Civic Hall of Fame

2004

Reuben Hall Wright: 'An Active, Civic-Minded Leader'

Born in 1890, Reuben Hall Wright, was a lawyer, circuit court judge, civic leader and longtime member of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education.

Judge Wright, a native of West Blocton, AL, died in 1964. He was a graduate of West Blocton High School, the University of Alabama (UA) and UA Law School. His law practice grew successfully in Tuscaloosa and in 1947, he was appointed by Gov. Jim Folsom as a circuit court judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. He was later elected to a full term in 1948 and served 17 years.
An active, civic-minded leader, Judge Wright was involved in many key leadership roles in Tuscaloosa’s development. A veteran of World War I, he earned the rank of captain in the U.S. Army and later served as Post Commander of the Tuscaloosa American Legion Post. He served as President of the Tuscaloosa Bar Association, the Greater Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, and the Alabama Circuit Court Judges Association.

Judge Wright worked tirelessly on major initiatives, especially in education, health care, and transportation. He wrote the enabling bill that allowed the city and county to levy a 1-cent sales tax to finance the construction and setting up the administration of the hospital through a board of directors. As chairman of the Chamber’s Highway Committee, he forcefully worked to get a new bridge across the Black Warrior River, today known as the Woolsey Finnell Bridge. Some of his greatest contributions were in education, serving more than 30 years as a member of the City Board of Education.

Marvin Harper: ‘Mr. Preservationist’

Marvin Lee Harper, born in 1919 in Northport, AL, earned the title throughout the community and Alabama as “Mr. Preservationist” during his 84 years. He has had immeasurable impact on the community through his work in heritage and historic preservation, tourism, and community beautification; and has dedicated his entire life to preserving the visual and written history of Northport.

Mr. Harper was born on Compress Street (now 30th Avenue) in Northport, but grew up on the family farm on U.S. Highway 43, an area that became known as “Harper Hill.” He lived there until 1979 when he moved to his present home – the Shirley Home. He attended Tuscaloosa County High School, Tuscaloosa Business College, Business College of Birmingham, and UA’s New College. He spent more than 30 years in administration management at Reichold Chemical in Holt.

Acting as the “public’s conscience,” he worked tirelessly to preserve historic landmarks and homes, encouraged local governments to invest in the community’s rich heritage, and relentlessly promoted community beautification and restoration of historic homes.

His active civic life is diverse and meaningful with leadership roles in a wide range of organizations and initiatives, including: the Alabama Historical Commission; Cahaba Trace Commission; Tuscaloosa County Preservation Authority (now known as the Heritage Commission) of which he helped found and headed as first chairman; the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society of which he founded and served as the first president and later executive director; Historic Preservation Commission of Northport; Northport Renaissance Commission; founder and first chairman of Kentuck Association; and a host of other organization and community associations.

Throughout the community, you can see Marvin Harper’s hand and impact. Whether in preserving historic homes and structures, at FOCUS on Senior Citizens, Friends of Historic Northport, C.H.O.M., the Northport Chamber of Commerce, Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a host of other diverse efforts – Marvin Harper made a lasting and historic impact.

Joseph Mallisham: ‘Advocate For Individual Rights’

Joseph Mallisham, born in 1928 in Tuscaloosa County, has spent a lifetime as an advocate for individual rights and social justice for all people, regardless of race or place in society. Following two years in Korea as an outstanding soldier, earning several awards and decorations, Joe’s Mallisham’s leadership became evident.

A longtime social and community activist, Joe Mallisham’s leadership had an early impact through the labor movement, becoming an effective labor leader.

During the early 1960’s, he took leadership courses and went to night school to study auto mechanics. He enjoyed these newly-acquired skills and eventually purchased his own filling station, which has become a Tuscaloosa landmark and the center of much of Joe’s community activism. In the 1960’s his service station became the informal center of many civil rights activities and Joe’s leadership was soon apparent again. In the midst of the struggles, Mr. Mallisham helped create a biracial advisory group that played a key role and provided pivotal leadership for local elected leaders. His sense of fairness and justice for all people earned him great respect and influence, which led to the development and transition of local city and county governments to a more representative form of government in place today.

In 1984, Joe Mallisham became the county’s first black commissioner, serving three consecutive terms on the County Commission, and paving the way for many other African-Americans in many elected leadership roles.

Active on many fronts, Joe Mallisham’s influence and impact have been felt on the President’s Commission On Mental Health (a President Gerald Ford appointee); as chairman of the West Alabama Regional Planning Commission that awarded him the coveted David Cochrane Award for leadership; UA’s Presidents Advisory Board; member of Human Rights Commission for Bryce-Hospital; and member of various boards including the Tuscaloosa Transit Authority, Benjamin Barnes Branch of the YMCA; West Alabama Health Center, and the Christ Lutheran Church.

Joe Mallisham founded the Tuscaloosa Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and chaired the Tuscaloosa County Chapter of the Alabama Democratic Conference as well as the 7th Congressional District. His leadership and efforts have earned him great respect and recognition from a diverse list of civic, governmental and educational institutions.

Charles H. Land: ‘Effective, Behind-the-scenes Leadership’

Charles H. Land has cast a very long shadow on the economic and civic development of Tuscaloosa County because of his commitment to a better way of life for all citizens over his long and distinguished newspaper career. Born in Memphis, TN in 1932, Charles Land grew up in Tuscaloosa and attended public schools and UA. One of Alabama’s most distinguished newspaper journalists, sports writers, and publishers, Charles Land served The Tuscaloosa News and affiliated companies more than 40 years prior to retiring in 1995.

His leadership and professional service earned him many leadership roles and honors including president and member of the Alabama Press Association Board of Directors; member of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association’s board of directors; and president of the Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation. He has received a host of Associated Press and Alabama Press Association writing awards, including Alabama Sportswriter of the Year and 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award, voted by his peers.

But it was perhaps Charles Land’s quiet but effective, behind-the-scenes leadership that made a significant, lasting impact on the community’s economic progress. It was Charlie Land that the community, corporately and as individual citizens, often turned to for counsel, leadership, and mediation to meet an issue or challenge.

In the early 1980’s following a series of serious economic setbacks, it was Charles Land who brought the community together along with UA, General Motors, and United Auto Workers to save a failing GM plant, which later laid the foundation for today’s automotive and economic development success. As chairman of The Chamber and Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), Charles Land contributed to a cohesive, effective economic development process that still works today. By the way, Charlie is the only individual to have served both organizations as chairman at the same time.

Charles Land was also the key leader who led the merger of the Northport and Tuscaloosa Chambers of Commerce, resulting in today’s Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama of which he served as its first chairman. He is also one of only two individuals to have ever been named The Chamber’s Member of the Year in two different years, and has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award as well as having the annual Member of the Year Award named in his honor.

An active supporter of UA and a host of civic community endeavors, Charles Land has served as a member and chairman of UA’s President’s Cabinet; member emeritus of the College of Communications’ Board of Visitors; and is a recipient of the prestigious Julia and Henry Tutwiler Award, the Distinguished Service Award from UA’s Communication Alumni Association, and an Honorary Membership in the “A” Club Alumni Association.

His hand prints can be found on a long and diverse list of civic, charitable, economic, and philanthropic initiatives, including: The DCH Board of Directors, past chairman and Fellow of the DCH Foundation; Capstone Health Service Foundation Board; past chairman of the United Way; Boy Scouts, Black Warrior Council, Hospice of West Alabama, First Presbyterian Church, the IDA and a host of others.

William H. Lanford: ‘Doing What’s Right For All’

William H. Lanford, born in 1935, is a native of Gadsden, AL and graduate of Gadsden public schools. He later earned his B.S. degree at UA. After graduating, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps.

Bill Lanford, after graduation and his military service, settled in Tuscaloosa where he began his long and successful insurance career. He began his career with Metropolitan Life, but soon joined Cotton States Life Insurance Co., where he rose to senior vice president. In 1975, he began a highly successful career with Southland National Insurance Co., retiring in 1999 as president and CEO.

During his entire business and civic career, Bill Lanford always has a keen sense of purpose and civic responsibility coupled with a dedication to doing what’s right for all. In his public service and civic leadership, he has been defined as a man of vision, fairness, and progressive ideas.

His early civic involvement began with the United Way, where he served and chaired virtually every standing committee, as well as all top leadership roles. This laid the foundation for his leadership in virtually every major civic organization in Tuscaloosa including Tuscaloosa YMCA, American Red Cross, Black Warrior Council of the Boy Scouts, United Negro College Fund and many others.

His civic roles prepared him well for a remarkable career in public service, which began in 1975 as a member of the City Board of Education where he served 10 years (five years as chairman). During his tenure, he provided steady and balanced leadership during some tumultuous desegregation phases in the late 70s and early 80s that resulted in a more progressive system to meet the needs of all children.

In 1985, Bill Lanford’s visionary, effective leadership was called upon once again when he was elected to the first of two terms on the new Tuscaloosa City Council, which had just changed from a commission to mayor-council form of government. His steady, progressive leadership as City Council president resulted in not only a smooth transition to a new form of government, but local government because more inclusive and result oriented.

Even though he served successfully in key public, elected roles, and as an effective corporate CEO, Bill Lanford continued to give of himself in a variety of leadership roles. He was the first chairman of the visionary strategic planning initiative known as Challenge 21; served as Chamber chairman; co-chaired the successful Chamber task force that brought about the Bryant-Denny Stadium expansion; and provided award-winning, effective leadership for many other endeavors.