of mind, especially back then. He once stated that if he was elected to office, he'd change the term from 4 years to 2 because if you are smart enough to make it to office then you should be smart enough to embezzle all you need for the rest of your life in a 2 year term. Of course he was misquoted many times while the humor was dropped from the quote and made to sound as if he was the one wanting to steal when he was a very honest man. He was drunk a lot toward the end, but above anything, honest. He was the type of person to stand up for the the lowliest underdog if it meant upholding truth and he would do it regardless of how it would make him look. Many of those that opposed him were against African Americans having the right to vote and he remembered every move they made against them, then made sure he pointed out how the politicians changed their tune as soon as they could vote. I fully believed he was born during the wrong era. If anyone would like more information about him they can contact me at karma@karmictreasures.com. If I can't answer your questions, my grandmother definitely can because she was right by his side through everything. She even beat Lurleen Wallace to sign up as the first female candidate for governor. Unfortunately at the time she was too young and was dropped from the ticket eventually when they found out her age. Also, if anyone wants one of his books you can contact me at that same e-mail address. Thanks, Jacquelyn aka Karma

thank yoiu

 

[PattheCatinSaudi]

When I was in school back in the 70's, I remember him riding the Law School float in the Homecoming parade, wearing a top hat and tails. And many, many times leading cheers in Denny Stadium.

 

[bamachile]

He actually goes all the way back into the 50s. He was always drunk as a lord at games, and always in morning attire, hat and all. He would hop up in front and lead cheers. That was before he became the perennial candidate...

<chuckle> Now you've done it. Now you'll have to explain morning attire.

p.s. - I haven't heard 'drunk as a lord' in quite a while, either.

 

[We_are_Bama]

Didn't he once play for Georgia?

 

[Elefantman]

My dad had the honor the have a drink with Shorty when he was a student at Alabama and I did as well. My favorite Shorty memory was his trial in Birmingham after being arrested for public drunkenness at the Tennessee game 1979. Shorty's testimony about how his pants accidentally fell off due to his exuberant cheer leading is priceless. If some one knows how to get a transcript of that trail, I would love to have a copy.

 

[Luvubama]

He actually goes all the way back into the 50s. He was always drunk as a lord at games, and always in morning attire, hat and all. He would hop up in front and lead cheers. That was before he became the perennial candidate...

This is the Shorty I remember. As a kid in the 60's we'd always see him drunk as could be carrying the poll with the flag all of our conquests for that year. What was that poll called? Lordy, i'm getting old.

I just remembered...the "Meat Pole"

 

[dave12]

Younger fans missed those games at Legion Field when Shorty Price would parade up and down the Bama side of the stadium waving his hat to applause from the crowd.

I remember he was arrested for climbing the goal post during the '63 Iron Bowl. That was funny.............LOL But yeah, he was something to watch.


RTR:BigA:

 

[banjeaux]

 

[JPT4Bama]

Thanks for all the Shorty memories and... is that Miss Patti Rawlinson on Shorty's left?? :biggrin2: That looks to be early '70's. Lord In should know!

If any of you, (and I'm sure there are a few) have the incredible Jay Higgenbothem comedy album from the '60's titled "Bear" you may remember Shorty being interviewed regarding his recent run for office. He is introduced as "Shorty Price the Perennial Candidate" and when asked his plans if not elected he replies next time he'll run for "Lieutenant Perennial"!

Anyway when I was a young boy I thought this was really Coach Bryant on the album. There were skits about the Pope-(Zeigler's Meats) Joe Namath coming back some years after leaving for the Jets, playing the first game down in auburn where they take their microphones down to "the Auburn University Hot Dog Stand and you hear in the background hot dogs being auctioned, etc. Great though extremely dated comedy!

 

[JohnnyCache]

I was reading some of this and for some reason it reminded me of the old Country Boy Eddie Show. Shorty seems like someone who might have appeared on that show. I wonder if he ever did.

 

[Lost in TN]

I was reading some of this and for some reason it reminded me of the old Country Boy Eddie Show. Shorty seems like someone who might have appeared on that show. I wonder if he ever did.

:BigA:Howdy neighbor.....I will never forget that tag line. My parents used to watch that show. Ironically I never minded Hee Haw, maybe Misty Rowe made it tolerable.:BigA:

 

[dWarriors88]

<chuckle> Now you've done it. Now you'll have to explain morning attire.

p.s. - I've never heard 'drunk as a lord' either.

Heh. Seriously though, the long post that's Like, ehhh a page and three posts above me (?), perfect example of who may be lurking out there. Reading all of our comments. She obviously signed up just to say all that. It's pretty cool, if legit.

Seriously though, this guy sounds like a riot, who can you compare him too in this day and age?

 

[BillDee]

Wow, thanks for the memories. When I saw the name "Shorty Price", I knew I had heard it before, but just couldn't place it. Now I remember the guy. It seems that everyone in AL knew who Shorty was.

I can't think of anyone who would be comparable today.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

The girl on Shorty's left looks sure like Sela Ward, she's the one in the middle in this 1976 photo.

Bama was riding high those days, Shorty would have loved seeing the Tide back like it is.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

<chuckle> Now you've done it. Now you'll have to explain morning attire.

It's worth noting that morning attire is different from mourning attire, although one does wear a mourning coat to be properly dressed in morning attire.

And if you plan to dress for mourning in the morning, all bets are off.

 

[PattheCatinSaudi]

The girl on Shorty's left looks sure like Sela Ward, she's the one in the middle in this 1976 photo.

Bama was riding high those days, Shorty would have loved seeing the Tide back like it is.

That's not Sela, it's definately Patti.

 

[JPT4Bama]

Thanks Pat! I thought that was Patti. :BigA: