Dale Hilyer has voted for Kennedy for president and George Wallace for governor of Alabama.
Now the 88-year-old Tallassee native has cast ballots in two presidential elections for Donald Trump.
“I’m so excited he won,” Hilyer said. “I think he did a good job the first time and will do a good job this time.”
Hilyer didn’t visit the polls to vote this year. Multiple falls and a walker forced her to vote by absentee ballot.
Hilyer said economics and immigration are the primary reasons she voted for Trump.
“I recently paid my homeowner’s insurance,” Hilyer said. “It was basically one month’s of Social Security. I’m against the illegal immigrants. I think he will get them out quickly.”
Hilyer is also concerned about Medicare. She believes Trump will protect the measure though understands his message it may have to be cut back some.
Hilyer loved the idea of Trump serving as president when he announced before the 2016 campaign.
She was worried Trump would give up or something would happen before the election. Hilyer was also worried the former president wouldn’t win.
“I stayed up to about 1:30 Tuesday night wanting to see,” Hilyer said. “I recorded his speech and watched it the next day. I’m so happy he won.”
Last summer for her 87th birthday, Hilyer visited her sister Alice Hilyer Beam near Nashville. The family took her to eat at a country club Trump frequents. The former president paused to take a photo with Hilyer.
“I heard him tell the Secret Service, ‘I’m going to take a picture with this lady in the red shirt,’” Hilyer said.
Hilyer has had a chance to meet other Trump family members and other politicians through fundraising efforts at Faulkner University.
“I believe he has a nice family,” Hilyer said.
The Trumps are not the first politicians Hilyer has been impressed by in person. She made arrangements when she worked at the Tallassee Mt. Vernon Mills to go to rallies for George Wallace as he campaigned for governor and president.
“I loved to hear him speak,” Hilyer said. “I thought he was such a good person. I feel like if he hadn’t got shot, almost assassinated he would have been president. I love George Wallace.”
Hilyer wants to meet another politician — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.
“I think she is a great lady,” Hilyer said. “I’d love to talk with her.”
