Social Reformer. Community Activist in Phenix City, Alabama. Phenix City, located just across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia, was once nationally known as "the wickedest city in America" due to a corrupt city and county government which allowed organized crime (including but not limited to gambling, prostitution, and vote fraud) to run rampant from 1916 until 1954. With the help of Albert Patterson, Bentley formed the Russell Betterment Association, whose goal was to bring honest government back to Phenix City and Russell County, Alabama, and rid the city of organized crime. In 1954, Patterson would be elected Alabama's Attorney General, but on June 18th of that same year, he was assassinated in front of his Phenix City law offices before taking office. In response, the State of Alabama declared martial rule and sent in the National Guard to restore honest government and bring those behind the corruption and crime to justice. In 1955, Bentley was recognized on the Ralph Edwards television series "This Is Your Life" for his role in the cleanup of Phenix City. The whole story was a subject of a 1955 movie, "The Phenix City Story", and a 1998 book by author Margaret Anne Barnes, "The Tragedy and the Triumph of Phenix City, Alabama". (Bio by S. Williams)
Social Reformer. Community Activist in Phenix City, Alabama. Phenix City, located just across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia, was once nationally known as "the wickedest city in America" due to a corrupt city and county government which allowed organized crime (including but not limited to gambling, prostitution, and vote fraud) to run rampant from 1916 until 1954. With the help of Albert Patterson, Bentley formed the Russell Betterment Association, whose goal was to bring honest government back to Phenix City and Russell County, Alabama, and rid the city of organized crime. In 1954, Patterson would be elected Alabama's Attorney General, but on June 18th of that same year, he was assassinated in front of his Phenix City law offices before taking office. In response, the State of Alabama declared martial rule and sent in the National Guard to restore honest government and bring those behind the corruption and crime to justice. In 1955, Bentley was recognized on the Ralph Edwards television series "This Is Your Life" for his role in the cleanup of Phenix City. The whole story was a subject of a 1955 movie, "The Phenix City Story", and a 1998 book by author Margaret Anne Barnes, "The Tragedy and the Triumph of Phenix City, Alabama". (Bio by S. Williams)
Bio by: Steve Williams
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