Senator Sparkman began his career as a lawyer in Huntsville from 1925 to 1937. Elected to represent the 8th Congressional District in 1936, he was instrumental in encouraging the U.S. Army to locate a chemical munitions plant near Huntsville in 1941 that would be named Huntsville Arsenal. Later that same year, the Army located a shell loading and manufacturing plant named the Redstone Ordnance Plant adjacent to Huntsville Arsenal.

Congressman Sparkman tours Redstone Arsenal facilities during WWII with Colonel Carroll D. Hudson, first Redstone commander

Throughout World War II, Sparkman took a personal interest in Redstone Arsenal. When the Army implemented plans to turn operations at Redstone Arsenal over to a contractor, Sparkman interceded on behalf of the employees of Redstone Arsenal, convincing the Army that government employees would work harder for the Army than a contractor. Sparkman was right. Employees of Redstone Arsenal won the Army-Navy E Award (for outstanding production in war equipment) five different times. When additional housing was needed for the arsenal complex, Sparkman introduced legislation to fund it.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948, Sparkman once again played an influential role in convincing the Army to consolidate its new missile and rocket research efforts at Redstone Arsenal. In later years, he visited Redstone often, always supportive of the Army’s efforts in the field of missilery. But Sparkman's interest in the Army was not limited to Redstone Arsenal. He is credited with writing four of the most important pieces of legislation to benefit service members and veterans: the GI Bill of Rights, the Korean Veterans Act, the GI Bill for Vietnam Veterans, and the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act.

11 December 1956: Senator Sparkman tours missile facilities, seen here with MG Holger N. Toftoy (far left) and MG John B. Medaris (far right)

1977: Senator Sparkman aims a VIPER

Senator Sparkman completed 42 continuous years of service in Congress in January 1979. He died on November 19. 1985. In gratitude for his continued support of Redstone Arsenal from its beginning until the time of his death, the Army named its new administrative office complex on Redstone Arsenal the "John J. Sparkman Center."   Senator Howell Heflin called the Center a "dynamic and living memorial to a great Alabamian." (Complete text of Senator Heflin's remarks as recorded in the Congressional Record - click here)