Page "Hale County, Alabama" Paragraph 3

Since the American Civil War, whites controlled economic and political power in Hale County.

However, in 1997 after a highly contested mayoral election the City of Greensboro elected its first African American Mayor, John E. Owens Jr. At this time Greensboro appointed its first African American Police Chief, Claude E. Hamilton.

In 2006, African American and white citizens joined together and elected Hale County's first African American Sheriff, Kenneth W. Ellis.

Prior to being elected Sheriff, Ellis served as the Police Chief of the Town of Moundville, in north Hale County.