James Record
Encyclopedia
James Ralph Record is a former Alabama state senator
, a former Chairman of the Madison County (Alabama)
Commission, and a noted historical author. He was born in New Market, Alabama
, near the Alabama
-Tennessee
border. Record also served as president of several local organizations such as the Alabama Space and Rocket Center
, State of Alabama Historical Commission, Madison County Historical Society, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge, Burritt Museum, YMCA, Woodmen of the World
, Alabama Association of County Commissioners, First Baptist Church Huntsville, and the Madison County Mental Health Association.
James Record is recognized for his honest, effective leadership from the 1940s to the 1980s in the development of Madison County, Alabama. He is regarded as one of Madison County Alabama's most influential citizens. Record first served as Madison County Auditor from 1948 to 1960, State Senator 1960-1962 and then as Chairman of the Madison County Commission until 1981. Under James Record’s leadership, Madison County won over 50 awards from NACO (National Association of County Officials) including the prestigious Number One County in America Award, the first #1 award for Madison County/Huntsville which are displayed in the Madison County Alabama Courthouse. Record himself also won numerous awards during his tenure, more awards than any other public official in Alabama history. Many large industries were also attracted to move to the Huntsville/Madison County area through business recruitment trips James Record made with other civic officials recruiting.
Other major achievements during James Record's tenure as chairman include establishment of county-wide water service provisioning, building of the Huntsville International Airport
, county-wide road paving, county-wide garbage pickup, county-wide 911 house numbering, and the building of multiple parks such as the Madison County Nature Trail
on Green Mountain in south Huntsville, Sharon Johnston Park
, the Constitutional Walk at the Huntsville Botanical Garden
and numerous ball parks throughout Madison county. Record was involved in most efforts to fund and build many of Huntsville's downtown civic buildings including the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library
, the Von Braun Civic Center
, Alabama Space and Rocket Center, Constitution Hall, Huntsville City Hall, and the Madison County courthouse. Record even implemented programs such as the braille trail for the blind at the Madison County Nature Trail
so that the visually handicapped could experience the beauty of Madison County.
Record served as the fund-raising chairman for the establishment and building of the United States Space and Rocket Center. Record enlisted the help of Paul "Bear" Bryant and Ralph "Shug" Jordan and others to help raise funds to build the Space and Rocket Center. Additionally James Record worked in the Alabama Legislature to secure funding for the University of Alabama in Huntsville
and to move it towards full campus status. Record worked closely with state, city, and national leaders to bring multiple major industries to Huntsville and Madison County from the 1940s until 1981. James Record understood the need for funding and often visited Washington DC with Dr. Von Braun and other civic leaders in search of funding for new projects for Madison County. In 1974, the Madison County school board planned to surprise James Record with the naming of a new high school in Madison in his honor. When Record accidentially learned of the idea he modestly suggested that it instead be named after former U.S. Representative Robert "Bob" Jones
. That school is now known as Bob Jones High School
.
Record served with distinction in the US Army Air Corps during World War II
and remained active in organizations, such as the VFW
, American Legion
, Elks and YMCA. He also founded the Madison County Military Hall of Heroes in February 1975 honoring local heroes who won military awards for heroism or valor, which can be found in the Madison County Courthouse still today.. It is the only one of its kind in the United States.
In 1981 he served as Exalted Ruler of Huntsville Lodge 1648 of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1989, James Record was recognized as Humanitarian of the year by the Arthritis Foundation.
Record also founded the Madison County, Alabama, newspaper, The Madison County Record in 1967, a paper that is still published today.
James Record was the original chairman of the board for the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. Founded in 1989 due to the efforts of artist Vaughn Stewart
, the sports hall of fame for the Madison County area tapped Record because of his knowledge of local history and many personal contacts within Madison County. Record himself was inducted into this hall of fame in 1990.
A deeply religious man who was active at the First Baptist Church of Huntsville, James Record will be remembered for publicly being quoted as saying that he wanted to make Madison County, Alabama, a better place to work, live, play and pray for current and future generations.
in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. Below is a selected bibliography.
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
, a former Chairman of the Madison County (Alabama)
Madison County, Alabama
Madison County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is a major part of the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The county is named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America, and the...
Commission, and a noted historical author. He was born in New Market, Alabama
New Market, Alabama
New Market is a census-designated place in Madison County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP is 1,864...
, near the Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
-Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
border. Record also served as president of several local organizations such as the Alabama Space and Rocket Center
United States Space & Rocket Center
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is a museum showcasing rockets, achievements, and artifacts of the U.S. space program. The facility is also home to United States Space Camp and Aviation Challenge...
, State of Alabama Historical Commission, Madison County Historical Society, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge, Burritt Museum, YMCA, Woodmen of the World
Woodmen of the World
Woodmen of the World is a fraternal organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that operates a large privately held insurance company for its members....
, Alabama Association of County Commissioners, First Baptist Church Huntsville, and the Madison County Mental Health Association.
Personal life
He married the former Lillian Marion Ahonen on June 15, 1946. They had two children, Carole D. Record and James R. Record Jr. Lillian died on February 14, 1962, after an accident. Record married the former Ruth Parker McWhorter on May 10, 1974. Record enjoyed writing history and spent much of his time writing about Madison County. Record authored or co-authored over 10 books during his life. He graduated from Huntsville High School and later attending the University of Alabama in Huntsville obtaining a degree in accounting. Record also attended Howard College which today is known as Samford University in Birmingham Alabama. He was later presented with an honorary doctorate degree by Southeastern Institute of Technology.Mr. Madison County
Other major achievements during James Record's tenure as chairman include establishment of county-wide water service provisioning, building of the Huntsville International Airport
Huntsville International Airport
Huntsville International Airport , also known as Carl T. Jones Field, is an airport located 9 miles southwest of the central business district of Huntsville, a city in Madison County, Alabama, United States...
, county-wide road paving, county-wide garbage pickup, county-wide 911 house numbering, and the building of multiple parks such as the Madison County Nature Trail
Madison County Nature Trail
The Madison County Nature Trail is located on Green Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama. It was established by the Madison County Commission in 1975 under the leadership of County Commission Chairman James Record who arranged for the land to be donated to Madison County.The park features a replica...
on Green Mountain in south Huntsville, Sharon Johnston Park
Sharon Johnston Park
Sharon Johnston Park is a county park located in north Madison County, Alabama near New Market, Alabama, about 20 minutes from downtown Huntsville, Alabama. The park consists of over and features a fishing lake, Olympic-size swimming pool, outdoor track, soccer fields, campground facilities,...
, the Constitutional Walk at the Huntsville Botanical Garden
Huntsville Botanical Garden
The Huntsville Botanical Garden is a 112 acres botanical garden located at 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama, near the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. It is open year-round for a fee...
and numerous ball parks throughout Madison county. Record was involved in most efforts to fund and build many of Huntsville's downtown civic buildings including the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library
Huntsville Madison County Public Library
The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is a public, Carnegie library in Huntsville, Alabama. Founded in 1818, when Alabama was still a part of the Mississippi Territory, it is the oldest continuing library in the state....
, the Von Braun Civic Center
Von Braun Center
The Von Braun Center , known as the Von Braun Civic Center until 1997, is a multi-purpose indoor arena, meeting, and performing arts complex, with a maximum arena seating capacity of 10,000, located in Huntsville, Alabama...
, Alabama Space and Rocket Center, Constitution Hall, Huntsville City Hall, and the Madison County courthouse. Record even implemented programs such as the braille trail for the blind at the Madison County Nature Trail
Madison County Nature Trail
The Madison County Nature Trail is located on Green Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama. It was established by the Madison County Commission in 1975 under the leadership of County Commission Chairman James Record who arranged for the land to be donated to Madison County.The park features a replica...
so that the visually handicapped could experience the beauty of Madison County.
Record served as the fund-raising chairman for the establishment and building of the United States Space and Rocket Center. Record enlisted the help of Paul "Bear" Bryant and Ralph "Shug" Jordan and others to help raise funds to build the Space and Rocket Center. Additionally James Record worked in the Alabama Legislature to secure funding for the University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
and to move it towards full campus status. Record worked closely with state, city, and national leaders to bring multiple major industries to Huntsville and Madison County from the 1940s until 1981. James Record understood the need for funding and often visited Washington DC with Dr. Von Braun and other civic leaders in search of funding for new projects for Madison County. In 1974, the Madison County school board planned to surprise James Record with the naming of a new high school in Madison in his honor. When Record accidentially learned of the idea he modestly suggested that it instead be named after former U.S. Representative Robert "Bob" Jones
Robert E. Jones, Jr.
Robert E. Jones, Jr. was a member of the United States House of Representatives from the 8th district of Alabama. He was the last to represent that district before it was removed as a result of the 1970 United States Census. Presently there are seven U.S. House districts in Alabama.-Early...
. That school is now known as Bob Jones High School
Bob Jones High School
Bob Jones High School is a public high school in Madison, Alabama, United States. The school is a part of Madison City Schools. Despite its name, it is not affiliated with Bob Jones University of Greenville, South Carolina; rather, it is named after Robert E...
.
Record served with distinction in the US Army Air Corps during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and remained active in organizations, such as the VFW
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
, American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, Elks and YMCA. He also founded the Madison County Military Hall of Heroes in February 1975 honoring local heroes who won military awards for heroism or valor, which can be found in the Madison County Courthouse still today.. It is the only one of its kind in the United States.
In 1981 he served as Exalted Ruler of Huntsville Lodge 1648 of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1989, James Record was recognized as Humanitarian of the year by the Arthritis Foundation.
Record also founded the Madison County, Alabama, newspaper, The Madison County Record in 1967, a paper that is still published today.
James Record was the original chairman of the board for the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. Founded in 1989 due to the efforts of artist Vaughn Stewart
Vaughn Stewart
Vaughn Morton Stewart, a native of Anniston, Alabama, was a collegiate and professional football player.-Football career:...
, the sports hall of fame for the Madison County area tapped Record because of his knowledge of local history and many personal contacts within Madison County. Record himself was inducted into this hall of fame in 1990.
A deeply religious man who was active at the First Baptist Church of Huntsville, James Record will be remembered for publicly being quoted as saying that he wanted to make Madison County, Alabama, a better place to work, live, play and pray for current and future generations.
Books and other historical writing
Record authored several books and other works about the history of Huntsville, Madison County, and its inhabitants. Many of his papers, photographs, and other works are now housed in the James Record Collection located in the Huntsville Heritage Room at the main location of the Huntsville/Madison County Public LibraryHuntsville Madison County Public Library
The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is a public, Carnegie library in Huntsville, Alabama. Founded in 1818, when Alabama was still a part of the Mississippi Territory, it is the oldest continuing library in the state....
in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. Below is a selected bibliography.
- Commemorative Album Celebrating our City’s Sesquicentennial of Progress: Huntsville, Alabama, 1805-1955 - Record served as co-chairman and editor of this 1955 publication illustrating the growth of Alabama's first city into America's Rocket City.
- Huntsville, Alabama: Rocket City, U.S.A. - a 16 page pamphlet published in 1953 by Strode publishers, co-authored with John McCormick, to promote the city and provide an anecdotal history of Huntsville and Madison County.
- Dedication: Madison County Courthouse 1967 A.D. - a 39 page booklet printed in 1967 by the Hicklin Printing Co. to celebrate the dedication of the then-new courthouse in downtown Huntsville.
- A Dream Come True: The Story of Madison County and Incidentally of Alabama and the United States - published in two volumes by John Hicklin Printing Co. Volume 1 (published in 1970) covers "1492-1865, History and Our County Government." Volume 2 (published in 1978) covers "1866-1967 History," "1811-1977 Our City Government," "1798-1818 Our Territorial Government," and "1804-1977 Other Data."
- Great Elks in Madison County? You Better Believe It! - a hardcover book published in 1972 as a history of Madison County, Alabama, Elkdom.
- The Elks Move in Alabama: A History of Alabama Elks & Their Lodges - a 480 page hardcover book published in 1983 by Hicklin Printing Company about the history of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks fraternal organization in Alabama from 1868 to 1982.
Memorials
- James Record Road, near Huntsville International AirportHuntsville International AirportHuntsville International Airport , also known as Carl T. Jones Field, is an airport located 9 miles southwest of the central business district of Huntsville, a city in Madison County, Alabama, United States...
located off of Highway 20 just west of Wall Triana Highway, in southwest Huntsville, Alabama. - James Record Street in Triana, AlabamaTriana, AlabamaTriana is a town located on the southern county line of Madison County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 458.-Geography:...
.
External links
- James Record memorial website
- Madison County, Alabama, official site
- Huntsville Madison County American Legion Post 237
- Madison County Record website
Further reading
- Sparks, Ronald. James Record: What He Is, What He Said, What He Did. (Huntsville: Hicklin Press, 1974)