Past Honorees
2023- J. Thomas Hill, Chairman & CEO, Vulcan Materials Company – “Sustainable, Durable Growth”
2022- Tad Snider, Executive Director & CEO, Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority – “The BJCC: Delivering Unforgettable Experiences for 50 Years”
2021- Michael D. Thompson, Chairman, Thompson Tractor Co., Inc – “Thompson Tractor: More Than.”
2019- Jimmy Rane, Founder and CEO, Great Southern Wood Preserving, Incorporated – “Great Southern Wood: Little Yella Tag. World-Class Organization.”
2018- Dr. Ray L. Watts, President, University of Alabama at Birmingham – “UAB Past, Present and Future: Fueling Innovation and Pushing Frontiers”
2017- Claude B. Nielsen, Chairman of the Board, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. & John H. Sherman, President & Chief Executive Officer, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. – “The Refreshing Story of Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED”
2016- W. Stancil Starnes, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, ProAssurance Corp – “ProAssurance: We Exist to Protect Others”
2015 - Raymond J. Harbert, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Harbert Management Corporation - “Harbert 2.0: The Ongoing Story of Continuous Beginnings”
2014 - M. Miller Gorrie, Chairman - Brasfield & Gorrie, L.L.C. & M. James Gorrie, President and Chief Executive Officer - Brasfield & Gorrie, L.L.C. - “The Building of Brasfield & Gorrie”
2013 - Robert O. Burton, Chief Executive Officer- Hoar Construction, L.L.C. “A Mission to Change the Industry: The History of Hoar Construction”
2012 - James C. Lee III Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Buffalo Rock Company “The History of Buffalo Rock”
2011 - Wm. Michael Warren President and Chief Executive Officer Children’s of Alabama “Children’s of Alabama: 100 Years of Caring for Children”
2010 - Jay Grinney President and Chief Executive Officer HealthSouth Corporation “The Story of HealthSouth”
2009 - Mimi Head Chairman Ram Tool and Supply Company “The History of Ram Tool and Supply Company”
2008 - Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr. Chief Executive Officer Pricewaterhouse Coopers “A Commitment to Global Leadership, Transparency and Accountability”
2008 - William E. Smith Jr. and Hatton C. V. Smith Chairman of the Board and President and Chief Executive Officer Royal Cup Coffee “Royal Cup Coffee: Building a National Footprint from Coast to Coast to Coast”
2007 - John B. Grenier Chairman, Executive Committee Bradley Arant Rose & White, L.L.P. “Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP: The Pursuit of Excellence in Three Different Centuries”
2006 - Charles D. McCrary President and Chief Executive Officer Alabama Power Company “A Century of Service”
2005 - Frank Stitt III Chef/Owner Highlands Bar and Grill, Bottega and Chez Fonfon “Breaking Bread and Building Community”
2004 - Carl E. Jones Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Regions Financial Corporation “Regions Financial Corporation: Strength, Stability and Growth in Financial Services”
2003 - Thomas H. Lowder Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Colonial Properties Trust “Colonial Properties Trust: Where You Live, Work and Shop”
2002 - R. Brad Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Saks Incorporated “The Saks Incorporated Family: An Extraordinary Heritage and an Exciting Future”
2001 - Donald M. James Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vulcan Materials Company “Vulcan Materials Company”
2000 - C. Dowd Ritter President and Chief Executive Officer AmSouth Bancorporation “AmSouth: The Relationship Bank”
1999 - James T. Stephens President EBSCO Industries, Inc. “The EBSCO Story”
1998 - Ted C. Kennedy and Michael Goodrich Chairman of the Board and President and Chief Executive Officer BE&K, Inc.“BE&K: The First Twenty-five Years, A Work in Progress”
1997 - Dr. William V. Muse President Auburn University “Auburn University: An Alabama Treasure and an International Resource”
1996 - Drayton Nabers Jr. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Protective Life Corporation “Protective Life Corporation: Enhancing the Quality of Life”
1995 - Wallace D. Malone Jr. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer SouthTrust Corporation “SouthTrust: A $20 Billion Adventure”
1994 - Dr. Phillip Austin Chancellor The University of Alabama System “Partners in Alabama’s Future: The University of Alabama System”
1993 - Van L. Richey President and Chief Executive Officer American Cast Iron Pipe Company “American Cast Iron Pipe Company: A Living and Practical Trust”
1992 - Rex J. Lysinger Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Energen Corporation “The History of Energen”
1991 - Dr. Thomas E. Corts President Samford University “Samford University at Its Sesquicentennial: Empowered to Bless”
1990 - Harry B. Brock Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Central Bank of the South “A Competitive Spirit: How a Little Bank Made a Big Difference”
1989 - Joseph S. Bruno Honorary Chairman of the Board Bruno’s, Inc. “All the Best for Fifty-seven Years”
1988 - Joseph M. Farley Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alabama Power Company “Alabama Power Company: Confronting the Challenge”
1987 - Crawford T. Johnson III Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. “Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc.: A Pause to Reflect”
1986 - Emil C. Hess and Donald E. Hess Chairman and President Parisian, Inc. “Parisian: Celebrating a Century of Service”
1985 - Dr. Neal R. Berte President Birmingham-Southern College “Birmingham-Southern College: The Renewal of a Mission”
1984 - Frank P. Samford Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Torchmark Corporation “Torchmark: History of a New Company”
1983 - Frank A. Plummer Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer First Alabama Bancshares, Inc. “First Alabama Bancshares: An Outstanding Record of Performance”
1982 - W. Houston Blount President and Chief Executive Officer Vulcan Materials Company “The Past as Challenge to the Future”
1981 - John M. Harbert III Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Harbert Corporation “A Story of Continuous Beginnings”
1980 - Gray D. Boone Editor and Publisher Antique Monthly and Horizon Magazine “Headlining America’s Cultural Renaissance in the Pages of Antique Monthly and Horizon Magazine”
1979 - Winton M. Blount Chairman of the Board and Founder Blount, Inc. “The Blount Story”
1978 - John S. Shaw Jr. Chairman and President Southern Natural Resources, Inc. “This Is Southern Natural Resources”
1977 - John W. Woods Chairman and President Alabama Bancorporation “Alabama Bancorporation: The Story of Alabama’s Largest Banking Institution”
1976 - William J. Rushton III President and Chief Executive Officer Protective Life Insurance Company “A Sense of Quality, A Sense of Growth: The Story of Protective Life Insurance Company”
1975 - Guy H. Caffey Jr. Chairman of the Board Southern Bancorporation “A Story of Safety, Service, Integrity, Innovation and Growth”
1974 - Emory Cunningham President and Publisher The Progressive Farmer “Eighty-nine Years of Service in the South”
1972 - J. Craig Smith Chairman of the Board Avondale Mills “Avondale’s Third Generation”
1971 - Dr. Joseph F. Volker President The University of Alabama at Birmingham “The University and the City”
1970 - E. Bryce Robinson, M.D.President and Medical Director, The Lloyd Noland Foundation/ The Lloyd Noland Hospital “The Lloyd Noland Story: Health and Medicine in Jefferson County, Alabama”
1969 - John Hamilton Schuler, Chairman of the Board, Anderson Electric Corporation “History of Anderson Electric Corporation”
1968 - Dr. Leslie Stephen Wright, President, Samford University “From Farm Belt to Space Age”
1967 - Clarence B. Hanson Jr., President and Publisher, The Birmingham News “History of The Birmingham News”
1966 - Harllee Branch Jr., President, The Southern Company “History of Alabama Power Company an d the Southern Company”
1964 - Dr. J. S. Tarwater, Superintendent, The Alabama State Hospitals and the Partlow School and Hospital
“The Alabama State Hospitals and the Partlow School and Hospital: A Brief History”1962 - Dr. Harwell G. Davis, Chancellor, Howard College “The Life and Achievements of Joseph Linyer Bedsole”
1961 - Dr. A. B. Monaghan, President, Vulcan Materials Company “Men at Work”
1960 - Thomas D. Russell, President, Manufacturing Company “Russell of Alabama”
1959 - Dr. Thomas W. Martin, Chairman of the Board, Alabama Power Company “The Story of Horseshoe Bend National Military Park”
1958 - Lewis F. Jeffers, President, Hayes Aircraft Corporation “Hayes Aircraft Corporation”
1957 - William J. Rushton, Chairman Emeritus, Protective Life Insurance Company “The Governor’s Company: Protective Life Insurance Company’s First Fifty Years”
1956 - J. Finley McRae, President, The Merchants National Bank of Mobile “The Paper Industry in Alabama”
1955 - Joseph L. Lanier, President, West Point Manufacturing Company “The First Seventy-five Years of West Point Manufacturing Company, 1880-1955”
1954 - Dr. Stewart J. Lloyd, Dean Emeritus, School of Chemistry University of Alabama “Eugene Allen Smith: Alabama’s Great Geologist”
1953 - Dr. Ralph B. Draughon, President, Alabama Polytechnic Institute “Alabama Polytechnic Institute”
1953 - The Rt. Rev. C. C. J. Carpenter, Bishop of Alabama; Dr. Peter A. Brannon, Curator, Alabama Department of Archives and History; William C. Bowman, President, The First National Bank of Montgomery; Robert E. Noble, Maj. Gen. USA (Ret.); Dr. Thomas W. Martin, Chairman of the Board, Alabama Power Company “Algernon Blair: Churchman, Builder, Great Citizen-Tributes By His Friends”
1952 - Dr. John M. Gallalee, President, The University of Alabama “The University of Alabama: A Short History”
1951 - Dr. Thomas W. Martin, President, Alabama Power Company “Forty Years of Alabama Power Company”
1950 - Thomas B. McCabe, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System “Central Banking’s Role in Our Free Enterprise Society and Something of the History of the Federal Reserve System”
1949 - Merrill E. Pratt, President, Continental Gin Company “Daniel Pratt: Alabama’s First Industrialist”
1948 - John S. Coleman, President, Birmingham Trust National Bank “Josiah Morris: Montgomery Banker Whose Faith Built Birmingham”
1948 - Robert Gregg, President, Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company “Origin and Development of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company”
1947 - Donald Comer, President, Avondale Mills “Braxton Bragg Comer: An Alabamian Whose Avondale Mills Opened New Paths for Southern Progress”
1946 - Dr. Thomas W. Martin, President, Alabama Power Company “Dr. William Crawford Gorgas of Alabama and the Panama Canal”
1945 - Dr. Peter Brannon, Curator, Alabama Department of Archives and History “Edward Harris – Friend of Audubon”
1945 - Robert I. Ingalls Sr., Chairman, The Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation “The Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation”
1941 - Harry M. Ayers, Publisher, The Anniston Star “The Centripetal Force of Southern Circumstance”
1940 - Henry J. Noble, Works Manager, American Cast Iron Pipe Company “History of the Cast Iron Pressure Pipe Industry in the United States”
1939 - Joseph Wickham Roe, Chairman, Historical Advisory Committee of the American Branch of Newcomen Society “Interchange Manufacture in American Industry”
1939 - N. Floyd McGowin, President, W. T. Smith Lumber Company “Forest Management in the Modern Way”
1939 - Harry M. Ayers, Publisher, The Anniston Star “Who Was Thomas Newcomen?”
1939 - William Davis Moore, President, American Cast Iron Pipe Company “Development of the Cast Iron Pressure Pipe Industry in the Southern States, 1800-1939”
1939 - Dr. Peter A. Brannon, Curator, Alabama Department of Archives and History “Romance of Beginnings of So me Alabama Industries”
1939 - Dr. Thomas W. Martin, President, Alabama Power Company “Economics of Power in Alabama”
1938 - Dr. Thomas W. Martin, President, Alabama Power Company “Reforestation of Lands of Alabama Power Company”
1937 - Dr. Thomas W. Martin, President, Alabama Power Company “French Military Adventure in Alabama, 1818-1829”