State senator reflects on God’s hand in his life as he looks to future
State Sen. Garlan Gudger knows a thing or two about doors. His business, Southern Accents Architectural Antiques in Cullman, specializes in salvaging solid wood doors, mantels, trim, and wrought iron from old houses and buildings and restoring them for new life.
But Gudger likes to speak about how God has “opened doors” throughout his life, the most recent being the opportunity to take a prominent leadership role in the Alabama State Senate. Gudger, who has served in the Senate for six years, was nominated as President Pro Tempore of the Senate in December and is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate when it reconvenes on Feb. 4.
Alabama Living caught up with Gudger at the Alabama State House in late 2024 as he prepared for the upcoming legislative session. Just seven months earlier, his life took a dramatic turn when a boating accident on July 4 left him with severe injuries — injuries so critical that doctors initially feared he might be paralyzed. Gudger reflected on that fateful day, his renewed perspective, strengthened faith, and deepened commitment to serving others.
A day that changed everything
In July 2024, Gudger was celebrating his son Tripp’s 21st birthday on Smith Lake when a day of family fun turned to terror in an instant. While riding Sea-Doos, Gudger stopped suddenly to admire the sunlight reflecting on the water — a moment he likened to a movie-like portal. The abrupt stop activated the watercraft’s rudder system, creating a towering wall of water that enveloped him. Tragically, his son, following closely behind and unable to see through the cascading water, collided with him at high speed.
The impact was catastrophic. The 2,000-pound machine drove Gudger into the handlebars, causing severe internal injuries (eight fractured vertebrae, seven broken ribs, a collapsed lung, serious injuries to his spleen). “I was like a human ramp,” he recalls. “I fell over into the water. I was awake and conscious the whole time. As I went underneath, I immediately started praying.”
Rescue workers arrived quickly, maneuvering Gudger out of the water and transporting him to Trident Marina before airlifting him to UAB’s trauma center, where he would remain in the intensive care unit for two weeks.
There, doctors revealed the extent of his injuries. They warned him he might be paralyzed.
Miraculously, he wasn’t.
A renewed purpose
Upon waking from surgery, Gudger felt as though he was in a conversation with God. With the fourth chapter of Ephesians echoing in his mind, he asked the hospital chaplain for a Bible and looked up the first verse: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
Believing God had spoken to him, he vowed to make the most of every opportunity.
“Whatever door you have for me, if you give me that opportunity, I’m going to walk through it,” he said he told God.
But leaving the hospital was only the start of a long, grueling recovery process.
Therapists helped Gudger learn to walk again, beginning with a walker and progressing to walking one block at a time. “I was in all kinds of pain,” he recalls. “I didn’t want to walk, but they made me walk.”
Having also lost his vision for nearly two months, Gudger was unable to use a phone, read emails, or watch TV, instead spending hours in stillness, reflecting on his life. “It was just me and God. Those quiet moments reshaped my mentality. If God spared me from paralysis or death, I knew I had to make the biggest impact possible where he placed me.”
Over time, his eyesight returned, and his strength grew. By the end of the year, Gudger had transitioned back into his roles as a senator, husband, and father, more determined than ever to leave a legacy of service.
A vision for Alabama
When the opportunity to run for Senate Pro Tempore presented itself, Gudger didn’t hesitate. Despite some questioning his decision and the challenges such a leadership role would entail, he embraced the moment with confidence and faith — resolving in the ICU months earlier not to let fear hold him back.
“There were certain doors that God opened, and I needed to walk through them,” Gudger says.
Now, he views this new position as another door opened to fulfill his calling.
“I want to make Alabama a better place for everyone,” Gudger says. “Not just for my boys, but for the next generation. It’s about teamwork and leaving a lasting impact.”
As he prepares for the upcoming legislative session, Gudger is focused on fostering harmony in the Senate and addressing the challenges facing the state.
“My job is to ensure the Alabama Senate is as strong as it’s ever been,” Gudger says. “We want to handle Christian, conservative issues with a common-sense approach and transparency. People are looking for authenticity and leaders with the right heart, not just titles. I’m excited to lead and cast that vision for where we’re going with all my colleagues. I’m thankful and honored to be in this position to lead that vision.”
