Jamie “Red” Etheredge turned 94 years old on June 15. He has been one of the most outstanding and kindhearted leaders our state has seen this century.

Red Etheredge was born on June 15, 1932, in Marengo County. His distinctive Black Belt diction accentuates his Marengo County roots. He has been very successful in both business and government.

Red founded “Red E Mix” Concrete Company in Greenville in 1961. He was the owner and President for 24 years and then sold the business to a large conglomerate. After selling his concrete business in 1985, he became a franchisee of Wendy’s for 15 years. He was, for 20 years, a homebuilder in Greenville, and served as President of the Home Builders Association. In 1968, Red Etheredge was elected Mayor of the City of Greenville. He served 15 years as the Mayor of the Camellia City.

Red served in both administrations of Governor’s George Wallace and Jim Folsom Jr. He headed the Alabama Development office from 1983-1987 in the Wallace Administration. He was an Administrative Assistant to Jim Folsom Jr. from 1992-1994. I first got to know Red during his years as Mayor of Greenville and the head of Industrial Development for Governor Wallace. I was a State Legislator from Troy and had associated him with being from and intrinsically tied to Greenville.

In 2016, I was on a book signing tour around the state with my book, “Of Goats and Governors – Six Decades of ColorfulAlabama Political Stories.” While at an event at the Jacksonville City Library, I looked up and the first person I saw was Red Etheredge. I was confused because I had always associated Red with Greenville. I said, “Red, what are you doing up here in Jacksonville?” He said, “I live here.”

The second person there was my longtime friend Glen Browder. Glen is my former colleague in the Alabama House of Representatives. He came to the House with me in 1982. Glen later was elected Secretary of State of Alabama and then went to Congress. He was a political science professor at Jacksonville State and has one of the most brilliant political minds I have ever seen. He also has been a resident of Jacksonville and Calhoun County for over 50 years. So, I asked Glen about Red’stransition to Jacksonville. Glen explained that Red had not only moved to Jacksonville but had become one of the pillars of the community, and that if he wanted to, he could become Mayor of Jacksonville. Folks in Jacksonville generally consider Red to be the premier civic leader of their city.

Red’s move to Jacksonville was through his love for Jacksonville State University. He has been a member of the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees for over 30 years. He has been Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Jacksonville State. Many refer to him as Mr. Jacksonville State. He and his lovely wife, Donna, have a beautiful home across the street from the Jacksonville campus. They attend every academic, social, and athletic event at the University. It is the center of their life. They are members and attend the First Methodist Church of Jacksonville. He is a past Chairman of the Industrial Development Board of Jacksonville.

Red is an avid horseman. He raises, trains, and still rides Tennessee Walking Horses. Indeed, he is a past President of the National Tennessee Walking Horse Association.

Red Etheredge has had an illustrious career, which would be the envy of many. The list of Boards includes past President of the Alabama Concrete Industries Association, past President of the National Santa Gertrudis Cattle Association, a past Board of Directors member of the Alabama Cattleman’s Association.These are in addition to being a past President of the National Walking Horse Association and past Chairman of Board of Trustees of Jacksonville State University.

Jamie “Red” Etheredge is a great Alabamian.

See you next week.