During the month of March for the Year of the Ginkgo, we are featuring BSC alumni who characterize Leadership. 

For more than a century, BSC graduates have dedicated themselves to making their mark and making a difference in the Birmingham community through philanthropy, medicine, media, government, business, and more. We’ve highlighted 25 of these alumni here, but we know there are more. Please tell us about a BSC alumnus’s impact on the community, in Birmingham and around the world, by emailing [email protected].

Valerie Abbott MPPM ’99 – Birmingham City Council member Abbott spends every day working to improve Birmingham. Her focus on neighborhood health and revitalization implemented two community gardens, receiving national recognition for the East Avondale project. She is also spearheading a rebirth of Birmingham’s recycling program, as a proponent for taking better care of the community. Abbott is Chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee, and a member of the Administration, Budget and Finance, Governmental Affairs and Public Information, Public Improvements and Beautification Committees.

Susan Beard Brouillette ’86 – Named “One of Birmingham’s Most Influential Executives for 2018” by the Birmingham Business Journal, Brouillette led Alacare Home Health & Hospice, one of Birmingham’s largest private companies, from 2002 until its sale to Encompass in 2019. She has also been recognized on Birmingham Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” list in 2002, and one of the “Top Women in Business in Birmingham” in 2006.

Dr. Alan Dimick ’53 – A pioneer for burn and trauma treatment, Dimick founded the UAB Burn Unit, which has been nationally recognized as a leader in treatment for burn-related injuries. His professional life was committed to improving pre-hospital emergency care, as he increased paramedic training throughout the state. He passed away in 2021.

Joseph M. Farley ’48 – For 20 years, Farley served as the president of Alabama Power, guiding the company through a time of political and financial difficulty. He began as a legal counsel to the company in the 1950’s, with a background in private law. In 1989, he became CEO of Southern Nuclear Operating Company, that was later named the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Electric Generating Plant in his honor. He passed away in 2010.

Cathy Rye Gilmore ’68 – Gilmore’s first stage role as a dancer was at the oldest theatre in Birmingham for the performing arts, the Virginia Samford Theatre, where she is now president emeritus after serving as president for decades. After beginning her professional career in New York, Gilmore cofounded a Cabaret troupe called The Wits’ Other End, which was based in Atlanta and Birmingham. Today, she continues to exemplify the transformative power of the theatre.

Cooper Green ’25 – The Cooper Green Mercy Hospital was named in 1975 to honor the legacy of Green’s service to the Birmingham community. He served three terms in the Alabama Legislature, presided over the Birmingham Post Office, and served as President of the Birmingham City Commission, where he helped spark the development of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the Birmingham Museum of Art. Green died in 1980.

Herschell Hamilton MPPM ’96 – With a background in investment banking, Hamilton is now co-founder and chief strategic officer for BLOC Global Group. The leading southeast based U.S. commercial real estate consulting services firm has offices in Birmingham and Washington D.C., contributing to the economic development, innovation, and revitalization of American cities. Hamilton also serves the community on multiple boards, including the Bank of Atlanta’s Birmingham Branch Board, the Birmingham Business Alliance, and Leadership Birmingham.

James Hatcher ’43 – Hatcher made incredible strides in the theatre community, bringing talent and opportunities to Birmingham. As the Miss Alabama pageant director for 36 years, two-time producer of the Miss America pageant, and founding director of Town and Gown Theatre, Hatcher encouraged young talent to stay in-state. He received numerous awards, including BSC Distinguished Alumnus, the first Award of Excellence from the Alabama State Council of the Arts and Humanities, and the Marian Galloway Award from Alabama Theatre League. Hatcher passed away in 1993.

Kristi Tingle Higginbotham ’87 – Higginbotham spends every day in Birmingham doing what she loves: singing and acting. Her career has included roles from Velma in “Hairspray” to The Witch in “Into the Woods” and regular performances with symphonies such as the Winnipeg Orchestra, the Alabama Symphony, and the Las Vegas Philharmonic. She is also a vocal coach and a member of two local cabaret acts, The Hot Tamales, and Four For Time.

Robert E. Luckie Jr. ’40 – Luckie founded one of the top 50 ad agencies in the U.S., Luckie & Company. With clients including Little Debbie and Alabama Tourism, they have been able to make an impact locally and globally. After graduating from BSC, Luckie began working in advertisement for the Birmingham News, and his career took off from there, with a short intermission during World War II, where he served as Assistant Pacific Fleet Press Officer. A beloved civic leader and philanthropist, Luckie passed away in 2007.

Philip “Jack” Mann Sr. ’61 – A force in Birmingham theatre, Mann founded The Little Theatre Players, The Wits’ Other End, appeared in dozens of theatre productions, and was involved with Town and Gown Theatre. He was a founder of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where he helped develop and oversee the Excellence Program for Birmingham City Schools. He served on the boards of ASFA, the Downtown YMCA, Birmingham Boys Choir, and the Virginia Samford Theatre. Mann passed away in December 2018.

Margaret “Peggy” Spain McDonald ’39 – It all started with her work for the American Red Cross in Asia during World War II. Her dedication to service continued as she introduced community education programs to leaders in the Birmingham-Jefferson County Area, eventually establishing the Center for Community Education at the University of Alabama. She was the first director of the Greater Birmingham Foundation, which later was named the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. She passed away in 1996.

Katherine McTyeire ’41 – McTyeire was named “Birmingham Woman of the Year” by the Business and Professional Women of Birmingham in 1966 and was inducted into the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame in 2000. In 1949 she founded Iron Art, a successful business she ran for 58 years. Her service to the community included serving on the board for both the Better Business Bureau of Alabama and the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce. She passed away in 2013.

Bernard Monaghan ’35 – Under his leadership as executive vice president and then chief executive officer, Vulcan Materials Company grew to become a Forbes 500 company. Before this, the Birmingham native served as General Counsel of the Army and became a partner at the firm that would eventually become Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. As he remained active in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, he eventually attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. Monaghan passed away in 1987. The B.A. Monaghan Lecture at BSC was established in 1981 in his honor.

James Donald Patrick Jr. ’57 – A man with multiple groundbreaking roles, Patrick was the first person in Alabama to receive a Ph.D. in vocational rehabilitation. He then became the first vocational rehab counselor at the newly created Spain Rehabilitation Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Later he helped found the Lakeshore Rehab Center and Foundation, which is well-known in the community as a highly successful rehabilitation facility. He died at the age of 83.

Martha Jane Patton ’64 – Patton’s career began as a coordinator for the Selma Inter-Religious Project. After receiving her law degree, she opened her own office in Birmingham. In 1998, Patton was named executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham. She served the community for 18 years as the heart and soul of the organization before passing away in 2020.

Sonja Smith ’03 – With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music, Smith has taken on many roles in Alabama. She has worked as a teacher, a tennis coordinator for USTA Southern, and a project coordinator for Enroll Alabama. In 2017, she decided to run for office and now serves as a Birmingham City Schools school board member.

Frank Spain 1910 (Southern University) – Although probably most known for bringing Liberty National Life Insurance to Birmingham, Spain was a major leader in the community and contributed to many other projects until his death in 1986. These local efforts included the Spain Rehabilitation Center, the Spain-Wallace Building, and the Alabama Heart Hospital. Spain was president of the Jefferson County Community Chest, the Birmingham Rotary Club, and served Rotary International as a district governor and as international president. He was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor, the Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, and the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame. Spain died in 1986.

Dr. Sharon A. Spencer ’79 – Recognized as a Distinguished alumna by BSC in 2012, Spencer has made notable accomplishments in the medical community. She currently is the chief of medical services at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Ruby Meredith Outstanding Clinician Endowed Chair. Other awards she has received include Fellow of the American College of Radiation Oncology and the American Cancer Society Life Inspiration Award.

Elton B. Stephens ’32 – After founding EBSCO Industries, one of the state’s largest private companies with close to 6,000 employees, Stephens expanded his resume to include philanthropist. Stephens and his family have since donated significant amounts of money to charity, educational institutions, the arts, and many other causes in the community, often for little or no recognition. His efforts have included projects such as the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center at UAB and the Elton B. Stephens Science Center at BSC. He passed away in 2005. He was married to Alys Robinson Stephens ’32, who died in 1996.

The Hon. Sandra Ross Storm ’68 – As a District Court and Circuit Court Judge in Jefferson County, Storm presided over child abuse and domestic violence cases. Beyond implementing the process that allows domestic violence victims to obtain protection from abuse orders without an attorney, she also developed 26 youth gun and drug court programs. At the August 2002 opening assembly, Storm told students, “Give of yourself with no expectation of reward… learn to serve if you ever hope to lead.” Storm passed away in 2018.

Vincent Townsend ’25 – Known to many as “Mr. Birmingham” for his civic and business leadership, Townsend was a journalist who worked at The Birmingham News for more than 50 years, eventually becoming the executive editor. His role was instrumental in founding the Community Affairs Committee of Operation New Birmingham, which aimed to change community practices for the better. By initiating a “Design for Progress”, the Regional Postal Facility, Civic Center Complex, Birmingham Zoo, and many more locations important to the city were built. He passed away in 1978.

Marti Turnipseed ’65 – On April 24, 1963, as a sophomore at BSC, Turnipseed became the first white student to join in Birmingham’s lunch counter sit-ins. This combined with her participation in civil rights marches led to her expulsion. By her senior year, BSC allowed her to return to campus. Turnipseed continued her activism by initiating a phone campaign to get highly qualified African American students to apply to the College. She graduated two months before the first African American student was enrolled. Turnipseed was killed in an auto accident in 1972.

Historian, journalist, writer, professor – these are just a few of the titles held by Virginia Van der Veer Hamilton ’41, the second woman ever to earn a doctorate in history at the University of Alabama when she graduated in 1961. Her writings and historical research set an example of success for other women interested in the field of history. Upon Hamilton’s death in 2016, historian Leah Rawls Atkins said, “Hamilton changed the way history was taught in Alabama. She advocated for the equality of women in history … Young women in Alabama in 2016 may not realize who influenced the greater professional equality they now enjoy. Virginia Van der Veer Hamilton played a large role in that history.” She died in 2016.

Kyle Whitmire ’02 – Whitmire has pursued his passion for writing and is currently a political columnist for the Alabama Media Group, as one of Alabama’s most listened-to voices. His career interests surfaced while at BSC, where he was editor of the student newspaper, but developed through both writing and editing jobs at The Birmingham Weekly, The New York Times, and al.com.