Induction Year: 1976

John Cecil Persons

  • September 16th, 2021

A Birmingham News editorial stated, “Rare indeed is the man who serves so outstandingly in so many ways. John C. Persons was such a man.”

Persons enrolled in The University of Alabama Law School, and after graduation worked for Jones and Penick law firm. After a lengthy courtship, Persons married Elonia Hutchinson and moved to Columbus, Miss. Hoping to continue his law career, Persons moved back to Tuscaloosa in 1915 to establish a law practice. Instead, he bought an interest in a lumber company and soon controlled three others. Persons rebuilt his financial base after World War I by incorporating two new lumber companies. After a series of mergers, Persons served as president of American Traders National Bank. Under Persons’ leadership, the bank survived the Great Depression by merging with First National Bank. When Persons returned after World War II, he was soon promoted to chief executive officer and guided the bank for another decade of growth. Persons served as a Captain in the Army during World War I, earning the Distinguished Service Cross, and as a Major General in World War II, earning the Distinguished Service Medal for his service in the South Pacific. Persons served his community and its youth through affiliations with the Birmingham Board of Education, Junior Achievement, Boys’ Club, American Legion, and Red Cross. Persons served in a professional capacity in the Birmingham Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank and the Advisory Board of the Federal Reserve Bank in Washington.

Frank Maxwell Moody

  • September 9th, 2021

Frank Maxwell Moody, dedicated banker, and civic leader, learned early in life the value of the Puritan work ethic.

Moody attended The University of Alabama, excelling in athletics, military training, and academics. His achievements culminated with his selection into Phi Beta Kappa after his graduation in 1897. Moody developed a deep sense of loyalty to the University, serving as president of the alumni association in 1911 and 1912. Moody embarked on his banking career as a runner and junior clerk, working for First National Bank of Tuscaloosa, the bank his grandfather had established. In 1900, he married Beverly Hill, who died in 1906. In 1911, he married Sarah McCorkle. At the beginning of his career, Moody would sell Mutual Benefit Life Insurance to supplement his meager salary. Through this venture, he would eventually open an insurance firm, Meredith-Moody Insurance Firm, which Moody was a part of until he sold his interest in 1940. In 1921, Moody became the president of First National Bank, upon the death of his father, and served faithfully for almost two decades. Professionally, he was associated with the Alabama Bankers’ Association, as president, the American Bankers’ Association, and the Birmingham Branch of the Federal Reserve. He also served his community. During World War I, he was loan chairman for all liberty loan campaigns in the area and served as the director of the Alabama War Finance Corporation. In the community, he held positions with the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club, the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, and the Tuscaloosa Community Chest.

Joseph Linyer Bedsole

  • September 9th, 2021

Joseph Linyer Bedsole was known for his resourcefulness and keen business skills.

As a merchant in the New South, Bedsole was partly responsible for salvaging two Alabama cities. Educated at South Alabama Bible Institute and a small business college in Montgomery, Bedsole began work at his father’s store in Thomasville. In 1910, he married Phala Bradford. By 1913, the store had become a department store, and the volume of business had increased dramatically. Bedsole initiated three dramatic steps to change the economic base of Thomasville. He established a factory and a scrap iron yard and introduced citizens to the hog and sheep industry. As a result of Bedsole’s dedication and innovation, the area and community prospered along with the Bedsole firms. In 1919, Bedsole moved to Mobile where he organized and became president of Bedsole-Colvin Drug Company. Bedsole also founded Bedsole Investment Company, Mobile Fixture and Equipment Company, Bedsole Trading Company, and Bedsole Surgical Supply Company. Due to his extraordinary success, Bedsole was called to aid the city of Mobile in recovering from $1.5 million in indebtedness on its municipal bonds. After three grueling years, the committee on which Bedsole served devised a plan that saved the city. Bedsole served as director of First National Bank of Mobile and Alabama Power Company. In his lifetime, he contributed more than $1.5 million for the improvement of the state. He was named Mobile Man of the Year in 1951.

Harry Mell Ayers

  • September 9th, 2021

As an editor and publisher, Harry Mell Ayers earned the respect of his employees, colleagues, and community.

Ayers began his career at Alabama State Teachers College (Jacksonville State University), editing the school’s newspaper. Ayers worked for several papers in Anniston before he bought the Hot Blast and the Evening Star and merged the papers, creating the Anniston Star. Ayers left the paper and served in the Army as a Captain in World War I. After the war, he was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel in the Alabama National Guard. After the war, he resumed his post of editor and publisher of the Anniston Star and married Edel Yetterboe. Being a journalist, Ayers was drawn to politics, and his first introduction to politics came as the manager of Thomas E. Kilby’s successful gubernatorial campaign. A decade later, Ayers served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. During World War II, Ayers served as chairman of the Military Affairs Committee of the Anniston Chamber of Commerce where he met many high-ranking army officers. Ayers was instrumental in the re-opening of Fort McClellan after it was de-activated, a service for which he received the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, the second-highest decoration awarded to civilians. As a civic leader, Ayers was involved in the Alabama State Chamber of Commerce and  Rotary Club; a supporter of Jacksonville State University; Bible class teacher at Parker Memorial Baptist Church; and president of the Alabama Press Association. In 1969, for his service to journalism, he was posthumously inducted into the Alabama Newspaper Hall of Honor.

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