{{Short description|American politician (born 1952)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}} {{Use American English|date=June 2018}} {{for|the British singer|Bobby & Laurie}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Bobby Bright | image = Bobby Bright official photo.JPG | state = Alabama | district = {{ushr|AL|2|2nd}} | term_start = January 3, 2009 | term_end = January 3, 2011 | predecessor = Terry Everett | successor = Martha Roby | office1 = 55th Mayor of Montgomery | term_start1 = November 9, 1999 | term_end1 = January 3, 2009 | predecessor1 = Emory Folmar | successor1 = Charles Jinright (acting) | birth_name = Bobby Neal Bright | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|7|21}} | birth_place = Midland City, Alabama, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Independent (before 2008)<br>Democratic (2008–2011)<br>Republican (2011–present) | spouse = Lynn Clardy | children = 3 | education = Auburn University (BA)<br>Troy University (MS)<br>Faulkner University (JD) }} '''Bobby Neal Bright Sr.''' (born July 21, 1952) is an American retired lawyer, farmer, and former politician who served as a U.S. representative and was previously the three-term mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. He served from 2009 to 2011 as the Representative from {{ushr|Alabama|2}}. His 2008 campaign ran on the message of "America First", and his voting record indicated that he was the most conservative member of the House Democratic Caucus in the 111th Congress. His district includes just over half of the city of Montgomery, as well as most of the Wiregrass Region in the southeastern part of the state.
Bright is a native of the Wiregrass Region and has 13 siblings. He is the first Mayor of Montgomery to be elected to Congress. In November 2010, he was defeated for a second term in the House of Representatives by Republican nominee Martha Roby, a then-Montgomery City Council member. In 2018, Bright attempted to run for his old House seat as a Republican, but was defeated by Roby in a runoff.
==Early life, education, and early career== Bright was born in Midland City, Alabama, and grew up on one of the cotton farms that were typical of the Wiregrass Region.<ref>[http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002981555 Bobby Bright profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107211833/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002981555 |date=November 7, 2008 }} at CQ Politics</ref> Bright grew up the son of a sharecropper, with 13 siblings. After spending his youth working on the farm and graduating from high school, he took a job in metalworking to save up money for college. Bright worked each and every day to pay for his education. He later graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in political science in 1975 and took a job as an auditor before earning an M.S. in criminal justice from Troy State University in 1977 and beginning a career as a corrections officer. While working in the prison system, he was deeply affected by the many young people he saw entering the penitentiaries and decided to transition into law practice as a result.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brightforcongress.com/welcome/index-welcome.htm |title= Bright for Congress 2008|website=brightforcongress.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106065329/http://brightforcongress.com/welcome/index-welcome.htm |archive-date=November 6, 2008}}</ref> Bright received his Juris Doctor from the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University in 1982. He practiced law for fifteen years before entering into politics.
==Mayor of Montgomery== Bright was first elected in 1999, defeating longtime incumbent Republican Mayor Emory Folmar. He was re-elected in a landslide against challenger Scott Simmons in 2003.
During Mayor Bright's tenure he revitalized Montgomery's downtown and riverfront including the Renaissance Montgomery complex and Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. He helped bring new jobs to the area, and saved existing jobs. He was also named the state's "Tourism Advocate of the Year" by the Governor for his work in building that industry. On the financial side, he balanced the city's budget every year and created a $30 million rainy day fund, secured millions in federal grants for important projects, maintained the city's "AA" credit rating (best in state) by holding spending and debt in check, and saved money by implementing an international prescription drug buying program.<ref>[http://www.dccc.org/content/races/al_02 Alabama's 2nd District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608080033/http://www.dccc.org/content/races/al_02 |date=June 8, 2011 }} ''DCCC''</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.montgomerychamber.com/riverfront/ | title=Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce's Riverfront Development page | access-date=January 8, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209134827/http://www.montgomerychamber.com/riverfront/ | archive-date=December 9, 2006 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cabj.biz/081805/qanda.htm | title=Central Alabama Business Journal interview with Bobby Bright in August, 2005 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929042605/http://www.cabj.biz/081805/qanda.htm | archivedate=September 29, 2007 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>
==U.S. House of Representatives==
===Elections===
;2008 {{Main|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama#District 2}} Mayor Bright had never previously claimed affiliation with any party, but in 2008 he announced that he was running as a Democrat for the open seat in the 2nd District. The district's eight-term incumbent, Republican Congressman Terry Everett, was not running for reelection.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-34/1203695957217140.xml&storylist=alabamanews | title=Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright to run for Congress | access-date=September 17, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221043740/http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-34%2F1203695957217140.xml&storylist=alabamanews | archive-date=February 21, 2009 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>
Like many Alabama Democrats, he opposed abortion and gun control. However, he favored "a strong, honorable plan" to end the Iraq War.<ref>Nolin, Jill [http://montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080527/NEWS01/805270321&GID=TaQAZm/GhaPxeQTM/pLFf6LSf+2QnCBE3aMzOOgTAEc%3D Profile of Bobby Bright]{{Full citation needed|date=August 2010}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117083011/http://montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080527%2FNEWS01%2F805270321&GID=TaQAZm%2FGhaPxeQTM%2FpLFf6LSf+2QnCBE3aMzOOgTAEc%3D |date=January 17, 2016 }} ''Montgomery Advertiser'', May 27, 2008.</ref>
Bright was considered the strongest Democrat to run in a district that had been in Republican hands since 1965. With the strong support of the state and national Democratic establishment, Bright easily won the Democratic Nomination against two minor challengers. He faced Republican State Representative Jay Love in the November Election. Both Bright and Love are deacons at First Baptist Church in Montgomery.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=10993 | title=Fellow Church Members, Deacons, Vie for Alabama Congressional Seat | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210153546/http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=10993 | archivedate=December 10, 2008 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Bright received the endorsement of Republican State Senator Harri Anne Smith, whom Love had defeated by six points in the Primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1008/ExGOP_Candidate_Backs_Bright.html?showall|title=Ex-GOP candidate backs Bright|date=October 12, 2008|website=Politico|last1=Reid|first1=Wilson|access-date=December 4, 2008}}</ref>
Just before the Election, ''CQ Politics'', ''The Cook Political Report'' and ''The Rothenberg Political Report'' rated the race a toss-up, with neither candidate a clear favorite over the other.<ref>[http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-AL-02 U.S. House, Alabama - 2nd District] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514235057/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-AL-02 |date=May 14, 2008 }} ''CQ Politics''</ref><ref>[http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive.php 2008 Competitive House Race Chart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702201312/http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive.php |date=July 2, 2008 }} ''The Cook Political Report'', August 30, 2008</ref><ref>[https://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-house-ratings.html 200 House Ratings] ''The Rothenberg Political Report'', November 2, 2008 </ref> In the November Election, Bright received 143,997 votes to Love's 142,231 votes—a margin of 1,766 votes, or just over 0.6 percentage points. While the two candidates each won eight of the district's 16 counties, Bright won the district's share of Montgomery County by 30 points. Love had the option of requesting a recount since the margin of victory was less than a point, but opted not to do so and conceded the seat to Bright.<ref>Orndorff, Mary. [http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/alabama_state_rep_jay_love_unl.html Alabama State Rep. Jay Love unlikely to seek recount in 2nd District loss to Bobby Bright]. ''Birmingham News'', Nov. 4, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.nbc15online.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=3974a2f3-7b35-4c4d-a063-509b2f252df4&rss=218 Democrat Bright wins in Ala. 2nd Dist.]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Associated Press via WPMI-TV, Nov. 5, 2008.</ref> Bright's victory, and that of Parker Griffith in the 5th district, gave Alabama two white Democratic congressmen for the first time since Tom Bevill and Glen Browder both left the House in 1997. Bright represented the fourth most Republican district in the nation to be represented by a Democrat; it had a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+16, and gave John McCain 63 percent of the vote in 2008.
The second traditionally gives its congressmen very long tenures in Washington. Bright was only the seventh person to represent it in over a century, and the fifth since 1921. Bright's 2008 campaign was endorsed by Democrats for Life of America.<ref>[http://www.actblue.com/page/democratsforlife "Act Blue" page of Democrats for Life]</ref>
;2010 {{Main|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama#District 2}} Bright was unopposed in the 2010 Democratic primary. Republican Montgomery city council member Martha Roby decisively beat Tea Party favorite and former Marine Rick Barber in the GOP primary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38236782|title=MSN|website=NBC News|date=July 14, 2010|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-11}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Bright ran campaign ads aimed at distancing himself from the establishment Democratic Party. In these ads, he described himself as “independent and conservative,” and emphasized his support for small business. Under fire from Roby for his support of Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House, Bright stated publicly that he would not vote for Pelosi for Speaker again.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-givens/post_1080_b_767078.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Matthew | last=Givens | title=Alabama 2nd Congressional District Recap | date=October 18, 2010}}</ref> Roby nonetheless defeated Bright as Republicans took back control of the House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/wire/2010/11/martha_roby_defeats_bobby_brig.html|title=Martha Roby defeats Bobby Bright for U.S. House District 2|website=Alabama.com|agency=Associated Press|date=November 3, 2010|accessdate=February 28, 2020}}</ref>
===Tenure=== During his time in Congress, Bright was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. He voted with Democratic leadership 71.7% of the time.,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/412267_Bobby_Bright |title=Rep. Bobby Bright, Alabama (D) - U.S. Congress |publisher=OpenCongress |access-date=Jul 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614021056/http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/412267_Bobby_Bright |archivedate=June 14, 2010}}</ref> making him the second most conservative member of the House Democratic Caucus.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/111/house/party-voters/ |title=House voting with party scores, 111th Congress |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=September 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914094658/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/111/house/party-voters/ |archivedate=September 14, 2010 }}</ref> Bright voted twice against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, one of only 7 Democrats voting against the final version.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_economy |title= Obama: 'Dramatic action' needed now to fix economy - Yahoo! News|website=news.yahoo.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119125413/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_economy |archive-date=January 19, 2009}}</ref> In February 2009, Bright voted in favor of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll086.xml Final Vote Results for Roll Call 86]. Retrieved March 7, 2010.</ref> In June 2009, Bright voted in favor of the Cash for Clunkers bill.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll314.xml FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 314]. Retrieved March 7, 2010.</ref> In July 2009, Bright voted against establishing spending caps through fiscal year 2014.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll610.xml Final Vote Results for Roll Call 610]. Retrieved March 7, 2010.</ref> In November 2009, Bright voted against the House version of the Affordable Health Care for America Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml|title=Final vote results for roll call 887|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=12 October 2023}}</ref> In March 2010, Bright voted against the Senate version of the Affordable Health Care for America Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml|title=Final vote results for roll call 165|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=12 October 2023}}</ref> He did not sign a petition circulated by Iowa Republican Steve King calling for a complete repeal of the law, calling the effort "premature".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.troymessenger.com/2010/03/22/state-may-join-in-lawsuit-over-health-care-bill/|title=State may join in lawsuit over health care bill - The Troy Messenger|date=2010-03-22|work=The Troy Messenger|access-date=2018-07-11|language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2009, Bright, along with Representative Walt Minnick of Idaho, introduced House Resolution 4072. This resolution reorganized public job training funds, directing them towards flexible skills and credentials recognized by industries. Also called the American Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration Act (AMERICA Works), the bill was targeted at new workers just entering the workforce and servicemen and women returning to civilian life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bright.house.gov/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D476%26Itemid%3D94 |title=The Online Office of Congressman Bobby Bright - House Passes Job-Training Legislation Introduced by Congressman Bright |accessdate=2010-11-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202014323/http://bright.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=476&Itemid=94 |archivedate=December 2, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> Because of his dedication to small business, Bright requested a waiver to serve on the House Small Business Committee shortly after his arrival in Washington. The first bill sponsored by Bright would eventually be included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which became law on February 17, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bright.house.gov/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D165%26Itemid%3D84 |title=The Online Office of Congressman Bobby Bright - Small Business |accessdate=2010-11-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202012439/http://bright.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=165&Itemid=84 |archivedate=December 2, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref>
After the defection of fellow Alabama Democrat Parker Griffith to the Republican Party in December 2009, political analyst and statistician Nate Silver suggested that Bright could follow, naming "60/40" odds that he would eventually join the Republican caucus as well.<ref>{{cite web|last=Silver |first=Nate |url=http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/12/2009s-most-valuable-democrat-is.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123040533/http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/12/2009s-most-valuable-democrat-is.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |title=Politics Done Right: 2009's Most Valuable Democrat Is |publisher=FiveThirtyEight |date=Dec 23, 2009 |accessdate=Jul 11, 2010}}</ref> The day after Griffith's party switch, Bright told media that he had no intention of switching parties and would remain a Democrat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30942_Page2.html |title=McCain, GOP secretly courting another Dem to switch |publisher=Politico|author=Jonathon Martin, Josh Kraushaar, Patrick O'Connor|date=December 24, 2009|access-date=July 11, 2010}}</ref>
The ''National Journal'' named Bright the most conservative Democrat during the first session of the 111th United States Congress.<ref>{{cite web |title = Bright rated most conservative Dem. |publisher = WTVY |date = February 26, 2010 |url = http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/85496617.html |accessdate = Feb 27, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100302063936/http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/85496617.html |archive-date = March 2, 2010 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref>
In April 2009, Bright voted against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll223.xml|title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 223|website=Clerk of the House|date=April 29, 2009|accessdate=February 21, 2014}}</ref>
===Committee assignments=== *Committee on Agriculture **Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research **Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture *Committee on Armed Services **Subcommittee on Readiness **Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces **Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats *Committee on Small Business **Subcommittee on Regulations, Healthcare and Trade **Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship
==2018 Congressional run== In February 2018, Bright filed to run for his old House seat as a Republican. He said that during his one term in Congress, he had not been able to do everything he had wanted to do "because my beliefs are conservative and that held me back." He pointed out that Roby was no longer on the Agriculture and Armed Services committees despite the second district's large military presence and significant agricultural element. Bright finished second in the first round of the Republican primary with 28% of the vote, and qualified for the runoff against Roby. Roby defeated him, 68% to 32%.
==Electoral history== {{main|United States House of Representatives elections, 2008}} {{Election box begin | title=Alabama's 2nd Congressional District House Election, 2008 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Bobby Bright |votes = 144,368 |percentage = 50.23% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jay Love |votes = 142,578 |percentage = 49.61% |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{main|United States House of Representatives elections, 2010}} {{Election box begin | title=Alabama's 2nd Congressional District House Election, 2010 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Martha Roby |votes = 111,645 |percentage = 50.97% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Bobby Bright |votes = 106,865 |percentage = 48.79% |change = -1.44% }} {{Election box end}}
{{main|United States House of Representatives election, 2018}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Republican primary results<ref name="Republican Primary">{{cite web|title=2018 Alabama Republican primary election results|accessdate=June 8, 2019|url=https://www.sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/election-2018/2018%20Republican%20Primary%20Results.xlsx|website=Alabama Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Martha Roby (incumbent) | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 36,708 | percentage = 39.0 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bobby Bright | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 26,481 | percentage = 28.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Barry Moore | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 18,177 | percentage = 19.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Rich Hobson | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 7,052 | percentage = 7.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Tommy Amason | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 5,763 | percentage = 6.1 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 94,181 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title = Republican primary runoff results<ref>{{cite web|title=2018 Alabama Republican primary runoff election results|accessdate=June 8, 2019|url=https://www.sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/election-2018/2018%20Republican%20Primary%20Results.xlsx|website=Alabama Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Martha Roby (incumbent) | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 48,331 | percentage = 67.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bobby Bright | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 22,795 | percentage = 32.1 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 71,126 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}}
==Personal life== Bright is married to retired District Judge Lynn Clardy Bright. They have three children.
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180412211820/https://bright.vote/ Bobby Bright for Congress] official campaign site * {{CongLinks | congbio=B001264 | votesmart=104839 | fec=H8AL02130 | congress= }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the {{CongLinks}} template: * [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/412267 Congressional profile] at GovTrack * [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/412267 Congressional profile] at OpenCongress * [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00029838 Financial information (federal office)] at OpenSecrets.org * [http://www.legistorm.com/member/934/Rep_Bobby_Bright.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com * [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Bobby_Bright.htm Issue positions and quotes] at On the Issues * [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/87180 Appearances] on C-SPAN programs * [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/bobby_bright/index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''The New York Times'' * --> *[https://www.politico.com/news/bobby-bright Collected news and commentary] from ''Politico'' *{{C-SPAN|87180}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Emory Folmar}} {{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Montgomery|years=1999–2009}} {{s-aft|after=Charles Jinright<br>Acting}} |- {{s-par|us-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Terry Everett}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives<br>from Alabama's 2nd congressional district|years=2009–2011}} {{s-aft|after=Martha Roby}} |- {{s-prec|usa}} {{s-bef|before=Marie Newman|as=Former U.S. Representative}} {{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}} {{s-aft|after=Parker Griffith|as=Former U.S. Representative}} {{s-end}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=111th United States Congress |state=Alabama}} {{USCongRep/AL/111}} {{USCongRep-end}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bright, Bobby}} Category:1952 births Category:20th-century mayors of places in Alabama Category:21st-century Alabama politicians Category:21st-century mayors of places in Alabama Category:21st-century United States representatives Category:Alabama Republicans Category:Alabama lawyers Category:American prison officers Category:Auburn University alumni Category:Baptists from Alabama Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Alabama Category:Faulkner University alumni Category:Living people Category:Mayors of Montgomery, Alabama Category:People from Dale County, Alabama Category:Troy University alumni