| Garlan Gudger, Jr. proudly represents District 4 in the Alabama State Senate, which includes Cullman, Marion, and Winston counties. A successful small businessman from Cullman, Senator Gudger was overwhelmingly elected to the Alabama State Senate in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.
Senator Gudger serves as Chairman of the Senate's Fiscal Responsibility & Economic Development Committee. He also serves on committees for Finance & Taxation Education; Confirmations; Governmental Affairs - Local; Education Policy, and Tourism. In addition, Gudger was appointed to serve on the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II (ATRIP-II) board. Its purpose is to rehabilitate and improve transportation infrastructure across the state.
Senator Gudger has been the recipient of numerous awards such as-
Alabama Tourism Advocate Government Award - 2023
Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) Legislator of the Year- 2023
Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) - 2022
ALGOP Chairman's Commendation award - 2021
Top 50 "Up and Coming" Political Figures to Watch by Yellowhammer News - 2018
Top 40 over 40 by Alabama magazine - 2018
Small Business of the Year Silver Award from the Alabama Retail Association - 2016
Senator Gudger was born and raised in Cullman, Alabama. After high school, he received a football scholarship to attend Samford University. He later transferred to Auburn University where he graduated with a BS in building science and a minor in business.
In 1999, Senator Gudger became the second-generation owner of an architectural salvage business that was established out of a garage in 1969. Since that time, Southern Accents Architectural Antiques has grown into one of the premier architectural salvage companies in the nation.
In 2004, Gudger became the youngest member in the history of the City of Cullman to be elected to the Cullman City Council. He served on the council for 14 years and was elected to serve as its president for the last ten. While serving on the city council, Senator Gudger helped create a facade improvement program and streetscape projects that started a renaissance in downtown Cullman after the 2011 tornadoes.
Senator Gudger is married to Heather Pierce Gudger of Huntsville. They have two sons- Tripp, a student at Samford University and Pierce, a student at Cullman High School. He is a member of Daystar Church and has participated in numerous mission trips throughout the world. |