John Anthony Winston, the 15th Governor of Alabama, signed the bill creating the Alabama Public School System in 1854. He was known as the "Veto Governor" because of his stance against transportation funding. In his honor, Hancock County was renamed Winston on January 22, 1858. During the Civil War, he became a Colonel in the 8th Alabama Infantry Regiment of the Confederate Army. At the Battle of Seven Pines, when told to surrender, he replied, "I didn't join the army to surrender." Holding his horse reins in his teeth and drawing both pistols, he opened fire and led his men out of the trap.