As an astute business executive and an active leader in civic affairs, Robert Herndon Radcliff, Jr., has been instrumental in the development of Mobile, Alabama, into a modem port city. In 1987, he retired as Chairman of the Board of Midstream Fuel Company -only one of the several marine businesses in which the Radcliffs have been leaders since 1917.
Robert Herndon Radcliff, Jr., the son of Robert Herndon and Lucy Shields Leatherbury Radcliff, was born on November 14, 1917 – the same year that his father formed Radcliff Gravel Company and began producing the raw materials (sand and gravel) from the Alabama River and operating a retail construction material business.
Young Robert attended the Mobile public schools and graduated from Murphy High School in 1936. After attending Virginia Military Institute for a year, he returned home to help his father in rebuilding the family business, which like so many others, had suffered bankruptcy in 1932.
Robert Radcliff, Jr., has since said that he thought his father “a terrible taskmaster at times, but I was soon to know that what he taught me was terribly important.”
In June 1940, Robert Radcliff, Jr., married Dorothy Eugenia Greer. (they subsequently had four children: Eugenia Greer, Lucy Leatherbury, Robert Herndon, and Barton Greer Radcliff.)
In 1941, Robert Radcliff, Sr. died, still owing the bank a great deal of money. Twenty-three-year-old Robert Jr. was faced with the dilemma of paying off the debt and keeping the company solvent.
At the advice of his uncle, Ernest Ladd, Sr., he sought a partner with financial strength. He found support from his uncle, Frank L. Leatherbury, who became a 51 % partner until such time as the company was in sound position and the bank loan satisfied. For Frank Leatherbury’s support and generosity, Robert Radcliff has said, “I shall ever be grateful.”
In 1946, Radcliff Gravel Company became one of four companies that merged to form Southern Industries. This first holding company or conglomerate in Mobile was the ”brainchild” of Edward A. Roberts, former chairman of Waterman Steamship Company. The individual companiesRadcliff Gravel, McPhillips Mfg. (a seafood business), Biloxi Grit (producers of shell for the poultry business), and Ewin Engineering Co.-were allowed much leeway in their operations. Southern Industries became one of the largest Corporations in Mobile; it was sold to Dravo Corporation in 1977.
In 1947, Robert Radcliff, Jr., was made a director of Southern Industries. He became president in 1954 and president and CEO in 1964 after the founder Ed Roberts died.
In 1972, after the directors of Southern Industries turned down an offer to buy Bauer Dredging (a world-wide dredging company), Robert Radcliff received permission from the directors to personally buy that company. When he bought the dredging company, he resigned from Southern Industries. He and his son Herndon (who was in the marine business) entered into the new venture with enthusiasm. But, after Herndon’s untimely death in 1973 in a polo game, Robert Radcliff lost interest in pursuing the business. He sold Bauer Dredging to Bean Company of New Orleans in 1974.
Robert Radcliff’s desire to return to business emerged once more with the organization of Radcliff Marine Services Company. The new company obtained a five-year contract to tow oil for the Marion Corporation of Theodore, AL. From this venture stemmed Tenn Tom Towing Co., Midstream Fuel Service, and Pepco, a land side wholesale and retail fuel supplier. Radcliff Marine Service also had contracts to tow crude oil along the Gulf Coast and completed a $6 million sub contract on I-10 across Mobile Bay.
Robert Radcliff, Jr., served as president and CEO of these companies (which consolidated as Midstream Fuel Company) until his retirement in 1984. He remained as chairman of the board and director until 1987.
In July 1987, he joined his son Greer in forming Radcliff Marine and Fuel Company. Although Robert Radcliff owns one-half of the company, he has left the successful operation to his son and is enjoying his retirement which provides time for fishing, hunting, and playing tennis-pleasures he hadn’t had time to pursue very much before.
In addition to his part in development of the marine business, Robert Radcliff, Jr., has played a leading role in all areas of community activity.
In the past, he has served as a director of Southern Co., Atlanta, Georgia; Alabama Power Company, Birmingham; Merchants National Bank of Mobile; Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Blount Inc. of Montgomery; L&N Railroad, Louisville, Kentucky; CSX Railroad, Richmond, Virginia; Seaboard Coastline Railroad, Jacksonville, Florida; Colonial Sugar Co., Title Insurance Co., and Ryan Walsh Stevedoring Co. in Mobile; Grand Hotel Corporation in Point Clear, Alabama.
He is currently a director of the Bank of Mobile and Bedsole Medical Supply, as well as a director of M. W. Smith Lumber Co. and E. A. Roberts Estate.
He has been a member and director of the Alabama State Chamber of Commerce; the Mobile Chamber of Commerce; the Warrior Tombigbee Development Association; the Coosa Alabama Improvement Association; and the American Manufacturers Association.
He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Boy Scouts of America; a member and vice president of the Rotary Club; a Fellow of Mobile College; and a director of UMS Preparatory School, the Mobile Arts and Sports Association, and the Senior Bowl. He was a Founding member of Mobile United and of America’s Junior Miss Pageant.
In 1967, after serving as Chairman of the United Fund, he became the 19th citizen to be honored by the Civitan Club as “Mobilian of the Year” -for his leadership in many facets of community life. He was attending a national Association of Manufacturers Convention in New York when he received a telephone call about this honor. His responses reflect the tenor of this outstanding business executive and civic leader. “That’s just wonderful;” “I really appreciate this;” and “How did this come about?”
Robert Radcliff, Jr. states simply about his business career that “the Radcliffs have loved the marine business, the rivers, the barges, dredges, tows, and tugs for three generations.” The companies with which he ha? been associated over the years “have dredged sand and gravel from the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers, shell from the Gulf Coast waters from Texas to Tallahassee, Florida.” They have “pushed coal, rock, and crude on the Tenn Tom River system from as far as Caving Rock, Illinois, to ports on the Gulf Coast.”
And he is pleased that his grandson, Robert Herndon Radcliff, IV, employed by Radcliff Marine and Fuel, Inc., is carrying to the fourth generation the Radcliff love of the exciting marine business.
Robert Radcliff, Jr. seems to take no credit for his contributions to his native city – but Mobile, and Alabama – will remember him.
