Melba Till Allen

Melba Till Allen was an American politician who served as the 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 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.