Walter Frank Jackson, born in Shelby County, March 13, 1915, was the son of William Jones Jackson and Ida Lee McEwen Jackson. Frank married the former Mary Brown, and they are the parents of three daughters, Judy Scofield of Lake Ridge, Virginia, Fran Bryan of Columbia, South Carolina, and Sue Holifield of Montgomery.
Frank moved to Opp in 1945. His professional life in Opp started when he owned and operated Opp Equipment Company. In 1961, he joined Morgan Distributing Company, serving as Vice President and General Manager. After his retirement in 1972, he continued to serve on Morgan’s Board of Directors.
Frank was a member of the First Baptist Church of Opp. In 1949, he was ordained as a Deacon of the Church and served two terms as Chairman of the Deacons of First Baptist Church. For eight years, he served as Sunday School Superintendent. He was the first President of the First Baptist Brotherhood. He taught the Intermediate Boys’ Class at the Church. He served on many committees of the Covington County Baptist Association.
Frank was a charter member of the Opp Lions Club and served that club as its President in 1949-50. He was a member of the Opp City Council for two terms, 1952 to 1960. He served on the Opp City School Board in 1951-52. He was a member of the Opp Chamber of Commerce and served two terms as Chamber President–1950-51 and 1962-63. In 1950, he was selected as the Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the Opp Lions Club. Also in 1950 he was selected to Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. In 1972-73 he was chosen as Citizen of the Year by the Opp Civitan Club.
In 1966, he was the first citizen of Opp elected by the 40th District, State of Alabama, to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives. He served Geneva and Covington Counties for a total of twelve years as a State Representative.
Frank’s devotion to Opp and the surrounding area, as well as to the State of Alabama, was evident in his active involvement in public life. After his retirement from State Legislature, he served the State as a consultant on many current issues. He has been honored by the State through the naming of the new Walter Frank Jackson State Park, just north of Opp. Frank’s quiet but effective manner of getting things done will live on through the enjoyment of future generations of Alabamians. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.
