Former Enquirer columnist Bob Ingram dies

By Staff
Former Hartselle Enquirer political columnist and analyst Bob Ingram died Oct. 18 at the age of 81. Ingram had battled myelodysplasia for two years before his death.
Ingram reported and commented on Alabama politics for more than 60 years, and until recent months his column — "The Alabama Scene" — appeared in newspapers across the state, including this one.
Following his service in the U.S. Marines during World War II, he graduated from Auburn University. His career as a journalist took him back to his hometown of Centre and the Cherokee County Herald, and later to the Gadsden Times as the sports editor and subsequently the state editor. In 1953 he moved to the capitol city and the Montgomery Advertiser.
Ingram left the Advertiser after 14 years to become director of legislative affairs for the Medical Association of the state of Alabama.
Upon the death of Gov. Lurleen Wallace, Gov. Albert Brewer appointed Ingram as finance director.
Following his tenure as finance director, he purchased Alabama Magazine, which he edited and published until 1984. In 1978, he branched into television commentary, serving as a political analyst on WSFA's electoral coverage. He served as the station's editorial director and primary political analyst from 1979-1993.
In 1993, he returned to the Advertiser where he wrote a regular column on the paper's editorial page until 1999.
In the latter part of his career, he served as editorial director at WNCF and as a political analyst with WAKA, both in Montgomery.
For nearly 50 years, Ingram wrote his weekly column, and he also wrote two political memoirs, "That's the Way I Saw It" and "That's the Way I Saw It II."
He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Ragan Ingram; and a sister, Barbara Lydic of North Pole, Alaska.
Survivors include two sons, Robert B. "Burr" (Jan) Ingram, III of Huntsville and Ragan (Karen) Ingram of Montgomery; a daughter, Beth Ingram (Tom) Lamberth of Alexander City; a sister: Rozanne I. Jones of Chattanooga, Tenn; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Oct. 21 at Cloverdale Baptist Church in Montgomery. Burial followed at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery.