Former Gov. Albert P. Brewer shakes hands with Pam Mooneyham, an original Brewer High student. | Brent Maze

It’s hard for Albert P. Brewer to believe that it’s been 40 years since the school bearing his name opened in Florette.

“It was a great day when the school opened,” he said. “We had everyone there from Sen. Sparkman to county commisioners, mayors and representatives.”

The former Alabama governor, who hails from the Mt. Tabor community of Morgan County, came back home on Saturday night to help celebrate the 40th reunion of the first classes, who attended the school in 1973.

Brewer High School was formed by combining the high school grades of Cotaco, Eva, Lacey’s Spring, Priceville, Ryan and Union HIll schools.

Brewer was never elected governor, but his impact was felt in the short term that he held office. After being elected to be Alabama’s lieutenant governor, he became governor after Lurleen Wallace died in office.

In education, Brewer helped teachers receive pay increases of 12.9 and 8.2 percent along with increasing the education budget $100 million over two years.

After his political career ended, he maintained his law practice in Decatur before becoming a professor at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law.

“I’ve had several Brewer alumni come to Cumberland School of Law,” Brewer said. “They are proud to say that they’re from Brewer. And they were good students.”

Brewer said what made BHS students different from others.

“They’re just great students and great people,” Brewer said.