It's time for our first America 250 Alabama Commissioner Spotlight - Senator Arthur Orr!

Since his election to the Alabama Senate, Sen. Arthur Orr has sponsored and his colleagues have passed legislation to address the high school student drop-out rate, put the State’s checkbook online, improve campaign finance reporting, remove racist language from the state constitution, and scores of other laws to improve the state of Alabama. He was instrumental in the formation and development of the Robotics Technology Park, The Alabama Center for the Arts and the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering. Sen. Orr had a distinguished academic record at Wake Forest University, University of Alabama School of Law and, more recently, Austin Peay University. After graduation from law school, while his classmates pursued legal careers, Arthur joined the U.S. Peace Corps. He was assigned to a remote Himalayan village in Nepal, where he lived primitively with no indoor plumbing and dirt floors, and conducted teacher trainings throughout the region. After completing his Peace Corps commitment, he returned to Decatur and practiced law. Although Arthur was a partner in a law firm and active in his community, he felt led to return overseas to do what he could to help the poor in the developing world. He was hired by Habitat for Humanity International and was assigned to establish a new Habitat program in Bangladesh. To date, that program has constructed more than 2000 houses. He presently serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee as well as Chairman of the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering and Athens State University Boards of Trustees. Since his election, he has received numerous national, state and local awards and recognitions.America250 Alabama is stronger because of dedicated commissioners working to preserve and share our nation’s story. Thank you Sen. Orr for your leadership, commitment, and impact as we approach America's 250th Birthday! #america250 #america250al #americanvillage #Alabama #americanhistory #Semiquincentennial #HistoryNerd #historyforyoungpeple #americanvillage_alabama ... See MoreSee Less

On this day in 1954, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that the nation’s schools were to be desegregated. The Court later ruled that should take place, “with all deliberate speed.” States with segregated schools were in violation of the 14th Amendment and those schools were then ruled illegal. Please click on the link below to look at some of the archaeological work being done at the site of Monroe Elementary School in Topeka, KS.

-> www.nps.gov/articles/mwac-brvb.htm #america250 #america250al #americanhistory #Semiquincentennial #OnThisDay #ThisDayInHistory #HistoryNerd #historyforyoungpeple #americanvillage_alabama #americanvillage #Alabama #montevallo #discovershelbyal ... See MoreSee Less