William Hansell Hulsey, the son of John Balus and Gabriella Celestia (Hansell) Hulsey, was born in Carbon Hill, Alabama, in Walker County, on May 2, 1901. After graduating from Carbon Hill High School, he moved to Birmingham where he became one of the city’s leading investment bankers and real estate developers, as well as one of the city’s most dedicated citizens, known for his civic and philanthropic activities.
Even as a youth, William Hulsey (most often called “Bill” or “Bubba”) was a budding entrepreneur. For example, he would buy raw peanuts, have his mother parch them, and then sell them on the streets of Carbon Hill.
To satisfy his insatiable curiosity and interest in the financial world and his burning desire to succeed in his own business, he left Carbon Hill the day after graduation from high school to go to Birmingham to pursue his dream. He immediately obtained a job receiving and distributing water meters for the Birmingham Water Works. His astuteness, hard work, and winning personality earned him rapid promotions as well as the attention of several businessmen whose offices were near the Water Works.
In the late 1920s, Bill Hulsey was offered and took a position with Alabama Home Building and Loan Association, a company that was suffering in the throes of the depression. Subsequently, he became vice president and chief executive officer and was able to stabilize Alabama Home and then arrange for the sale of the assets. He became part-owner of the purchasing company, Garber and Cook, which became Garber, Cook, & Hulsey, Inc. in 1937, with Bill Hulsey as sole owner.
Shortly after embarking on what would prove to be a long and successful career, Bill Hulsey put aside his business aspirations to serve as a major in the Army Air Force during World War II. After his discharge, he returned to Birmingham where his unending ambition and desire to excel led him to almost unparalleled success in the Birmingham corporate community.
Bill Hulsey served as president of Garber, Cook, & Hulsey, Inc. until 1978 when he became Chairman of the Board and his nephew, William C. Hulsey, assumed the presidency.
Garber, Cook, & Hulsey, Inc. was primarily involved in the mortgage loan business. In 1947, Realty Mortgage Company, another loan servicing business, was purchased. Under Bill Hulsey’s direction, the two companies developed one of the largest loan servicing portfolios in the Southeast, also being active in residential and commercial property development throughout Alabama and northwest Florida. The loan servicing was sold in 1969 with Realty Mortgage Company. Garber, Cook, & Hulsey, Inc. became a holding company involved in various real estate development and other financial interests in the Birmingham area.
In 1946, Bill Hulsey was elected to the Board of Directors of the Bank for Savings and Trusts, which was merged with Birmingham Trust National Bank in 1963. He continued to serve on the Board of BTNB and its successor, SouthTrust Corporation, until his retirement in 1979, at which time he was elected to Director Emeritus status.
Bill Hulsey’s executive leadership extended beyond the real estate and financial worlds. He served as chairman of the board and was active in the operation of various firms, including Ingalls Iron Works Company, Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Utopia Cleaners and Dryers, Southern Carpet, Beaver Construction Company, and Computer Services Corporation. He was also a director of Master Packaging and Equipment and Allied Products Company.
Bill Hulsey’s accomplishments in the business world were matched by his contributions to the civic and cultural activities in the community. He gave generously of his time, means, and talents in keeping with his belief that one should not always be on the receiving end of society, but should give equally.
In fulfilling his self-perceived obligations, he was an active member of the Birmingham Rotary Club, serving a year as its president and subsequently as chairman. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Chest (United Way) from 1948 to 1965, serving a term as chairman of the annual fund drive. He served as chairman of the Capital Fund Drive for the Birmingham YWCA in 1948 and continued on the YWCA Board of Trustees until 1981.
Bill Hulsey was one of the organizers of the Eye Foundation Hospital and served on the Board of Trustees for many years. He made numerous contributions to local hospitals and educational institutions for buildings and equipment. He was a lifetime trustee of Birmingham Southern College and a member of the President’s Advisory Council at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
An avid support of the arts and humanities in the Birmingham area, Bill Hulsey was active in the formation of the Birmingham Symphony Association and served on the Board of Trustees of that Association for many years.
Because of his interest in art, he built, along with his wife, Susan Mabry Hulsey, a sizeable personal art collection. He served many years on the Board of Trustees of the Birmingham Museum of Art. In 1974, he was named chairman of a fundraising drive to obtain funding for the Birmingham Museum of Art Foundation. He served as chairman of the foundation until his death. He also served as vice-president and director of the Birmingham Art Association.
For his abundant contributions to the city and community, Bill Hulsey received many honors.
He received national recognition in 1964 when he was listed in Who’s Who in America as an outstanding investment executive and art collector. In 1965, he was named King of the Beaux Arts Krewe Ball.
In 1973, he was presented the Silver Bowl Award by the Festival of Arts. In 1978, he was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 9180, he was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor. In 1985, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Birmingham-Southern College.
The Cathedral Church of the Advent, of which he and his wife were active supporters, named its newly refurbished education and office building “Hulsey Hall.” The University of Alabama at Birmingham named its humanities building – its construction made possible by a million dollar contribution from the Hulseys – “The William Hansell and Susan Mabry Hulsey Building for Arts and Humanities,” and the Birmingham Museum of Art auditorium is named for Susan Mabry Hulsey.
William Hansell Hulsey died on November 17, 1985, having reached his dream of success. Because he had been equally generous with his time, talent, and money, Birmingham had become a considerably better place in which to live and through his leadership and support, many spiring young businessmen had also reached a plateau of success.
Bibliographical information provided by Garber, Cook, & Hulsey, Inc.
