THE SQUIRE OF FAIRHOPE

ABOUT The Squire of Fairhope is a film about former Fairhope mayor James P. Nix who dedicated his life to the service of others. In the 1960s, Jim could see there were serious problems with the town of Fairhope, Alabama and knew something had to be done. He ran for city council and served from 1968 to 1972, but in order to really effect change, he would have to become mayor. He was elected and he served for twenty eight years. James wanted to beautify the town, but, when he took office, he discovered there was no budget and the town had no money. There was no sewer treatment and the town was dumping raw sewage into Mable Bay. Water came out of the faucets the color of rust. The electrical system was so antiquated, the power went out whenever there was the slightest storm. Finally, when the decade of the ‘70s was coming to a close, the infrastructure was in place and Jim could turn his attention to making the town a showcase where people wanted to raise a family, shop, and run their businesses. The Squire of Fairhope unfolds on the screen through not only an interview with Jim, but people who were there: local politicians; national politicians including Congressman Sony Callahan, business people, town workers, artists and writers including Winston Groom; and even the Chief of Police Joseph Petties. Mayor Nix’s success became known not only throughout the country, but throughout the world. Dignitaries form other towns around the globe sought Mayor Nix’s council on how to do the same for their town.