Melba Till Allen

Melba Till Allen was an American politician who served as the State [Auditor of Alabama|Auditor of Alabama] from 1967 to 1975 and as the Treasurer of Alabama from 1975 to 1978. In 1972, she challenged incumbent Senator John Sparkman in the 1972 [United States Senate election in Alabama|Democratic primary]; she earned 29.48% of the vote and nearly forced Sparkman into a run-off, but was defeated.
Allen was convicted in 1978 of using her office to obtain favorable bank loans for several personal businesses including a religious theme park. She failed to disclose these business ventures and a full disclosure of her personal finances. She was sentenced to six years in jail and three and a half years of probation.
She died of cancer on October 20, 1989, in Montgomery, Alabama at age 56.