Gerald Willis (politician)

Gerald Willis
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office November 13, 1978[1] – 1982
Preceded by	Tom Shelton
Succeeded by	Glen Browder
Constituency	57th (1978–1982) 34th (1986–2002)
In office 1986–2002
Preceded by	Glen Browder
Member of the Calhoun County Commission
In office January 4, 1971[2] – January 1, 1975[3]
Preceded by	Earl Morgan
Succeeded by	Marshall Prickett
Personal details
Born	Noah Gerald Willis (1940-01-06)January 6, 1940 Nances Creek, Alabama, U.S.
Died	February 13, 2015(2015-02-13) (aged 75)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Frances Keener
Children	3

Noah Gerald Willis (January 6, 1940 – February 13, 2015) was an American businessman and politician who served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1978 to 1982, and 1986 to 2002, as a member of the Democratic Party. Willis also sought the Democratic presidential nomination in the 1984 election.

Willis was born in Nances Creek, Alabama, and worked as a bus driver and electrician before founding a lumber mill in 1965. His business grew to earn millions in the 1980s before shutting down in 1989. He used his wealth to construct a replica of Andrew Jackson's Hermitage. Willis was active in local politics in Calhoun County, Alabama, and was on the county commission.

Willis was elected to the state house in 1978, but did not seek reelection in order to focus on his presidential campaign. He was critical of the Democratic Party of Georgia and League of Women Voters for not recognizing his candidacy. He received a few thousand votes, but won the vice-presidential primary in New Hampshire. He unsuccessfully sought election to the United States House of Representatives in 1996 and 2002.