Robert Lester Folsom was an American politician who served as the Democratic governor of Alabama from 1955 to 1959, and again from 1963 to 1967 during two separate terms. Born on June 9, 1908, in Coffee County, Alabama, he played a pivotal role in the civil rights era, particularly for his opposition to desegregation and his infamous "stand in the schoolhouse door" attempt to block integration at the University of Alabama in 1963. Aside from his political career, Folsom was known for his strong populist views and efforts to improve infrastructure within the state. Despite his controversial stance on racial issues, which remained a significant aspect of his legacy, he was also credited for various progressive reforms in education and state taxation that benefited Alabama's rural populations.