Floyd Mann

Floyd Mann was born August. 20, 1920, in Davidson, Tallapoosa County, Alabama. He was schooled in Davidson and Alexander City, Alabama. He joined the United States Army Air Corps, serving as a tail gunner on a B-17, where he flew 27 combat missions including the first daylight raid on Berlin. He received numerous awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He married Grace Doss of Fort Worth, Texas, on November 25, 1944. After his military service he served as a security officer at Republic Steel in Gadsden. Afterwards he served as a police officer in Alexander City, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant.

From 1950 until 1958, he served as the chief of police of Opelika, where he assisted with the clean up of gambling and corruption that had spilled over from Phoenix City. During this time he developed a close relationship with John Patterson who later became attorney general and governor.From 1959 until 1963, he served as director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, appointed by Governor John Patterson.