Class of 2002
James Buford Boone, Jr.
1935 - 2023
Read James's Bio
Described as a leader's leader, James Buford Boone, Jr. has ranked in the very top of Tuscaloosa County's most highly effective leaders of the past thirty years. Born in 1935 in Tuscaloosa, Jim Boone has served in most, if not all, of the major civic leadership roles in Tuscaloosa County.
With a rare combination of ethics, integrity, excellent communication skills, and keen insight into people and situations, Jim Boone has worked tirelessly to build a better community through his professional and civic life. A highly respected newspaper publisher, Jim Boone is Chairman and Director of Boone Newspapers, which owns and manages newspapers in Alabama, Mississippi, Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, and several other states. Following a successful newspaper career, Jim returned to The Tuscaloosa News in 1968 to become a fearless community-oriented publisher. In the early 1980s, he began acquiring newspapers throughout the nation, always building their value and influence.
His commitment to the community is evident in the many and diverse leadership roles he has played through the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority, YMCA, United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, the DCH Foundation, the Boy Scouts, and many others.
Through the University of Alabama's College of Communications, the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, the President's Cabinet, the highly successful Campaign for Alabama, Jim Boone has made significant contributions. His impact has been honored on many occasions, including being a recipient of the prestigious Tutwiler Award and an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.
Always working for the greater good, Jim Boone has always seemed to see a bigger picture than most. A trusted advisor of many citizens, Jim Boone has frequently and quietly worked behind the scenes to build a better community.
James I. Harrison, Jr.
1932 - 2020
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A caring community servant with exceptional entrepreneurial skills, James Irving "Jimmy" Harrison, Jr has made a tremendous impact over the years on our community's economic and social fabric. And if you ask him about the reasons for his success, most likely he will tell you all the credit goes to the good Lord, his mother and father, and the people around him. That's just the way he is.
Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Jimmy Harrison attended the University of Alabama on a basketball scholarship before transferring and finishing at Howard College, now known as Samford University, where he got his degree in pharmacy. He then returned home to Tuscaloosa to begin his career in the family's drug store, Central Drug, in the heart of downtown Tuscaloosa.
In 1967, Jimmy Harrison founded Harco Drug, and that began the growth and expansion of one of Alabama and America's most remarkable retail operations, resulting in 153 drug stores across the South. In addition, Carport, a retail division of the auto parts business, was established in 1983 and grew to over 50 stores in Alabama and Mississippi.
A remarkable entrepreneur and retailer, Jimmy Harrison brought great credit to his firm and his hometown by serving as Chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and by being named as the Outstanding Small Drug Chain in America as well as Retailer of the Decade by the Chain Drug Review in 1990.
His business success, however, takes a back seat to his compassion and concern for others. Devoted to his family and his church, Jimmy Harrison has made a lasting and meaningful impact on Holy Spirit Church and School and on thousands of young people through his active commitment to quality education for all children.
Using his entrepreneurial mind and business skills, Jimmy Harrison was a founding member of the Success By Six educational program for at-risk children and a founding member and the first president of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, which is providing a higher level of impact on important social needs and initiatives for the United Way. And his impact at and through the University of Alabama has been highly effective over the years.
A man of high morals, Jimmy Harrison's service and leadership have touched many and are reflected in the multitude of diverse honors, including induction as a member of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and the Alabama Health Hall of Fame; the National Human Relations Award by the American Jewish Committee; Employer of the Year from the Alabama Rehabilitation Association; Family of the Year from The Arc of Tuscaloosa; and Man of Achievement from the Anti-Defamation League.
United Way, DCH, RISE, the Chamber of Commerce, IDA, and a vast number of other civic and economic initiatives have benefited from the leadership of Jimmy Harrison, Jr. A highly respected, caring community leader, Jimmy Harrison stimulates the best out of people simply because he gives his best for the benefit of the community.
Leroy McAbee
1931 - Present
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A native of Centre, Alabama, Leroy Mcabee was born in 1931 and grew up in the Sand Mountain area of Alabama. Earning his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama in 1962, he founded Mcabee & Company the following year, which later became Mcabee Construction, where he continues to serve as its CEO. Under his leadership, the company has grown into one of the largest industrial contractors in the Southeast.
As a leader in the construction industry, Leroy Mcabee has gained respect and a reputation for fostering good working relationships between labor and management, working consistently for better training, improved benefit programs, fairness, and quality workmanship. He helped organize and served as president of the Tuscaloosa Joint Apprentice Commission of the Plumbers and Steamfitters.
A dedicated civic-minded individual, Leroy Mcabee's contributions have been numerous and significant over a long period of time. Active in a variety of leadership roles, he has made a lasting impact on every community segment he has touched - parks and recreation, public library, Boy Scouts, public education, business development, charitable causes, the arts, and more have felt the hand and heart of Leroy Mcabee, who has always understood civic responsibility.
His longtime efforts through PARA to expand parks and recreation in Tuscaloosa County have been significant, and one of the community's new community centers bears his name as a legacy to his leadership. As a recipient of the Arts Council's Patron of the Arts honor, his efforts on behalf of the Bama Theatre and other arts programs reflect his commitment to a high quality of life.
Honored as Tuscaloosa County's Citizen of the Year, a recipient of PARA's Volunteer of the Year as well as the Liberty Bell Award from the Tuscaloosa Bar Association, Leroy Mcabee has touched the lives of thousands of citizens through his volunteer service on behalf of the Black Warrior Council of the Boy Scouts, for which their service center is named in his honor.
Leroy Mcabee's positive influence on our community ranges far and wide in many diverse ways, often behind the scenes and unrecognized. As one close friend described him, "If my civic ox was in the ditch, I don't know of anyone that I would rather have helping me get it out" than Leroy Mcabee.
Mary Ann Phelps
1932 - Present
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Next to the definition of an effective volunteer, you would not be surprised to see the picture of Mary Ann Phelps. Born in Birmingham, Mary Ann Phelps has touched the lives of people and changed the very fabric of the community over her long and distinguished career as a volunteer leader in Tuscaloosa County.
A genuine Southern lady with a heart for Tuscaloosa, Mary Ann Phelps grew up in Eufaula, Alabama, and is a graduate of Auburn University. Married to Attorney Sam Phelps, Mary Ann has lived in Tuscaloosa since 1956. And during that time, she has left an indelible mark on the quality of the community through her volunteer efforts, donating much of her life to civic and charitable service.
With a wide scope of civic leadership roles, it has often been said that if you want to get a charity event off the ground, call Mary Ann. A longtime leader of PARA, Mary Ann Phelps has shaped the community's park and recreation system, and one of our community's new community centers bears her name in tribute to her efforts. For many years, she has been a determined leader and advocate for the enhancement of Tuscaloosa's riverfront, and the results of her investment of service are yielding positive returns to the community.
There are very few organizations that have not been touched by the guiding hand of this gracious lady. Serving in various leadership roles, Mary Ann has served the Black Warrior Council of the Boy Scouts, United Way, Tombigbee Girl Scout Council, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the Junior League, West Alabama Rehab, the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, YMCA, and a host of other community and charitable causes.
Her legacy of service and civic responsibility has been reflected over the years with a diverse list of honors, including United Way Volunteer of the Year, Tuscaloosa County Patron of the Arts, Tuscaloosa Firefighters Good Samaritan Award, and Tuscaloosa County Citizen of the Year.
Mary Ann Phelps has added a higher dimension to civic responsibility through her model of servant leadership. She has given much for the betterment of us all.
Mildred Westervelt Warner
1893 - 1974
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Born in 1893, Mildred Westervelt Warner led Gulf State Paper Corporation for over twenty years, becoming the only woman CEO of a major integrated paper company. Born in Mechanicsville, New York, and reared in South Bend, Indiana, Mrs. Warner moved to Tuscaloosa when Gulf State's paper mill went into production in 1929.
During her sensational business career, Mrs. Warner was a pioneer in the paper industry and directed the expansion of the Tuscaloosa plant, almost doubling plant capacity as well as opening another facility at Demopolis. By 1950, Gulf States was producing one out of every five grocery bags in the nation.
She achieved much as a business leader, developing sound forestry conservation practices and one of the nation's first corporate game management programs. After her retirement in 1957, Mrs. Warner devoted her energies to philanthropy. Churches, educational institutions, libraries, orphanages, YMCAs, and scouting all benefitted from Mrs. Warner's leadership and attention.
In memory of her eldest son, David, Mrs. Warner built four swimming pools in Tuscaloosa. A devoted Presbyterian, Mrs. Warner rebuilt and decorated the main sanctuary of her church and built the Westervelt Warner Chapel. She also was responsible for the renovation of a historic antebellum home, known today as the University Club.
In 1956, the University of Alabama awarded Mrs. Warner an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. She was awarded the first Citizen of the Year award by the Tuscaloosa Civitan Club, and in 1974 was inducted as a member of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and is also a member of Alabama's Women's Hall of Fame.
Mrs. Warner died in 1974 at the age of 80. Mrs. Warner left a legacy of service and a model of corporate leadership, proving that the roles of mother, homemaker, community leader, and industrial executive were compatible.
Cordell Wynn
1927 - 2010
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Born in 1927 in Eatonton, Georgia, Cordell Wynn moved to Tuscaloosa in 1982 to assume the presidency of Stillman College. And what an impact he made, not only on the school but the entire Tuscaloosa community. When Dr. Wynn's inspiring and calming influence settled on Tuscaloosa, all citizens, black and white, rich and poor, were presented with a role model of servant leadership and embracing love.
Recognition and honors came during his career and active leadership in the community. Dr. Wynn was the first African American to be honored as Citizen of the Year by the Tuscaloosa Civitans and was the first African American elected as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. He was a distinguished member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama and is a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award of the Boy Scouts of America.
However, Dr. Wynn's legacy will be touching the hearts, minds, and lives of thousands of young people and families by literally saving an institution from disaster. Dr. Wynn left a very comfortable position at Alabama A & M University in Huntsville to come to Stillman College as President. His leadership, during a time when many private colleges were struggling and closing, resulted in Stillman becoming one of the nation's most vibrant educational institutions with expanded community outreach.
During this time, he served simultaneously as Chairman of the Presidents of the College Fund/UNCF member institutions and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Education, an organization including more than 100 historically black colleges and universities, and remains the only person who has served in both roles at the same time.
Dr. Wynn has been honored by the Alabama Association of College Administrators as 'Administrator of the Year' and has been chosen as one of the top 100 college presidents of the 20th century. In addition to his significant leadership at Stillman College, Dr. Wynn also had a major impact on the turnaround of the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, restoring not only confidence in the organization but gaining recognition as one of the state's outstanding housing authorities.
In addition, he has been a tireless advocate of the revitalization of West Tuscaloosa, has served in numerous civic and professional leadership roles with the Boy Scouts, and has been an active member and chairman of the Alabama Ethics Commission.
Throughout his professional and civic career, Cordell Wynn received many honors and earned the abiding respect and love of the Tuscaloosa community.
J. Oviatt Bowers
1901 - 1966
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Born in Tuscaloosa in April of 1901, J. Oviatt Bowers devoted a lifetime of unselfish service to the citizens of Tuscaloosa. Mr. Bowers was a tireless business, civic, and church leader, providing the cornerstone of community leadership for a long period of Tuscaloosa's history after World War II.
A successful retailer, Mr. Bowers was the founder and owner of J. Oviatt Bowers Hardware, which he developed into a major service center for the building industry. J. Oviatt Bowers had many dreams for the City of Tuscaloosa, and you see his impact in many places in Tuscaloosa, one being the creation of River Road, which is now Jack Warner Parkway; and another was the improvement of parks and recreation, with Bowers Park as a legacy to his efforts.
Mr. Bowers served in a variety of leadership roles during his distinguished career. A longtime Civitan, he served in virtually every position, including National President. The Boy Scouts benefitted from his leadership as did the YMCA, the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, the First Christian Church, the Tuscaloosa Community Chest, now known as United Way, the Gideons, Tuscaloosa Community Services Board, and Druid City Hospital.
Mr. Bowers was the first leader to ensure that the Community Chest's goal was met; contributed directly to YMCA's facilities, with the Central and Benjamin Barnes branches as monuments to Mr. Bowers. It was often said that "the doors of the First Christian Church did not open or close without J. Oviatt Bowers' hand being on them and then extending a greeting to you." And the chapel at Druid City Hospital is a direct result of Mr. Bowers' dedicated leadership and commitment.
J. Oviatt Bowers died in 1966 after a lifetime of achievement and successfully paying his civic rent. A true servant-leader and humanitarian, his dedication to a better Tuscaloosa enriched the lives of many of his fellow citizens and is evident even today.
