Scatter Brained

LESTER MADDOX (1915–2003)
Overshadowed by:
 George “Segregation Today, Segregation 
Tomorrow, Segregation Forever” Wallace

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The Story:
 Maddox was elected governor of Georgia in 1966 
pretty much entirely because he defi ed the Civil Rights Act by 
refusing to serve African Americans at his Pickrick Restaurant. 
He eventually sold the Pickrick so that he wouldn’t have to inte-
grate it. Yet Maddox turned out to be a moderate (or as close to 
a moderate as Georgia had in those days). He appointed more 
blacks to state jobs than any of his predecessors, for instance. 
Strangest of all, Maddox took up comedy after his political ca-
reer ended. His stand-up partner? An African American pris-
oner Maddox had pardoned during his governorship.