Arthur R. Outlaw
| Arthur R. Outlaw | |
|---|---|
| 105th Mayor of Mobile | |
|
In office 1985–1989 |
|
| Preceded by | Lambert C. Mims |
| Succeeded by | Mike Dow |
| 92nd Mayor of Mobile | |
|
In office 1967–1968 |
|
| Preceded by | Joseph N. Langan |
| Succeeded by | Lambert C. Mims |
| Public Safety Commissioner of Mobile | |
|
In office 1965–1969 |
|
| Preceded by | George E. McNally |
| Succeeded by | Robert B. Doyle |
| Finance Commissioner of Mobile | |
|
In office 1985 |
|
| Preceded by | Gary A. Greenough |
| Succeeded by | office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 8, 1926 Mobile County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | November 5, 2000 (aged 74) Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party in his early career; then switched to the Republican Party |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Smith |
| Children | Robbie, Karen and Gay Outlaw |
| Alma mater | Spring Hill College |
Arthur Robert Outlaw (September 8, 1926 – November 5, 2000) was a Mobile- area businessman, community leader, and politician, who served as Public Safety Commissioner (1965-1969) on the City Commission, and co-terminous as President of the Commission and Mayor of Mobile in 1967-1968. At that time, the mayor's title was co-extensive with the presidency of the City Commission, and was rotated for one-year terms among the three city commissioners. In 1984 he was elected as Finance Commissioner.
In 1985 city voters approved a referendum to adopt a mayor-council form of government. In new elections Outlaw was elected directly as mayor, the first person to do so since 1911, when the city had adopted the commission system. He promoted investment in downtown Mobile to stimulate redevelopment. After leaving office, he continued to be active in political, civic and church affairs, serving as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party in 1989-1991 and in several civic positions.
Born on a farm near Mobile, Alabama, in 1926, Outlaw moved with his parents and family into the city when he was 14. It was becoming a center of defense-related jobs at the shipyards as the United States began to respond to World War II in Europe, stimulating other businesses as well. The city became crowded with thousands of new workers recruited to the defense jobs.
Outlaw had attended Catholic schools and in the city studied at McGill Institute, before graduating from a public high school in 1945. He enlisted in the U. S. Air Force Cadet Program, serving for two years during the last months of World War II and afterward. After returning to Mobile, he attended the University of Alabama for one year and completed a business degree at Spring Hill College.
In 1951 Outlaw started working as an auditor in his father's business, Morrison's Restaurants. This business was started by J. A. Morrison with one cafeteria in Mobile in 1920 and was the first to introduce the cafeteria concept in the South. By 1950, Morrison's had 17 locations in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida, with seven in the latter state, and it had become synonymous with Southern casual dining. Outlaw and his father continued to develop the business together during the next two decades, when it became the largest cafeteria chain in the nation. The younger Outlaw advanced to serve as the vice-chairman of the board and director of Morrison Restaurants, Inc.
Outlaw entered politics in 1965, and was elected as Public Safety Commissioner of the city of Mobile, serving into 1969. The government had three non-partisan commissioners elected at-large, each for specific responsibilities. In addition, they rotated the position of President of the Commission/Mayor for one-year terms during their service on the commission.
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