Fournier J. "Boots" Gale III was born August 3, 1944, in Mobile. He attended parochial schools and McGill Institute before entering the University of Alabama on a debate scholarship in 1962. A national champion debater for four years, Gale graduated with honors in 1966 with a B.A. in political science. He was a member of ODK, Delta Sigma Rho, and Jasons. He entered the University of Alabama's law school, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Alabama Law Review and graduated first in his class in 1969. Gale joined the Birmingham firm of Cabaniss & Johnston and was named partner in 1975. In 1984 he left to become a founding partner of Maynard Cooper & Gale. In 2011, Gale became the Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Regions Financial Corporation. He serves or has served on the board of directors of McWane, Inc., Cooper/T. Smith Corporation, the Southern Research Institute, the Business Council of Alabama, and The Cahaba Foundation. He served as general counsel for Associated Industries of Alabama from 1974 to 1984. Gale has been married to his high school sweetheart Louise Smith since 1965. They have two children, Carolyn Partridge and Jenny Saphier, and four grandchildren.