Civic Hall of Fame

2009

Star Kilstein Bloom (1939 – present)

One of Tuscaloosa County’s most active civic, educational and volunteer leaders, Star Bloom has dedicated most of her adult life working to build quality education and meet social needs within the community. She has made a significant contribution through a broad array of civic, educational and community roles and organizations, including Tuscaloosa County High School Foundation, Challenge 21, The University of Alabama’s Integrated Science Program and the Co-Director of The University’s Center For Communications and Educational Technology, Baby Talk, as a founding member of Tuscaloosa’s One Place, and a host of other meaningful leadership roles.

Albert Dawson Christian, Sr. (1917 – present)

One of Northport’s leading citizens and for many years, Dawson Christian has engraved his name on the quality and development of Tuscaloosa County in many ways. Since the early 1950’s, he has contributed tirelessly to the community through a variety of civic organizations and community endeavors, including the Northport Lions Club, serving as their first president; the Alabama Lions Sight Conservation, Easter Seals of West Alabama, member of the Northport City Council and the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, St. Mark United Methodist Church, and many others. Recognized for his civic and community service, he is a recipient of the
Northport Citizen of the Year honor.

Joseph A. Duckworth (1880 – 1976)

If you look back in the history of Tuscaloosa, you will see the handprints of Joe Duckworth on many significant economic, civic and community initiatives and lasting successes. Founder of the Duckworth-Morris Insurance Agency, Mr. Duckworth was a visionary business leader, later forming the Tuscaloosa Building & Loan Association, forerunner to First Federal Savings and Loan, serving as President and Chairman. In addition, he made a lasting impact through many other leadership roles including: serving as Chairman and a member of the Druid City Hospital Board and is recognized as one of the developers of the hospital; President of the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, and the Alabama Association of Insurance Agents; a leader in the First United Methodist Church, and a variety of other important leadership roles. He was the Tuscaloosa Citizen of the Year in 1953 and played a key role in securing a hotel for Downtown Tuscaloosa.

Benjamin Belton Fields (1925 – 2009)

Long-time county extension service leader, Ben Fields touched the lives of many citizens through his professional, civic, community and religious life in Tuscaloosa County. Involved in a myriad of service roles during his lifetime, he was an active leader the Boy Scouts Board of Directors, Benjamin Barnes Branch and the Metropolitan Board of Directors, the Tuscaloosa Opportunity Board, later to become Community Services of West Alabama, United Way, Kiwanis Club, Family Counseling Services, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, First African Baptist Church, and a variety of other initiatives designed to improve the lives of people in the community. Recipient of many honors and awards, he received the Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents’ highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award in 1984.

Johnnie R. Aycock (1945 – present)

One of Alabama’s most respected and effective chamber of commerce executives, Johnnie Aycock has served the community as President & CEO of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama for almost 27 years, contributing in significant ways to economic and business development, education, cultural development, leadership development, racial harmony, livability, and other aspects of Tuscaloosa County that have far exceeded the traditional role of a Chamber executive. He has been an active, creative leader working to build a quality community through a diverse menu of organizations and initiatives, some of which he provided leadership to establish, including: Leadership Tuscaloosa, Adopt A School, Literacy Council of West Alabama, Center For Workforce Development, West Alabama Leadership Prayer Breakfast, Challenge 21, Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, Chamber of Commerce of Alabama, for which he was named Alabama’s Chamber Executive of the Year in 2003, Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, Alabama Citizens For Constitutional Reform, Calvary Baptist Church, and many others.