WHO I AM
BORN: April 25. 1955 in Fayette, Alabama
EDUCATION
High School:
Graduated 1973 from Fayette County High School (Co-Valedictorian)
College:
Graduated 1977 from University of Alabama (summa cum laude), B.S. Commerce and Business Administration (Finance/Banking), Top Senior in Banking
BANKING EXPERIENCE
I am a third-generation community banker who began working in the First National Bank (subsequently First Bank of Fayette) as a youngster. My family and I operated banks in Fayette, Walker, and Chilton Counties. Our banks were run with principles of safety and soundness. Instead of flying in Lear jets and drawing million-dollar executive salaries, we plowed the majority of our earnings back into our capital reserves to make our banks safer. We retired from the banking business in 1994.
PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCE
1986 – 1993 Member, Fayette County Board of Education
1993 – 1995 Commissioner, Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
1999 – 2003 Chief of Staff, Lt. Gov. Steve Windom
2007 – 2009 Chief of Staff, Sen. Hinton Mitchem, President Pro Tempore, Alabama State Senate
A BLESSED FAMILY
My wife Deb is a realtor at Hamner Real Estate in Tuscaloosa. Deb was recently honored as Rookie of the Year by the Tuscaloosa Area Board of Realtors.
My mama Etta and daddy Buster are both in their 90s and still going strong. They, as well as my brother Alva and his wife Risa, live in Fayette, Alabama.
Deb and I live in Northport, and all of our children live in the Tuscaloosa area. My older daughter Katy Grimsley Wallace worked in public relations at DCH Hospital in Tuscaloosa before the birth of our first granchild, Preston, in December. Her husband Derek Wallace is a Tuscaloosa firefighter.
My younger daughter Abby is a student at the University of Alabama. Abby is also a Petty Officer First Class in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Deb’s son (my bonus son) Michael Skelton is also a Tuscaloosa firefighter. Michael’s wife Lynsey is an elementary school teacher in the Tuscaloosa County School system.
We are proud that all of our children have been called to various forms of public service.
CHURCH
Deb and I are members of Five Points Baptist Church in Northport, Alabama. I have been an active Southern Baptist for many years.
HOBBIES
I am a lifetime hunter, angler, and horseman. Deb and I enjoy fishing, riding horses and ATVs, traveling, and enjoying our wonderful family.
