was, in part, reversed shortly after James left office, allowing students at their own choice to hold religious meetings on school grounds. Campaign for a third term In his campaign for re-election to a third term, James faced strong opposition in the Republican party primary from Winton Blount III, a fellow conservative and a millionaire businessman whom James was documented referring to as a "fat monkey." He sharply criticized James's close ties to the Christian right. James struggled through the bitter Republican primary runoff and defeated Blount, but had little money left to finance the general election campaign. Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Don Siegelman easily won the Democratic primary on the sole issue of establishing a state lottery to provide for college scholarships. James opposed the lottery and was soundly defeated by Siegelman in the 1998 general election. He returned to semi-retirement, saying he wanted to spend more time with his children and grandchildren. Personal life and family James and his wife, Bobbie, live in Miami, Florida. As of 2021, Fob James resides in an independent-living apartment in close proximity to the nursing facility where Bobbie James lives. The couple had four children: Greg, who died in the 1960s of cystic fibrosis; Tim, a businessman and three-time candidate for governor of Alabama; Fob III, a trial lawyer; and Patrick, whom Fob and Bobbie James sued in 2015 over allegations of fraud. Notes External links Forrest Hood "Fob" James Jr. Alabama Department of Archives and History. Alabama G.O.P. Governor Sees a Different New South Fob James Wins GOP Primary Runoff For Alabama Governor Former Alabama Gov. Fob James and his son oppose prosecutor of Judge Moore Encyclopedia of Alabama |- 1934 births Living people People from Lanett, Alabama Candidates in the 1998 United States elections 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American Episcopalians 21st-century American Episcopalians Players of American football from Alabama Auburn Tigers football players American football running backs American athlete-politicians Montreal Alouettes players United States Army officers Democratic Party governors of Alabama Republican Party governors of Alabama