Alabama Business Hall of Fame Welcomes Six for 2025

• December 5th, 2025

Above: The Alabama Business Hall of Fame Class of 2025. From left: Mr. William (Bill) J. Stevens of Vestavia, Ala.; Mr. Benny M. LaRussa Jr. of Birmingham, Ala.; Mrs. Susan N. Story of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; Mr. Fournier J. “Boots” Gale III of Birmingham, Ala.; Mr. Terry C. Anderson of Florence, Ala.; and Mr. Tim M. Parker Jr. of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

CONTACT: Zach Thomas, Director of Marketing and Communications, rzthomas@ua.edu.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Business Hall of Fame inducted six new members for 2025 in a black-tie ceremony on Thursday, November 14 at Haven in downtown Birmingham, attended by business, community, and higher-ed leaders, and former inductees. The event marked the 50th induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame.

Candice Todd, chair of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Board, welcomed attendees to the event and provided the invocation. Dr. Kay M. Palan, dean of the Culverhouse College of Business, introduced each inductee to the stage after the playing of videos highlighting the various inductees’ careers and contributions to the community.

See and download photos of the ceremony here.

One can view those videos below or at this link.

 

More about the 2025 Alabama Business Hall of Fame Inductees

Terry C. Anderson

Terry C. Anderson is chairman and CEO of American Promotional Events, Inc., better known as TNT Fireworks, the world’s largest distributor of consumer fireworks. A third-generation leader of the family business, Anderson earned a business marketing degree from the University of Tennessee. He also chairs Anco Far East Importers Ltd. and serves on boards including Anderson Media Corporation, Books-A-Million, and B.A.S.S. LLC. Anderson is active in philanthropy, supporting organizations such as The Salvation Army and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Fournier J. “Boots” Gale III

Fournier J. “Boots” Gale III is Of Counsel at Maynard Nexsen PC and former general counsel and senior executive vice president at Regions Financial Corporation. A graduate of The University of Alabama School of Law, where he was editor in chief of the Alabama Law Review, Gale has served as president of the Alabama State Bar and the Birmingham Bar Association. He has chaired the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and served on numerous boards, earning induction into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2013.

Benny M. LaRussa Jr.

Benny M. LaRussa Jr. is founder and CEO of Sterling Capital Management, a Birmingham-based holding company with investments in food, industrial distribution, and real estate. He previously co-founded Canterbury Trust Company and helped launch First Commercial Bank. LaRussa earned a finance degree from Auburn University and a master’s in public and private management from Birmingham-Southern College. He serves on multiple boards and supports organizations including Children’s Hospital of Alabama and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Tim M. Parker Jr.

Tim M. Parker Jr. is chairman of Parker Towing Company, a Tuscaloosa-based commodities transportation firm serving the Southeast and Gulf Coast. A University of Alabama graduate and former Army officer, Parker worked for Lykes Brothers Steamship Company before joining the family business. He served three terms in the Alabama Legislature and chaired the Alabama State Port Authority. Parker has held leadership roles with United Way and numerous civic organizations and was named UA Distinguished Alumnus in 2016.

William J. Stevens

William J. Stevens is the retired CEO of Motion Industries, a leading industrial distribution company headquartered in Birmingham. Under his leadership, sales grew from $1.85 billion in 1997 to $4.8 billion in 2014. A graduate of Samford University, Stevens began his career in human resources and rose through the ranks to become CEO and later chairman. He has served on boards for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, The Salvation Army, and Children’s Harbor, among others.

Susan N. Story

Susan N. Story is the retired president and CEO of American Water Works, Inc., the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the U.S. During her tenure from 2014 to 2020, the company’s market capitalization more than tripled. Story earned an industrial engineering degree from Auburn University and an MBA from UAB. She previously held leadership roles at Southern Company and Gulf Power. Story serves on several corporate boards and supports education and charitable initiatives through the Story Family Charitable Fund.

2025 Alabama Business Hall of Fame Corporate Tables

• Alabama Power
• Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering
• Altec
• American Water
• Anderson & Anderson, LLC
• Anderson Growth Partners
• Auburn Athletics/Tigers Unlimited Foundation
• Auburn University Harbert College of Business
• Auburn University
• B.A.S.S. LLC
• Birmingham Business Alliance
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
• Books-A-Million, Inc.
• Brasfield & Gorrie
• Bruno Capital Management
• Culverhouse College of Business Development
• Ernst & Young, LLP
• Friday Breakfast
• Harbert Management Corporation
• Hoar Construction
• John D. Johns
• Karole Lloyd
• Ligon Industries
• Lockton Companies
• Maynard Nexsen
• McWane, Inc.
• Motion Industries
• Parker Towing
• PNC Bank
• Protective Life
• Regions Bank
• Samford University
• Samuel Ginn College of Engineering & Division of Student Affairs
• Scout Energy Partners
• Synovus
• TNT Fireworks
• University of Alabama System
• Vulcan Materials Company
• Wynn’s Grain and Spice

About the Alabama Business Hall of Fame

Founded in 1973, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame honors, preserves and perpetuates the names and outstanding accomplishments of business personalities who have brought lasting fame to the State of Alabama, whether it occurred in Alabama or not.

The Alabama Business Hall of Fame is located in Hewson Hall on The University of Alabama campus.

The Hall of Fame is governed by a 26-member Board of Directors. This body established the criteria for selecting inductees, determines the eligibility and election process for how these candidates shall be elected to the Hall of Fame. All candidates must have been deceased or in retirement at least three years, except for those who are 65 years of age and older, and still active in business. To be eligible for selection, an individual must have made a significant impact on the development of their community and state by promoting the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship.

Nominations for induction into the Hall of Fame are submitted to the 26-member Board of Directors.

This board of directors is composed of Alabama Business Hall of Fame members, business leaders who are alumni and/or affiliates of a diverse representation of the state’s higher education institutions, and each congressional district in the state of Alabama.

Nominate an individual by contacting Lottie Pearce at lbpearce@ua.edu.

Announcing the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Class of 2025

• July 24th, 2025

TUSCALOOSA, Al — The Alabama Business Hall of Fame is set to induct six new members for the Class of 2025. Established in 1973, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame honors individuals who have brought lasting fame to the state of Alabama through their business contributions

The inductees are Mr. Terry C. Anderson of Florence, Ala.; Mr. Fournier J. “Boots” Gale III of Birmingham, Ala.; Mr. Benny M. LaRussa Jr. of Birmingham, Ala.; Mr. Tim M. Parker Jr. of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Mr. William (Bill) J. Stevens of Vestavia, Ala.; and Mrs. Susan N. Story of Gulf Breeze, Fla.

The induction ceremony will be Nov. 13 at Haven in downtown Birmingham.

The Alabama Business Hall of Fame Inductees for 2025

Terry C. Anderson

Terry C. Anderson is the chairman and CEO of American Promotional Events, Inc., better known as TNT Fireworks. TNT was founded in 1920 by his grandfather, Clyde W. Anderson, and has grown under four generations of family leadership. TNT is now the largest and most recognized distributor of consumer fireworks in the world, with importation and distribution in the USA, Asia, Europe, Canada, and Puerto Rico. TNT Fireworks product is sold in 49 states. Annually, TNT serves over 40,000 big box retailers, grocery stores, wholesale clubs, and discount stores, and over 5,000 seasonal stands and tents operated by non-profit groups, individuals, and wholesale customers throughout the USA.

Anderson earned his bachelor’s degree in business marketing from the University of Tennessee, where he was also a proud member of the football team. Continuing the family tradition, he joined the business to help carry forward its legacy of responsible consumer fireworks sales and strong community partnerships. As the third generation of the Anderson family to lead TNT Fireworks, he follows in the footsteps of his father, Charles C. Anderson, who was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2002.

In addition to his role as chairman and CEO of TNT Fireworks, Anderson also serves as chairman of Anco Far East Importers Ltd. in Hong Kong, which provides sourcing and supply chain solutions to global businesses. He is also a director for Anderson Media Corporation, Books-A-Million, Inc., Mahogany Whataburger, Anderson Growth Partners, B.A.S.S. LLC, and Renew Wellness Brands, LLC. His passion for giving back is evident through his board service with The Salvation Army of the Shoals and the Riverhill School Foundation. In addition to his board involvement, he provides philanthropic support to organizations, including but not limited to the Alabama Kidney Foundation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, United Way of the Shoals, Healing Place of the Shoals, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Smile-A-Mile, and the National Brain Tumor Society. He is also a strong supporter of higher education and research, with a significant focus on the University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Alabama, University of North Alabama, and the University of Tennessee.

Anderson and his wife, Susan, live in Florence, Alabama. They have three children and three grandchildren, with a fourth expected in January.

Fournier J. “Boots” Gale III

Fournier J. “Boots” Gale III is Of Counsel at Maynard Nexsen PC, one of Alabama’s leading law firms, and has dedicated his distinguished career to shaping the legal profession, advising businesses, and serving the state of Alabama. Gale was instrumental in founding Maynard Nexsen and served for many years as managing shareholder and chairman. He made a significant impact as general counsel, senior executive vice president, and corporate secretary at Regions Financial Corporation from 2011 to 2020. In addition to his work with Regions, Gale has provided legal guidance and leadership to the wider business community as a long-time board member of the Business Council of Alabama.

Gale graduated first in his class at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was editor in chief of the Alabama Law Review. His deep ties to the University continue today—he is a former president of the University of Alabama Law School Foundation and currently serves as treasurer for the Law School Board of Governors. His legal career began at a time when Alabama’s legal community was rapidly evolving, and Gale’s leadership has helped shape its reputation for excellence.

He has served as president of both the Alabama State Bar and the Birmingham Bar Association, chaired the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and served on the Judicial Inquiry Commission. He has contributed to the boards of several private companies and public foundations and was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2013. Gale continues his dedication to the legal profession as a member of The University of Alabama’s President’s Cabinet and as a Fellow with both the American Bar Foundation and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Gale and his wife, Louise, live in Birmingham. They have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren.

Benny M. LaRussa Jr.

Benny M. LaRussa Jr. is the founder and CEO of Sterling Capital Management, a multi-asset holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Sterling Capital owns and operates three primary platform companies: Fenwick Food Group, which invests in and operates consumer-packaged goods businesses; American Pipe and Supply, a regional wholesale distributor of pipe, valves, and fittings; and StoneRiver Company, which specializes in the acquisition, development, and management of multi-family residential properties. Through these businesses, LaRussa has helped grow companies that create jobs, strengthen communities, and contribute to the regional economy.

LaRussa received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Auburn University, then earned his master’s degree in public and private management from Birmingham-Southern College. In 1985, he joined John Oliver, Richard Anthony, and Tom Broughton in the formation of First Commercial Bank, where he gained six years of valuable experience in the financial industry. In 1991, he co-founded Canterbury Trust Company, Inc., a privately owned state-chartered trust company that was sold to Synovus Financial Corporation, a well-known regional banking company based in Columbus, Georgia.

He serves on the board of directors for Security Engineers Inc., Quarterbacking Children’s Health Foundation, Ascension, and the Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation. He is deeply involved with the Joseph S. Bruno Study Abroad Program in Italy and has actively supported organizations such as the Bell Center for Early Intervention, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center, and Children’s Hospital of Alabama.

LaRussa also served on numerous other boards, including St. Vincent’s Health System, Bruno’s, Inc., Jack’s Family Restaurants, Synovus Bank of Birmingham, and as trustee for Birmingham-Southern College. He served on the Auburn University Foundation Board from 2015 to 2020 and chaired the Auburn University Foundation board from 2019 to 2020.

LaRussa and his wife, Lynn, reside in Birmingham. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

 

Tim M. Parker Jr.

Tim M. Parker Jr. is chairman of Parker Towing Company, a commodities transportation company in Tuscaloosa, which transports supplies throughout the southeast and along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas. The company transports bulk commodities, including steel, aggregates, coal, forest products, grain, cement, asphalt, and petroleum products.

Parker graduated from The University of Alabama in 1966 with a degree in business administration and was a member of the basketball team. He also graduated from the Harvard Business School’s owner/president management program. Parker, who was in the Army ROTC at Alabama, served a tour of duty as an officer stationed in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He worked at Lykes Brothers Steamship Company for five years before returning to work in the family business at Parker Towing, where he soon took over the company.

In 1990, Parker began a political career and was elected as a Representative in the Alabama Legislature. He served three terms (12 years) before stepping down in 2002. He was past chairman of the United Way of Tuscaloosa and received the United Way of West Alabama Alexis De Tocqueville Society’s Family of the Year honor in 2014.

Parker served as chairman for the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority and the Alabama State Port Authority. He was the Tuscaloosa Civitan Club Citizen of the Year in 2019 and was named The University of Alabama’s Distinguished Alumnus Award winner in 2016. Parker served on the advisory board of directors for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc., was a past member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Inland Waterways Users board, past president for the Alabama chapter of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics, and the Tennessee/Tombigbee Waterway Development Council.

Parker and his wife, Cathy, live in Tuscaloosa and have one son and four grandchildren.

 

William J. Stevens

William J. Stevens is the retired CEO of Motion Industries, one of the leading industrial distribution companies in North America, which is based in Birmingham. With Stevens as CEO, Motion Industries’ sales grew from $1.85 billion in 1997 to $4.8 billion in 2014.

A graduate of Samford University with a degree in business administration, Stevens also received a basketball scholarship. He worked for John H. Harland Co. for eight years before embarking on a 37-year career with Motion Industries. He was named Genuine Parts Company Manager of the Year in 1997 and 2006 and received the 2014 Bearing Specialists Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

He began his tenure at Motion Industries in human resources before serving as vice president to the president, and later general manager for the Southwest division in Houston. He served as the company’s executive vice president before being named president and chief operating officer and later president and CEO in 1997. He took over as chairman in 2013.

Stevens, who was the Samford University School of Business Alumnus of the Year in 2010, serves on the Samford Board of Trustees. He served as director of the Boy Scouts of America Greater Alabama Council and was former director of Junior Achievement of Alabama. He also served as chairman of the board for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and was on the executive committee for The Child Caring Foundation and The Caring Foundation. He also served on boards for Children’s Harbor, The Salvation Army, Russell Lands, and the HoneyWord Foundation.

Stevens lives in Vestavia with his wife Kimeran, whom he met at Samford. They have two children and three grandchildren.

 

Susan N. Story

Susan N. Story is the retired president and CEO of American Water Works, Inc., the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States and a member of the S&P 500. During her CEO tenure from 2014 until her retirement in 2020, Story led the company through remarkable growth, more than tripling its stock price and market capitalization. At the time, she was one of only 23 women leading an S&P 500 company, serving as a trailblazer for women in corporate leadership and inspiring countless professionals in the utility sector and beyond.

Story graduated with an industrial engineering degree from Auburn University and earned her MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She spent 31 years with Southern Company, where she held numerous leadership roles, including serving as president and CEO of Southern Company Services in Birmingham and Atlanta, and president and CEO of Gulf Power Company from 2003 to 2010.

Story’s professional and community achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including recognition as one of Birmingham Business Journal’s “Top 10 Women in Business,” a UAB Alumna of the Year, an Auburn University Distinguished Engineer, and a member of the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. She was also named Woman of the Year by the Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle and recently received the Auburn University Lifetime Achievement Award.

She currently serves or has served on the corporate boards of Dominion Energy, Inc., Carrier Global, Newmont Corporation, Raymond James Financial and American Water, and lends her expertise to the Moffitt Cancer Center board of advisors in Tampa, the Pensacola Bay Area Impact 100, the Global Council of CEOs, and the Florida Council of 100 CEOs.

Story and her husband, Joe, support charitable initiatives through the Story Family Charitable Fund, endowing scholarships at Snead State Community College and Auburn University for economically disadvantaged and first-generation college students, as well as various educational and health and human services efforts around the U.S. and world.

 

More Info

Learn more about the Alabama Business Hall of Fame at albusinesshof.com.

Contact Zach Thomas, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Director of Marketing and Communications, at rzthomas@ua.edu or 513-313-9254.

Media may download headshots of the 2025 ABHOF inductees here: https://alabama.box.com/v/2025-albusinesshof

Seven Additions to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame for 2024

• November 20th, 2024

Above: The Alabama Business Hall of Fame Class of 2024. From left to right: Raymond J. Harbert, Dr. Marnix E. Heersink, Thomas H. Lowder, Nick Saban, Thomas A. Harris, Rob Burton, and Claude B. Nielsen. 

CONTACT: Zach Thomas, Director of Marketing and Communications, rzthomas@ua.edu.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Business Hall of Fame inducted seven new members for 2024 in a black-tie ceremony on Thursday, November 14 at Haven in downtown Birmingham, attended by about 500 individuals, including business, community, and higher-ed leaders, and former inductees.

The inductees included:

Rob Burton

Rob Burton is the CEO of Hoar Holdings. After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in building science, Burton held positions of increasing responsibility until he was named president in 1996 and CEO in 2001. Additionally, in 1997, Burton established a top-25 ranked national program management company, HPM, that offers design and construction expertise to institutions and companies around the country.

Raymond J. Harbert

Raymond J. Harbert is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Harbert Management Corporation, one of the largest alternative asset investment management firms in the Southeast. In 1993, Harbert launched Harbert Management Corporation, the first multi-alternative asset investment management firm in Alabama. Today, HMC manages over $8 billion of assets under management. He graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management.

Thomas A. Harris

Thomas A. Harris is an investment banker and entrepreneur who has founded several successful ventures. After graduating from Auburn University in 1971 with a business degree, Harris worked for First Alabama Bankshares as head of national accounts and business development. He later founded Merchant Capital, which Stifel Nicolaus Financial Corp acquired. In 2021, he founded Birmingham Recovery Center and Longleaf Wellness and Recovery Centers, and in 2023, he partnered in launching YHN Media Group, LLC.

Dr. Marnix E. Heersink

Marnix E. Heersink is an ophthalmologist and co-founder of Eye Center South. Born in the Netherlands, Heersink earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Following a surgical internship, an ophthalmology residency, and an anterior segment surgery fellowship, he moved to Dothan, Alabama, where he helped found Eye Center South in 1978. Eye Center South now has operations throughout the Southeast.

Thomas H. Lowder

Thomas H. Lowder is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Colonial Properties Trust, a multifamily-focused real estate investment trust with commercial assets in the Sunbelt region of the United States. After 20 years as a public company, Colonial Properties underwent mergers to become one of the largest and most successful apartment real estate investment trusts on the NYSE, with a market capitalization of over $16 billion. Lowder graduated with honors from Auburn University with a bachelor of science degree.

Claude B. Nielsen

Claude B. Nielsen is the retired CEO and chairman of the board of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business from Sewanee: The University of the South and an MBA from the University of Virginia, Nielsen joined Coca-Cola in 1979. Birmingham-based Coca-Cola United is now among the largest bottlers and distributors of Coke products in the U.S. with over $4 billion in annual revenues.

Nick L. Saban

Nick L. Saban is a sportscaster, sports analyst, entrepreneur, and retired college and professional football coach. After playing defensive back at Kent State University, he graduated in 1973 with a bachelor’s in business, then in 1975, from the same university, with a master’s in sports administration. His career led him to head coach of college and professional football teams, winning seven national championships during his tenure. He is most recognized for leading the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2007 to 2024. He now works as an analyst for ESPN and is also co-owner of Dream Motor Corp., which operates automotive dealerships.

• Read longer inductee bios here.
• Watch videos about each individual inductee here.
• See and download photos of the induction ceremony here.

Candice Todd, vice chair of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Board, welcomed attendees to the event and provided the invocation. Dr. Kay M. Palan, dean of the Culverhouse College of Business, introduced each inductee to the stage after the playing of videos highlighting the various inductees’ careers and contributions to the community.

2024 Alabama Business Hall of Fame Corporate Tables

• Alabama Power
• Anderson & Anderson LLC
• Anderson Growth Partners
• Auburn Athletics/Tigers Unlimited Foundation
• Auburn University
• Auburn University Harbert College of Business
• B.A.S.S. LLC
• Birmingham Business Alliance
• Books-A-Million
• Brasfield & Gorrie
• Ronald G. Bruno
• Coca-Cola
• Coca-Cola UNITED
• Dentons Sirote PC
• Drummond Company, Inc.
• Ernst & Young LLP
• Fairway Investments, LLC
• Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc.
• Harbert Management Corporation
• Hoar Construction
• John D. Johns
• Kowaliga Capital, Inc.
• Ligon Industries
• Lockton Companies
• McWane Inc.
• PNC Bank
• Regions Bank
• Scout Energy Partners
• Synovus Bank
• TNT Fireworks
• The University of Alabama Athletics
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham
• The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business
• The University of Alabama System
• Vulcan Materials
• Wynn’s Grain and Spice

About the Alabama Business Hall of Fame

Founded in 1973, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame honors, preserves and perpetuates the names and outstanding accomplishments of business personalities who have brought lasting fame to the State of Alabama, whether it occurred in Alabama or not.

The Alabama Business Hall of Fame is located in Hewson Hall on The University of Alabama campus.

The Hall of Fame is governed by a 26-member Board of Directors. This body established the criteria for selecting inductees, determines the eligibility and election process for how these candidates shall be elected to the Hall of Fame. All candidates must have been deceased or in retirement at least three years, except for those who are 65 years of age and older, and still active in business. To be eligible for selection, an individual must have made a significant impact on the development of their community and state by promoting the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship.

Nominations for induction into the Hall of Fame are submitted to the 26-member Board of Directors.

This board of directors is composed of Alabama Business Hall of Fame members, business leaders who are alumni and/or affiliates of a diverse representation of the state’s higher education institutions, and each congressional district in the state of Alabama.

Announcing the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Class of 2024

• July 18th, 2024

TUSCALOOSA, Al — The Alabama Business Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1973 to honor those individuals who have brought lasting fame to the state of Alabama through their business contributions, is proud to announce the names of the seven business leaders that compose the Class of 2024.

The inductees are Mr. Rob Burton of Birmingham, AL; Mr. Raymond J. Harbert of Birmingham, AL; Mr. Thomas A. Harris of Hope Hull, AL; Dr. Marnix E. Heersink of Dothan, AL; Mr. Thomas H. Lowder of Birmingham, AL; Mr. Claude B. Nielsen of Birmingham, AL; and Mr. Nick L. Saban of Tuscaloosa, AL.

The induction ceremony will take place at Haven in Birmingham on Thursday, November 14.

The Alabama Business Hall of Fame Inductees for 2024

Rob Burton

Rob Burton is CEO of Hoar Holdings. He started working at Hoar Construction for his father (then president Bob Burton) to learn the family business at the age of 13. After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in building science, Burton again entered the company and held positions of increasing responsibility until he was named president in 1996 and CEO in 2001. Under Burton’s leadership, Hoar Construction diversified, opening offices in several states and tackling larger and more complex projects—including ones in healthcare, entertainment, higher education, government, and more—while doubling the company’s revenue in the first ten years of his leadership. Additionally, in 1997 Burton established a now top-25 ranked national program management company, HPM, that offers design and construction expertise to institutions and companies around the country. In 2021, the company launched RPI Rentals, a construction equipment rental, materials, and supplies company with offices in Alabama and Texas. Hoar Construction, HPM, and RPI Rentals have all been repeatedly certified as a Great Place to Work.

A passionate supporter of Birmingham and the greater community, Burton has served on boards of various organizations, including The Birmingham Business Alliance, the Birmingham Zoo, Lakeshore Foundation, Protective Life, and American Contractors Insurance Group, among others. He is currently chairman of the board at The Hope Institute, which helps schools cultivate the character of students. Burton founded Hoar Community Foundation in 2004, a fund that has donated millions to charities that further the firm’s core values in areas where employees live and work.

Burton and his wife, Nancy, live in Birmingham, Alabama and have four children and nine grandchildren.

Raymond J. Harbert

Raymond J. Harbert is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Harbert Management Corporation, one of the largest alternative asset investment management firms in the Southeast. Harbert’s lifelong entrepreneurial pursuits began early in life at age 15 when he founded Penbryn Hill Catering, which he ran throughout his high school years.

After graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management, Harbert went to work for Harbert International, Inc., the construction subsidiary of Harbert Corporation, and the company his father, John Harbert, had founded and built over a span of four decades. In 1990, at the age of 31, Harbert was promoted to president and CEO of Harbert Corporation, which was a multi-billion-dollar diversified conglomerate. In 1993, Harbert launched Harbert Management Corporation, the first multi alternative asset investment management firm in Alabama. Today, HMC manages ten different investment strategies from eight U.S. and four European offices with over $8 billion of assets under management.

Harbert serves on the boards and executive committees of the Robert Meyer Foundation, Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham Business Alliance and is chairman of the Newcomen Society of Alabama. He is also a Trustee Emeritus of Auburn University, where the College of Business is named for him. He previously served on the board of the Alabama Trust Fund and is a past member of Leadership Alabama. In 2006, Harbert was awarded the regional Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Financial Services, and he was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2015.

Raymond and Kathryn Harbert are active philanthropists, having made significant gifts both in time and capital to numerous organizations including Auburn University, Red Mountain Theatre, Children’s of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and United Way of Central Alabama, where they were awarded the United Way Tocqueville Society Award in 2018. They have three children and nine grandchildren and live in Birmingham, Alabama.

Thomas A. Harris

Thomas A. Harris is an investment banker and entrepreneur who has founded several successful ventures. After graduating from Auburn University in 1971 with a business degree, Harris worked for First Alabama Bankshares as head of national accounts and business development. In 1987, he was a founder and president of Merchant Capital, a leading investment banking firm based in Montgomery, with offices throughout the Southeast. Merchant Capital was acquired by Stifel Nicolaus Financial Corp. in 2014. Harris served as senior managing director at Stifel Nicolaus until 2022. In 2021, he founded Birmingham Recovery Center and Longleaf Wellness and Recovery Centers, which provides treatment for substance use and mental health disorders with four facilities across Alabama. In 2023 he partnered in launching YHN Media Group, LLC, which owns several Alabama-based media outlets.

An avid conservationist, Harris founded and serves as president of Alabama Black Belt Adventures, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities in the Alabama Black Belt region. He was recently named to the national board of directors for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and in 2019, was named Alabama Wildlife Governor’s Conservationist of the year. Harris serves on numerous boards, including the Alabama Wildlife Federation and Junior Achievement of Alabama.

Harris and his wife, Cindy, reside in Lowndes County, Alabama and have four children and seven grandchildren.

Dr. Marnix E. Heersink

Marnix E. Heersink is an ophthalmologist and co-founder of Eye Center South. Born in the Netherlands, Heersink earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Following a surgical internship in Montreal, and an ophthalmology residency and an anterior segment surgery fellowship, both in Philadelphia, he and his wife, Mary, moved to Dothan, Alabama, where he helped found Eye Center South in 1978. He has helped lead several research studies with the Trinity Research Group in Dothan since 2016, and is a fellow and member of several professional organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, International College of Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Heersink is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and the American Board of Eye Surgery.

Committed philanthropists, the Heersinks have funded numerous scholarships and fellowships at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Troy Business School. They also established the Wiregrass Pathway to Optometry scholarship. Heersink founded the Eye Education Foundation, an educational nonprofit for eye care professionals. Recently, the family made transformative gifts to two universities: The University of Alabama at Birmingham, (which named its medical school the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine) and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Heersink has lectured internationally, and has served or serves on numerous nonprofit boards. He holds an honorary doctorate from McMaster University.

Heersink and Mary live in Dothan, Alabama and have six children and 11 grandchildren.

Thomas H. Lowder

Thomas H. Lowder is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Colonial Properties Trust, a New York Stock Exchange-listed, multifamily-focused real estate investment trust, with commercial assets in the Sunbelt region of the United States. After graduating with honors from Auburn University with a bachelor of science degree, Lowder assumed the leadership role at the family business, Colonial Properties Trust, in 1976. Lowder took the business public in 1993. With Lowder as CEO, the company grew from $475 million in total market capitalization to $5.3 billion before he retired from active management in 2006. Lowder returned three years later as CEO, in December 2008, to lead the company after the financial recession and Wall Street crisis. After 20 years as a public company, Colonial Properties merged with Mid-America Apartment Communities in 2013 and later Post Properties, Inc to create one of the largest and most successful apartment real estate investment trusts on the NYSE with a market capitalization over $16 billion. Lowder continues to serve on the board of Mid-America Apartment Communities.

Active in his community and beyond, Lowder serves or has served as a member or chair of several boards, including Children’s Hospital of Alabama, the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Quarterbacking Children’s Health Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the American Red Cross, and United Way of Central Alabama, among others. Lowder and his wife, Susan, who he married in 2012, are active in philanthropic efforts to find a cure for Alzheimer’s, ALS, and other neurological diseases, which took the lives of each of their former spouses.

Lowder has three daughters and Susan has three sons. They reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

Claude B. Nielsen

Claude B. Nielsen is the retired CEO and chairman of the board of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business from Sewanee: The University of the South and an MBA from the University of Virginia, Nielsen joined Coca-Cola in 1979. He held a variety of operational and managerial positions in the company until he was named CEO in 1991 and later chairman of the board of directors in 2003. Under Nielsen’s leadership, United more than tripled the size and scope of the company in terms of revenues, geography, number of employees, and facilities. Birmingham-based Coca-Cola United is among the largest bottlers and distributors of Coke products in the U.S. With over $4 billion in annual revenues, it is also one of the largest privately held companies in Alabama. Nielsen retired as CEO in 2016 and as chairman in 2023.

Nielsen has served as a board member and chairman of the American Beverage Association, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, and The Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Association. He has devoted time and energy to supporting causes like the United Way of Central Alabama, the Birmingham Airport Authority Board, and the American Cancer Society. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Business Alliance. Nielsen was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2016 and into the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame in 2022. In addition, he and his wife, Kate, were recognized by the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America in 2017 with the “Heart of an Eagle” award for their community service, and they were named Outstanding Civic Leaders by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2021.

The Nielsens have three children and nine grandchildren and reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

Nick L. Saban

Nick L. Saban is a sportscaster, sports analyst, entrepreneur, and retired college and professional football coach, best known for his coaching of the Crimson Tide football team at The University of Alabama from 2007-2023. After playing defensive back at Kent State University, he graduated in 1973 with a bachelor’s in business, then in 1975, from the same university, with a master’s in sports administration. Saban’s coaching career began in graduate school as a graduate assistant to coach Don James. He went on to work as assistant coach to several college football programs from the late 1970s to mid-1980s, before starting his career as head coach at the University of Toledo in 1990. After one season with Toledo, Saban left to join the Cleveland Browns as defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick. He stayed until 1995, when he became head coach of Michigan State University, then LSU in 2000, and then the Miami Dolphins in 2005. Saban took on the head coach position at The University of Alabama in 2007, where he led the team to six championship titles, and steered the Crimson Tide into ranking #1 in the AP Top 25, at some point in the season, from 2008 until 2023 — the longest in college football history.

Saban now works as an analyst for the nationally-televised ESPN College GameDay. He is also co-owner of Dream Motor Corp., which operates automotive dealerships.

Along with his wife, Terry, Saban co-founded Nick’s Kids, a charitable organization that has donated more than $14 million to support children, teacher, and student causes throughout the state of Alabama and beyond.

Saban and Terry have two children and two grandchildren and live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

More Info

Learn more about the Alabama Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony at albusinesshof.com.

Contact Zach Thomas, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Director of Marketing and Communications, at rzthomas@ua.edu.

Media may download headshots of the 2024 ABHOF inductees here: https://alabama.box.com/v/2024-albusinesshof

 

2023 Brings Six New Additions to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame

• November 13th, 2023

CONTACT: Zach Thomas, Director of Marketing and Communications, rzthomas@ua.edu.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Business Hall of Fame inducted six new members for 2023 in a black-tie ceremony on November 9 at Haven in downtown Birmingham, attended by about 450 individuals.

The inductees for 2023 included:

Herman E. Bulls

Herman E. Bulls is Vice Chairman, Americas, as well as international director and the founder of Jones Lang LaSalle’s (JLL) highly acclaimed Public Institutions practice, which he started to serve governmental and higher education clients. In addition to his current work at JLL, Bulls is the founder, president, and CEO of Bulls Advisory Group, a real estate advisory and management consulting firm. Born in Florence, Ala., he served in the United States Army after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point with an engineering degree and completing the Army’s Airborne and Ranger courses.

Thomas “Tom” Hough

Thomas “Tom” Hough spent most of his career working for Ernst & Young in positions of escalating responsibility. By his retirement in 2014, he was leading EY’s Americas Assurance Practice, serving on the Firm’s Executive Board and a member of the Global Assurance Executive Committee. He graduated from The University of Alabama with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting.

Phillip McWane

Phillip McWane is chairman of McWane, Inc., the Birmingham, Alabama-based manufacturer of ductile iron products such as pipes, hydrants, and other critical goods used in construction and water infrastructure. Under McWane’s leadership, the company, a cornerstone of the Alabama business community, became a market leader. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management.

James W. Rane

James W. “Jimmy” Rane is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc., a company he founded in Abbeville, Alabama, in 1970 and which has since grown to become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of pressure-treated lumber. He graduated high school from Marion Military Institute. He earned his bachelor’s in business administration from Auburn University, as well as a J.D. from the Samford University Cumberland School of Law.

Frank Stitt III

Frank Stitt III is the owner and executive chef of Highlands Bar and Grill, Bottega Restaurant, Bottega Café, and Chez Fonfon in Birmingham, Alabama. Stitt’s culinary journey began to take shape when he moved to San Francisco, and he honed his kitchen skills at various Bay Area restaurants before returning to his home state of Alabama to launch Highlands in 1982. He attended Tufts University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Michael D. Thompson

Michael D. Thompson is chairman of the board of Thompson Tractor Co., a dealer of heavy earthmoving machinery and engines through the South, and president and CEO of Fairway Investments. Fairway manages millions of square feet of retail, office, multi-family, hospitality, and industrial property across the country. He earned a bachelor’s degree in general business from The University of Alabama. 

Read longer inductee bios here.

Watch videos about each individual inductee here.

See and download photos of the induction ceremony here.

Mike Ross, chairman of the Hall of Fame Board, welcomed attendees to the event and provided the invocation. Dr. Kay M. Palan, dean of the Culverhouse College of Business, introduced each inductee to the stage after the playing of videos highlighting the individual inductees’ careers and community contributions.

Some of the distinguished guests in attendance included area higher-ed leadership, including Dr. Stuart Bell, President of The University of Alabama, Beck Taylor, President of Samford University, and Dr. Ray Watts, President of The University of Alabama at Birmingham, as well as University of Alabama System Chancellor Finis St. John IV. Furthermore, Congressman Robert Aderholt and former Senator Richard Shelby attended the ceremony.

Several former inductees from over the years also attended the event.

About the Alabama Business Hall of Fame

Founded in 1973, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame honors, preserves and perpetuates the names and outstanding accomplishments of business personalities who have brought lasting fame to the State of Alabama, whether it occurred in Alabama or not.

The Alabama Business Hall of Fame is located in Hewson Hall on The University of Alabama campus.

The Hall of Fame is governed by a 26-member Board of Directors. This body established the criteria for selecting inductees, determines the eligibility and election process for how these candidates shall be elected to the Hall of Fame. All candidates must have been deceased or in retirement at least three years, except for those who are 65 years of age and older, and still active in business. To be eligible for selection, an individual must have made a significant impact on the development of their community and state by promoting the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship.

This board of directors is composed of Alabama Business Hall of Fame members, business leaders who are alumni and/or affiliates of a diverse representation of the state’s higher education institutions, and each congressional district in the state of Alabama.

We are extremely proud of this group of distinguished Alabama business personalities to be inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame. Individually and collectively, these individuals have greatly influenced the economic, political, and cultural aspects of life in the State of Alabama and the United States.

Alabama Business Hall of Fame to Induct Six for 2023

• August 1st, 2023

2022 Brings Eight Additions to Alabama Business Hall of Fame

• November 11th, 2022

Alabama Business Hall of Fame welcomes eight new inductees for 2022, joining ranks of 245 business leaders

CONTACT: Zach Thomas, Director of Marketing and Communications, zthomas@culverhouse.ua.edu.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Business Hall of Fame inducted eight new members for 2022 in a black-tie ceremony on November 10 at Haven in downtown Birmingham attended by over 600 individuals.

The inductees for 2022 included:

Walter Batson, Jr.

Mr. Walter Batson, Jr. of Huntsville: Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of InterFuze Corporation, a Huntsville-based firm offering professional and technological products and services to the federal government. Mr. Batson attended The University of Alabama, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in statistics and accounting, and a master’s in operations research.

Dixon Brooke, Jr.

Mr. F. Dixon Brooke, Jr. of Birmingham: The retired CEO and President of EBSCO Industries, Inc., a diversified company with stakes in information services, real estate, and insurance. Born in Birmingham, Mr. Brooke earned a bachelor’s in business administration from Auburn University.

Ronald G. Bruno

Mr. Ronald G. Bruno of Vestavia Hills: Co-founder and Partner at Bruno Event Team, one of the largest dedicated sports event management companies in the country. He earned his bachelor’s in marketing from The University of Alabama.

Grayson Hall

Mr. Grayson Hall of Birmingham: Retired CEO of Regions Bank. His leadership and vision helped the bank emerge stronger from the Great Recession. He attended Sewanee: The University of the South and graduated with a bachelor’s in economics, then The University of Alabama, where he earned an MBA.

Alexis M. Herman

Secretary Alexis M. Herman of Washington, D.C.: Chair and CEO of New Ventures, LLC, a risk management company. Born in Mobile, Mrs. Herman earned her bachelor’s of sociology at Xavier University. She was the first African-American woman to serve as Assistant to the President under Bill Clinton, and Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison, and was later the first African-American to ever serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor.

Michael A. Mouron

Mr. Michael Mouron of Birmingham: Retired Chairman of Capstone Development Corp, a real estate development company that created a new model for college campus housing. A native of Birmingham, Mr. Mouron earned his bachelor’s of accounting from The University of Alabama.

William S. Propst, Sr.

Mr. William S. Propst, Sr. of Huntsville: Started and led Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, which was one of the largest generic drug manufacturers in the country. Born in Walkers Chapel, Alabama, Mr. Propst earned his bachelor’s of pharmacy at Samford University.

Kemmons Wilson, Jr.

Mr. C. Kemmons Wilson, Jr. of Memphis, TN: Principal and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kemmons Wilson Companies, a family-owned organization with diverse business interests. Mr. Wilson, who goes by “Kem,” earned his bachelor’s of business administration at The University of Alabama, and studied business at the Harvard Graduate School of Business.

The award of inductee Mr. William S. Propst, Sr., who passed away in 2019 was accepted by his widow, Eloise Propst, and son, Bill Propst Jr.

Read longer inductee bios here.

Mike Ross, the Chairman of the Hall of Fame Board welcomed attendees to the event and provided the invocation. Dr. Kay M. Palan, dean of the Culverhouse College of Business, introduced each inductee to the stage.

Dean Palan noted that while all the inductees have made lasting impacts in business, they also give back in the form of service to their communities, offering leadership on boards, or making gifts that help lift up others.

Some of the distinguished guests in attendance included area higher-ed leadership, including Dr. Stuart Bell, President of The University of Alabama, Dr. Chuck Karr, President of The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Dr. Beck Taylor, President of Samford University, and Dr. Ray Watts, President of The University of Alabama at Birmingham, as well as University of Alabama System Chancellor Finis St. John IV and trustees Davis Malone and Stan Starnes.

A number of former inductees from over the years also attended the event.

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About the Alabama Business Hall of Fame

Founded in 1973 by the Board of Visitors of the Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame honors, preserves and perpetuates the names and outstanding accomplishments of business personalities who have brought lasting fame to the State of Alabama, whether it occurred in Alabama or not.

All inductees are heavily committed to their communities, serving in leadership roles on boards, donating their time and resources to causes, and inspiring future generations of business leaders.

Now in its 48^th year, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame is in Hewson Hall on The University of Alabama campus.

Members of UA’s Culverhouse College of Business staff and a board representing the Culverhouse Board of Visitors, former inductees, other Alabama institutions of higher education, and Alabama businesses, coordinate the Hall of Fame selection process and planning of the induction ceremony.

Alabama Business Hall of Fame to Induct Eight for 2022

• July 22nd, 2022

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Established in 1973 to honor those individuals that have brought lasting fame to the state of Alabama through their business contributions, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame is proud to announce the names of the eight individuals that compose the Class of 2022.

The inductees are Mr. Walter Batson, Jr. of Huntsville; Mr. F. Dixon Brooke, Jr. of Birmingham; Mr. Ronald G. Bruno of Vestavia Hills; Mr. Grayson Hall of Birmingham; Ms. Alexis M. Herman of Washington, D.C.; Mr. Michael Mouron of Birmingham; Mr. William S. Propst, Sr. of Huntsville; and Mr. C. Kemmons Wilson, Jr. of Memphis, TN.

The induction ceremony will take place at Haven in Birmingham on Thursday, Nov. 10.

The Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama is home to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, located in the College’s Hewson Hall. The College also organizes the annual induction ceremony.

More about the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and ticket and table sponsorship information at culverhouse.ua.edu/abhof.

 Walter Batson, Jr.

Walter Batson, Jr. is the co-founder and chairman of the board of InterFuze Corporation, a Huntsville-based firm offering professional and technological products and services to the federal government.

In 1990, Batson co-founded Camber Corporation, which provides technological and programmatic solutions related to defense, aeronautics, and cyberinfrastructure. Through his visionary leadership, Camber Corporation grew from three employees into a diversified company with over 2000 employees and almost $500 million in revenue supporting government clients such as NASA, the United States Department of Defense, and the intelligence community and has expanded its client base to encircle the globe. The company is now in the portfolio of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

Batson’s passionate involvement with the ARC of Madison County — as a former president and current member of the board — is illustrative of his commitment to the greater community. He is also a member of The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College Board of Visitors and a board member of Biztech, which is concerned with supporting small start-ups.

He has a master’s in operations research and bachelor’s degrees in statistics and accounting from The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business.

 Dixon Brooke, Jr.

Dixon Brooke, Jr. is the retired CEO and president of EBSCO. The Birmingham-area-based company boasts an array of business lines, including publishing, information services, insurance, manufacturing, real-estate, and outdoor products.

Over his 49-year career, Brooke served EBSCO in a variety of capacities and was president and CEO from 2005 to 2014. The company is ranked in the top three Alabama-based privately held firms. And it gives back: it supports area organizations through monetary contributions and volunteer service via its EBSCO Community Impact initiative. As an avid outdoorsman, Brooke’s interest in conservation has led to EBSCO’s recent work with the Forever Wild Land Trust to preserve from development over 1,600 uniquely situated acres to expand Oak Mountain State Park.

Brooke’s list of business and civic responsibilities is extensive. He is on the board of directors of EBSCO Industries, Synovus Financial Corp, McWane Inc., the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Alabama Wildlife Federation, and the Boy Scouts of America’s Central Alabama Council. He previously served on the boards of the United Way of Central Alabama, and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, among other organizations.

He earned his bachelor’s in business administration from Auburn University.

 Ronald G. Bruno

Ronald G. Bruno is an accomplished leader in business and philanthropy. He came up through the family business, Bruno’s Supermarkets, Inc., starting as a bagger and then cashier. Eventually, he worked his way through the ranks to being named COO in 1985 and then CEO in the summer of 1991.

In December 1991, tragedy struck when a plane carrying much of the company’s leadership team crashed, killing all passengers, among them his father and uncle. Amidst the loss and grief, Bruno was named chairman. He quickly took the lead, and between 1991 and 1995, the company opened 15 new stores annually and expanded the Nashville and Atlanta markets. KKR approached Bruno’s Supermarkets with an offer to purchase, and the sale was finalized in 1995 for $1.2 billion, the largest sale of an Alabama company to that date.

Bruno then set on a new path as a partner in Bruno Event Team, which is now one of the largest dedicated sports event management companies in the country. He currently serves as President of Bruno Capital Management, a family investment company that he founded.

Throughout his career, Bruno has served on the board of directors for several publicly traded companies, including Bruno’s Inc, Russell Athletic Corporation, Books-A-Million, and SouthTrust Bank. He also serves his community through membership in numerous civic organizations.

He graduated from The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing.

 Grayson Hall

Grayson Hall is the Birmingham-based retired chairman and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation, the state of Alabama’s only Fortune 500 company. He retired from Regions in 2018 after a 38-year career, which started when he joined its predecessor AmSouth Bancorporation as a management trainee. Over time, he served in roles of increasing responsibility and was named president and CEO in 2010, and in 2013, was named chairman. No matter his role, Grayson never lost his focus on the people and communities Regions serves.

Hall’s tenure as CEO began as Regions and its peers across the banking industry were navigating the impacts of the Great Recession. His leadership and vision helped Regions emerge stronger. Hall championed a set of strong core values, a culture built around teamwork and service, and a deliberate focus on creating shared value for customers, communities, associates, and shareholders. The company went from reporting a loss in 2010 to posting strong profits in the years before Hall retired. Regions Bank is now a regional powerhouse with a branch network reaching 15 states and specialty capabilities serving clients nationwide. At the time of Hall’s retirement, it had a $7.6 billion impact on Alabama’s economy. As of July 2022, the company had a market value of approximately $17 billion; it remains Alabama’s only Fortune 500 company.

Hall is on the board of Vulcan Materials, Great Southern Woods Holdings Inc., and Alabama Power. He has also given his time to a variety of philanthropic and community-focused organizations including the Newcomen Society of Alabama, Birmingham Business Alliance, and Children’s of Alabama. He is also a member of The University of Alabama’s President’s Cabinet and the Culverhouse College of Business’s Board of Visitors.

Hall earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Sewanee, the University of the South and his MBA from The University of Alabama.

 Alexis M. Herman

Alexis M. Herman is a highly accomplished leader in both business and the public sector and is based in Washington, D.C. She started her career working in Mississippi shipyards helping connect employers to area talent, which later translated to her in the early 1970s creating the Minority Women Employment Program in Atlanta. That program placed the first women of color in professional and technical roles at major corporations like General Motors, Xerox, and Delta Air Lines.

At 29, she was nominated to serve as the Director of the Women’s Bureau in President Jimmy Carter’s administration and in that role, advocated for equal pay for working women. She later served as CEO of the 1992 Democratic National Convention and later served in several positions within the Clinton administration. In 1997, she was nominated and confirmed as the 23^rd U.S. Secretary of Labor, and in that position, played a critical role in settling or mediating a number of labor disputes and issues.

After leaving the public sector, she serves as chair and CEO of risk management firm New Ventures, LLC. She is also on the board of directors of Entergy, MGM Resorts, and The Coca-Cola Company.

Herman has also been engaged with a series of civic- and community-focused organizations, including the National Urban League, the National Council of Negro Women, and the Chair of the Advisory Board of Heart of Mary School in Mobile, Alabama.

She graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology.

 Michael A. Mouron

The impact of Michael A. Mouron’s innovative approach toward student housing can be felt on college campuses across the country. His firm, Capstone Development Corp, based in Birmingham, developed the “leased by the bed” model for student housing in the 1980s.

This model was successful, but it was the development of a new method for financing projects that reduced exposure to partnering universities that truly helped Capstone scale its growth. From 1990 until Mouron’s retirement as chairman in 2012, Capstone developed about $3 billion in public-private student housing communities. Upon his retirement, Michael Mouron divided Capstone into four “successor companies” giving the people running the various divisions ownership.

In his retirement, Mouron, who lives in Mountain Brook, focuses on a variety of projects adaptive reuse projects in Birmingham. He is also committed to giving back to his alma mater as Co-Chairman of the “Rising Tide” capital campaign, a member of The University of Alabama’s President’s Cabinet, Bryant Society, and UA’s Adapted Athletics Board of Visitors. This latter group is a special point of focus for Mouron: in 2017, he and his wife Kathy made gifts totaling $4 million to support the construction of Stran-Hardin Arena, a $10 million multi-purpose facility for the University’s Adapted Athletics program. He also supports many other organizations, including serving on the boards of First Horizon Bank Birmingham, the City of Mountain Brook’s Planning Committee, and the Lakeshore Foundation’s Advisory Council.

He graduated from The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business with a degree in accounting.

 William S. Propst, Sr.

William S. Propst, Sr. was a stalwart supporter and advocate for Huntsville — and played an immense role in growing and nurturing the community’s economic interests. He started his career as a pharmacist and in the 1960s, opened several pharmacies in the Huntsville market. In 1968, he entered into an innovative relationship with Kmart to locate his pharmacies inside the retailer’s stores. The model was a success and soon, Propst was hired to open pharmacies in 1,850 Kmarts across the country.

Kmart later established Qualitest Pharmaceuticals and tapped Propst to lead the generic drugs manufacturer. Eventually, Kmart divested itself of Qualitest, and Propst took ownership and moved operations to Huntsville in 1986. Under his leadership, it became one of the largest generic drug manufacturers in the country. The company was eventually purchased by Endo International in 2007.

After the sale of Qualitest, Propst focused his energies and resources on supporting the Huntsville community. He made gifts to the city’s arts community, funded facilities at the Von Braun Center, and helped establish the Paul Propst Center for Precision Medicine.

He is a graduate of Samford University’s School of Pharmacy.

He passed away on Feb. 1, 2019, at the age of 81.

 Kemmons Wilson, Jr.

Kemmons Wilson, Jr., is the principal and vice chairman of the board of directors of Kemmons Wilson Companies, a family-owned company involved in the management of various business interests in four broad categories: hotel/resort management, real estate, private equity, and aviation. The company was founded in 1948 by his father, Kemmons Wilson, Sr., and principally operated in the hospitality industry. By 1972 the company managed over 1,400 hotels around the world under the Holiday Inn banner. In 1990, Wilson Sr. sold his interest in the chain.

In the decades since, the company has diversified and manages or owns hotel properties across Alabama, including Embassy Suites in downtown Tuscaloosa and the hotel at Alabama’s Gulf State Park.

Wilson’s generosity and commitment to civic engagement knows no bounds. He is a member of The University of Alabama’s President’s Cabinet and Culverhouse College of Business Board of Visitors, is a former trustee of Furman University, and is chairman of the board of the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management at the University of Memphis. He was also a member of the board of directors of Regions Financial Corporation.

Furthermore, he is on the board of directors of Campus Crusade for Christ, DownLine Ministries, and Baptist Hospital Foundation. For the past 25 years, Wilson has intentionally invested in the next generation through mentoring, discipleship, and fostering stewardship. He has started numerous ministries and planted a church where he serves as an elder.

For all his contributions, he has been named Memphis’ “Philanthropist of the Year” and “Mentor of the Year.”

Wilson earned his bachelor’s degree in business from The University of Alabama and graduated from Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management program.

More Info

Learn more about the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and purchase tickets to the upcoming induction ceremony at culverhouse.ua.edu/abhof.

Contact Zach Thomas, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Director of Marketing and Communications, at zthomas@culverhouse.ua.edu or 205-348-8318.

Media may download headshots of the 2022 inductees here:

https://alabama.box.com/s/pd0ujzxromfbnvpf7rx2a7cl9rcbqt1e

Seven Named to Alabama Business Hall of Fame for 2021

• July 22nd, 2020

Established in 1973 to honor those individuals that have brought lasting fame to the state of Alabama through their business contributions, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame is proud to announce the names of the seven individuals that compose the Class of 2021.

The inductees are: Mr. Robert Baron of Huntsville; Mr. Cecil Batchelor of Russellville; Dr. Marcus Bendickson of Huntsville; Mr. Jay Grinney of Birmingham; Dr. Lonnie Johnson of Atlanta, GA; Mr. Joe Ritch of Huntsville; and Mr. Stan Starnes of Birmingham.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and in the interest of the health and safety of our inductees and their guests, the induction ceremony will be rescheduled to October 7, 2021 at Haven in Birmingham. Contact events@culverhouse.ua.edu for more info about purchasing a seat or table.

The Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama is home to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, which is located in the College’s Bidgood Hall. The College also organizes the annual induction ceremony.

More about the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and ticket and table sponsorship information at culverhouse.ua.edu/abhof.

Inductee Profiles

Robert O. “Bob” Baron

Robert O. “Bob” Baron is the CEO and Founder of Baron Services, which is an industry leader in weather forecasting and warning systems. The Huntsville-based company features a portfolio that includes weather radar, storm tracking software, and climatological data analysis tools. The U.S. National Weather Service recently tasked Baron Services with the job of upgrading the nation’s radar network with the company’s products.

Baron founded the company with expertise and relationships earned over a 22-year career in broadcast meteorology. It was the award of a NASA technology transfer grant to access weather data that led to the development of a real-time severe weather warning system that is used by pilots, first responders, and emergency management officials.

For his contributions to ensure public safety through free weather warning apps and other services, he has been commended by the Alabama House of Representatives. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce and the Huntsville Better Business Bureau. He has also supported a number of community organizations that benefit the region such as Big Oak Ranch, the Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama, Manna House, and Homes for our Troops.

He earned his undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Tennessee; UT’s Haslam Business School named him Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011.

Cecil Batchelor

Cecil Batchelor is the Chairman of CBS Banc-Corp and Chairman Emeritus of CB&S Bank, based in Russellville, Alabama. His 56-year banking career is one defined by success in establishing and leading banks throughout the state. After becoming involved with Russellville’s Citizens Bank, now CB&S Bank, he founded First Federal Savings & Loans in Haleyville. Over time First Federal Savings & Loan merged with First Federal of Alabama in Jasper, now known as Pinnacle Bank.

During his tenure as chairman, CB&S Bank grew from having $5 million in assets to more than $2 billion in assets. The bank also grew from one office in Russellville to an impressive 56 branches in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

A veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Navy, Batchelor is committed to the community of Russellville and has been twice-honored as that city’s Citizen of the Year and is a 72-year member of the local club of Civitan International. He has also led a number of community-oriented initiatives, throughout the state of Alabama, including successful efforts to raise funds for hospitals and health-related causes.

He attended Florence State Teachers College, now known as the University of North Alabama.

Dr. Marcus Bendickson

Dr. Marcus Bendickson is the retired CEO and former Chairman of the Board of Dynetics, Inc., a leading provider of high-technology, mission-critical services and solutions to government and commercial customers. Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leidos, Dynetics has over 2,500 employees throughout the United States providing responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific, IT solutions to the national security, cybersecurity, space, and critical infrastructure sectors.

Dr. Bendickson became CEO of Dynetics in 1989 when he and his business partner, Tom Baumbach, orchestrated a buyout of its stock from its founders. Under Dr. Bendickson’s leadership, Dynetics steadily grew to the second-largest employee-owned company in the state of Alabama, generating sales of approximately $275 million at the time of his retirement in July 2015. Dr. Bendickson remained as chairman of the Dynetics Board of Directors, leading the company through a period of unprecedented growth. Thanks in large part to Dr. Bendickson’s vision and leadership, the Dynetics portfolio has grown to encompass highly specialized technical services and a range of software and hardware products, including components, subsystems, and complex end-to-end systems. In January 2020, Dynetics was purchased by Leidos for $1.65B, ushering in a new era of opportunity for the company.

He is involved in a number of organizations that serve the business interests of the Huntsville area, including serving on the Boards of Directors of the BB&T Greater Huntsville Advisory Board, the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, and the HudsonAlpha Foundation. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the UAH Foundation Board of Trustees.

Dr. Bendickson earned his doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, his M.S. in electrical engineering from Columbia University, and his bachelor’s from Iowa State University.

Jay Grinney

Jay Grinney is the former President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of HealthSouth Corporation, now known as Encompass Health. The company, based in Birmingham, employs approximately 44,000 dedicated employees and offers post-acute healthcare services through its national network of rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice agencies.

Grinney has a long track record as a leader in executive roles. Before joining Encompass Health, he was president of the eastern group at Hospital Corporation of America and senior vice president at The Methodist Hospital System in Houston. He is currently serving as a senior advisor to KKR’s private equity healthcare practice.

He has been involved with many community organizations, having served on the boards of directors of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, and the United Way of Central Alabama.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College, Grinney earned both a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

 

Dr. Lonnie Johnson

Dr. Lonnie Johnson is a lifelong serial entrepreneur and innovator. Growing up in Mobile, his innate scientific curiosity led him down a path that would include inventing advanced defense and aerospace technologies as well as a beloved summertime toy.

Dr. Johnson’s career started at the United States Air Force and NASA where from 1979 to 1991 he worked on the Galileo mission to Jupiter, weapons projects, and the stealth bomber program.

It was, however, a passion project made at home that he is perhaps best known for. While experimenting with a heat pump and high-pressure nozzle, he realized that he had the makings of a water gun. Over the years, he refined the design, and in 1989, Larami Corporation licensed what is known as the Super Soaker.

Currently, Dr. Johnson is involved in developing new battery and fuel cell technologies.

He is a committed supporter of a number of community-oriented causes such as the Boys and Girls Club and serves as chairman of the Georgia Alliance for Children. Recently, he donated $3.5 million to construct a STEM building at Williamson High School in the Maysville neighborhood of Mobile, his alma mater.

He earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. in nuclear engineering from Tuskegee University and has been awarded an honorary Ph.D. from that institution.

Joe Ritch

Joe Ritch is an attorney in the firm of Sirote & Permutt, P.C. and civic leader who has done much to elevate the Huntsville area with his involvement in a number of organizations. As Chairman of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee, he coalesced a group of 13 communities in north Alabama and south-central Tennessee to promote and advocate for Redstone Arsenal at a time when the facility was under strategic review by the United States Army.

As a result of the Committee’s work, thousands of military and government contractor jobs were brought to Redstone Arsenal, which proved to be an economic boon for Huntsville. Furthermore, he helped usher in a $175 million state-funded investment in K-12 facilities to make the area an attractive place for relocation by reason by the BRACs.

Ritch was also the first Chairman of the Board of Directors from Alabama of the Tennessee  Valley Authority and also chairman of its nuclear oversight committee. He has served on the board of directors of multiple defense and technology companies including CAS, Inc. and Axometrics. He has also led the acquisition and sale of several defense contractors.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, his Juris Doctorate from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, and master of laws in taxation from New York University’s School of Law.

Stan Starnes

Stan Starnes is Executive Chairman of ProAssurance Corporation, one of the top casualty insurance carriers in the country. During his time as CEO, from 2007 until 2019, ProAssurance transformed itself from a physician-centric, regionally-oriented insurance company to one that took a healthcare-centric approach on a national level. And as a result, the company returned over $2.1 billion to shareholders while growing their equity by 37 percent.

Starnes’ background is in law. In 1975, he and his father established the law firm now known as Starnes Davis Florie, specializing in courtroom advocacy for a wide variety of clients in civil litigation, especially physicians and others in healthcare. He is the youngest lawyer in Alabama ever elected to the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. For his work and his well-deserved reputation, he was named to the “Best Lawyers in America” for over 20 consecutive years.

He is a member of the Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama System, a member of the UAB Health System Board, and a member of the Board of the Crimson Tide Foundation. He was elected to membership in the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2018. He is also a member of the Salvation Army Birmingham Command Advisory Board and serves as Chairman of Ascension Board of Directors.

He graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in business.  In 1972 he graduated summa cum laude and first in his class from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.

More Info

Learn more about the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and purchase tickets to the upcoming induction ceremony at culverhouse.ua.edu/abhof.

Contact Zach Thomas, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Director of Marketing and Communications, at zthomas@culverhouse.ua.edu or 205-348-8318.

 

Media can download headshots of the 2020 ABHOF Inductees here: https://alabama.box.com/v/abhof2020press

Alabama Business Hall of Fame Welcomes Six for 2019

• November 20th, 2019

Annual celebration of business leaders and humanitarians that have brought lasting fame to the State of Alabama welcomes new cohort to join list 229 members strong.

“The only reason I’m up here tonight is because of all those people here who have supported me.” – Gary P. Fayard, former CFO of The Coca-Cola Co., who was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame for 2019.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a festive, black-tie celebration Thursday, November 7, 2019, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame inducted six new members, all of them joining a list now 229 members strong. Over 450 people attended the induction ceremony at Haven in downtown Birmingham.

The Alabama Business Hall of Fame recognizes those who have brought fame and honor to the state of Alabama through not only their achievements as business leaders and entrepreneurs, but their ardent commitment to civic leadership, philanthropy, and humanitarianism.

Now in its 45^th year, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame is located on The University of Alabama campus in the Culverhouse College of Business’s Bidgood Hall. Members of the Culverhouse staff and a board representing the Culverhouse Board of Visitors, former inductees, other Alabama institutions of higher education, and Alabama businesses, coordinate the Hall of Fame selection process and planning of the induction ceremony.

All inductees are heavily committed to their communities, serving in leadership roles on boards, donating their time and resources to causes, and inspiring future generations of business leaders.

The 2019 inductees included the following people, all of whom have deep connections to the state of Alabama:

• Charles A. Collat Sr., chairman emeritus of Mayer, one of the largest electrical product distributors in the country. He is also a committed supporter of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and its business school, now named the Collat School of Business.
• Gary P. Fayard, as former chief financial officer and executive vice president of The Coca-Cola Co., he helped the company double its revenues to $47 billion. The $12 billion acquisition of the company’s North American bottling and distribution operations is noted among his greatest accomplishments.
• Joe W. Forehand Jr., former chairman and chief executive officer of Accenture. While CEO, the firm’s revenue grew from $9.6 billion to $13.7 billion. He is a dedicated alum of Auburn University, where he was co-chair of its recent $1.2 billion capital campaign.
• Marillyn A. Hewson, current chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp. In 2019, TIME magazine identified Hewson as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World.” She and husband James recently made a substantial gift to The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business to help construct a new building named Hewson Hall.
• Lonnie S. McMillian, a visionary serial entrepreneur who led the development of innovative companies aligned with telecommunications and biotech. In 2005, he co-founded the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. He passed away in 2018.
• Michael Reilly, chairman emeritus of Randall-Reilly, a strategic data, media and marketing services company that services a wide number of industries. He is an ardent supporter of organizations that serve the Tuscaloosa, Alabama community, especially those that benefit youth.

Read in-depth bios of each inductee here.

Tim Kelly, the Chair of the Hall of Fame committee welcomed attendees to the event and Dr. Kay M. Palan, Dean of the Culverhouse College of Business, introduced each inductee to the stage.

In her speech upon being inducted, Marillyn A. Hewson said:

“The Business Hall of Fame shows that Alabama’s people, companies, and education institutions are having a positive and lasting impact on our country and on our world. And, that’s not a surprise to those of us who call Alabama ‘home.’ We know that the people, ideals, and universities here provide building blocks for success.”

“That’s why, throughout my career, I have always been proud to represent this wonderful state.”

The award of inductee Mr. Lonnie McMillian, who passed away in 2018, was accepted on his behalf by his daughter Sue Whitehead, who shared anecdotes about her father and his legacy.

Nominate an Inductee

To nominate someone to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, contact Courtney Miller at cmiller@culverhouse.ua.edu. The criteria are:

1. A candidate must have by his or her business accomplishments, whether they occurred in Alabama or not, brought fame and honor to the state of Alabama.
2. He/She should have made a significant impact on the development of their community and state by promoting the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship; by demonstrating civic leadership, philanthropy and humanitarianism toward fellow citizens.
3. All candidates must have been in retirement at least three (3) years, except those who are 65 years of age and older prior to the date of induction and who are still active in their careers