Bedford received his education at the
University of Alabama, and his
J.D. degree from
Cumberland School of Law,
Samford University. He was a
Rotarian, and belonged to the
Alabama State Bar, the Cattlemen's Association, the
National Rifle Association,
Ducks Unlimited,
American Cancer Society, Executive member of the
Boy Scouts of America, and the Greater Alabama Council. In 1996 Bedford was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, but was defeated by Republican
Jeff Sessions. On April 2, 2009, multiple sources reported Senator Bedford had received encouragement to run for the Democratic nomination for Alabama governor in 2010. He did not enter the race. Later that month, on April 30, 2009, Bedford inserted a "
poison pill" into a Senate bill that would have made it easier for U.S. soldiers serving overseas to vote, thereby causing it to fail. The poison pill "would prohibit a federal candidate or officeholder from transferring funds to a state campaign for office" and was widely seen as an attempt at preventing
Artur Davis from transferring funds from his Congressional campaign to his state race for governor. ==Personal life and death==