Paul Bussman
Encyclopedia
Paul D. Bussman is a state senator
from the U.S. state
of Alabama
.
and lived there until the age of three when his family moved to Cullman, Alabama
.
His mother moved Paul, his sister, and his two brothers back and forth several times before settling permanently in Cullman where he graduated from the Cullman High School
in 1975. He next attended the Troy State University
where he was a four-year letterman in basketball
, and he completed his B.S. degree in 1979. He next attended the University of Alabama School of Dentistry
, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree
in 1983. After completing this degree, he returned to Cullman to practice dentistry. He is also owner of FUNZONE, a family entertainment center in Cullman which includes miniature golf, go-karts, batting cages, an inflatable gymnasium, and an electric train.http://www.funzonecullman.com/
to the Fourth District of the Alabama Senate
be defeating the incumbent, Zeb Little
. The Fourth District represents Cullman County, Lawrence, and Winston Counties. Bussman is a member of several committees including chairperson of Children, Youth Affairs and Human Resources; vice chairperson of Health; Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Banking and Insurance; Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics and Elections; Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability; and Local Legislation No. 1.http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senatecommittees/senatecommittees.html#anchor526262
, the Academy of General Dentistry
. He has held five national appointments in the Academy of General Dentistry, was president and executive director of the Alabama office and serves as a spokesdentist for the Academy with national consumer media outlets.
Bussman was an organizer and past board member of the Good Samaritan Health Clinic- a free medical, optical and dental clinic for uninsured, working individuals in Cullman County
, and continues to be a free dental provider to clients. He was the first president and organizer for the “Volunteers in Public Schools” program, a mentoring program for at-risk elementary children throughout the County. He was also a past board member and volunteer of Habitat for Humanity and the Alabama Judicial Systems’ Juvenile Conference Committee, a past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce
, the Cullman Regional Medical Foundation, Cullman Kiwanis Club
and the Leadership Cullman County Class of 2000. He once chaired and currently serves as a board member for Cullman Savings Bank and the Cullman Savings Bank Foundation.
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Early life
Bussman was born in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and lived there until the age of three when his family moved to Cullman, Alabama
Cullman, Alabama
Cullman is a city in Cullman County, State of Alabama. Cullman is located along Interstate 65, about north of Birmingham, and about south of Huntsville. According to the U.S...
.
His mother moved Paul, his sister, and his two brothers back and forth several times before settling permanently in Cullman where he graduated from the Cullman High School
Cullman High School
Cullman High School is the largest public high school in the city of Cullman, Alabama as well as Cullman County, Alabama. The school is classified as a 5A school and belongs to the Cullman City School District....
in 1975. He next attended the Troy State University
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
where he was a four-year letterman in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and he completed his B.S. degree in 1979. He next attended the University of Alabama School of Dentistry
University of Alabama School of Dentistry
The University of Alabama School of Dentistry is a public dental school located in Birmingham, Alabama...
, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree
Dental degree
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
in 1983. After completing this degree, he returned to Cullman to practice dentistry. He is also owner of FUNZONE, a family entertainment center in Cullman which includes miniature golf, go-karts, batting cages, an inflatable gymnasium, and an electric train.http://www.funzonecullman.com/
State senator
On November 2, 2010, Dr. Bussman was elected as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fourth District of the Alabama Senate
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
be defeating the incumbent, Zeb Little
Zeb Little
Zeb Little was a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 4th District from 1998 to 2010. He was the Majority Leader and Floor Leader of the Alabama Senate from 2002 - 2010.Little was born in Cullman, Alabama and attended Cullman High School...
. The Fourth District represents Cullman County, Lawrence, and Winston Counties. Bussman is a member of several committees including chairperson of Children, Youth Affairs and Human Resources; vice chairperson of Health; Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Banking and Insurance; Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics and Elections; Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability; and Local Legislation No. 1.http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senatecommittees/senatecommittees.html#anchor526262
Organizations
Bussman is also active in the state and local chapters of both American Dental AssociationAmerican Dental Association
The American Dental Association is an American professional association established in 1859 which has more than 155,000 members. Based in Chicago, the ADA is the world's largest and oldest national dental association and promotes good oral health to the public while representing the dental...
, the Academy of General Dentistry
Academy of General Dentistry
The Academy of General Dentistry is a professional association of general dentists from Canada and the United States.-Foundation and mission:...
. He has held five national appointments in the Academy of General Dentistry, was president and executive director of the Alabama office and serves as a spokesdentist for the Academy with national consumer media outlets.
Bussman was an organizer and past board member of the Good Samaritan Health Clinic- a free medical, optical and dental clinic for uninsured, working individuals in Cullman County
Cullman County, Alabama
Cullman County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel John G. Cullmann. As of 2010, the population was 80,406. Its county seat is the town of the same name, Cullman, Alabama. It is a "moist" county in terms of availablity of alcoholic beverages, which means...
, and continues to be a free dental provider to clients. He was the first president and organizer for the “Volunteers in Public Schools” program, a mentoring program for at-risk elementary children throughout the County. He was also a past board member and volunteer of Habitat for Humanity and the Alabama Judicial Systems’ Juvenile Conference Committee, a past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, the Cullman Regional Medical Foundation, Cullman Kiwanis Club
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
and the Leadership Cullman County Class of 2000. He once chaired and currently serves as a board member for Cullman Savings Bank and the Cullman Savings Bank Foundation.