On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate confirmed several Board of trustee members of the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and Troy University just an hour after the nominations sailed through the Senate Confirmations Committee.
The full Senate confirmed Businessman William “Billy” Ainsworth’s appointment to the Auburn Board of Trustees.
State Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) said, “He is a great man and great for the Auburn Board of Trustees.”
“I Just want to thank everyone for the support,” Ainsworth told the Confirmation Committee. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with the other trustees.”
Scofield said, “I would like to recognize Billy Ainsworth. He is in the office.”
The body gave a round of applause to Mr. Ainsworth.
Ainsworth is a native of Birmingham and an Auburn alumnus. Ainsworth served as a leader in the steel initiatives industry for over 40 years before retiring from Caterpillar, Inc. as group president of Energy and Transportation in 2020. Ainsworth currently serves on numerous corporate boards, such as Trinity Industries and other civic and charitable organizations and boards.
“Mr. Ainsworth represents the best that Auburn has to offer,” said Wayne T. Smith, a trustee member of the constitutionally prescribed Auburn University Trustee Selection Committee, in a statement. “He was nominated for his impressive credentials and ongoing dedication to Auburn University and its students.”
The Senate confirmed Robert Dumas’s reappointment to the Auburn Board of Trustees.
Dumas is an Auburn alumnus and is the chairman of the Board of directors of Auburn Bank. Dumas served as the bank’s chairman, president and CEO for over two decades until his retirement in 2022. Dumas serves on the boards of the Auburn University Research and Technology Foundation, the Alabama Bankers Association, and the East Alabama Medical Center.
The Senate confirmed Jimmy Rane’s reappointment to the Auburn Board of Trustees.
Rane is chairman, president and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc. Rane is an Auburn alum. Rane is also president of the Jimmy Rane Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing college scholarships to deserving students. Rane resides in Abbeville, where his company is headquartered.
State Sen. Steve Livingston chairs the Confirmation Committee, which meant an hour earlier to consider the nominees. Livingston carried the proposed confirmations on the floor of the Senate.
“Both Mr. Rane and Mr. Dumas are in Washington making their pleas for research dollars today,” Livingston said to the Committee.
The Senate voted to confirm Jeff Gronberg to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.
Gronberg is a University of Alabama alum. He and his wife, Amy, live in Huntsville. Gronberg has served on the UAH Foundation Board for several years.
“Jeff Gronberg possesses strong leadership acumen, as proven by the impressive credentials, awards, and accolades already accumulated in his professional career, and a resolute dedication to the University of Alabama System,” said Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore W. Stancil Starnes.
The Senate voted to confirm W. Davis Malone to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.
Mr. Malone is Chairman of the Board and CEO of MidSouth Bancorporation, based in Dothan, Alabama. He is retired from a 30+ year law practice at Farmer & Malone, P.A., in Dothan. He is a 1986 graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He is a member of The University of Alabama President’s Cabinet and serves on the Board of Visitors of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, among other boards.
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Scott M. Phelps to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.
Phelps is a graduate of Birmingham Southern College and The University of Alabama School of Law. He began his professional career with the Birmingham law firm, then known as Bradley Arant Rose & White, in 1979. He became a partner in 1985. He joined Greene Group Inc. Today and serves as Vice President and Secretary of Greene Group, President of Alabama Reassurance Co., Vice President and Secretary of Alabama Catfish LLC, and Secretary of USA Energy LLC. He helped organize Bryant Bank in 2005 and has been active on the Board as bank Secretary for the last ten years. He is involved in many local and state activities and is a member of the Oversight Committee for the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund after the April 27, 2011, tornadoes. From 1995-2005 he was an adjunct faculty member at the UA School of Law.
The Senate confirmed the nomination of W. Stancil Starnes to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.
Mr. Starnes is the Executive Chairman of ProAssurance Corporation, having served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2007 to 2019. He is a University of Alabama alum and has a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. In 1975, along with his father, he founded and ultimately became the Senior and Managing Partner of the law firm now known as Starnes Davis Florie. He practiced law until 2006, then assumed the position of President, Corporate Planning and Administration with Brasfield and Gorrie LLC. In 2007, he joined ProAssurance. He is a member of a variety of professional and civic organizations. He lives in Birmingham and is a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Birmingham Business Alliance. He serves on several other business and charitable Boards.
The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Allen Owen III to the Troy University Board of Trustees.
The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Roy Drinkard to the Troy University Board of Trustees.
Drinkard is a 102-year-old Marine Corps veteran of World War II. He is the founder of Drinkard Development. Over 51 years, he has developed retail shopping centers, developing buildings for the General Services Administration, movie theatres, medical complexes, restaurants, and a hospital.
The Senate will gavel back in at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday. Thursday will be Day 4 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session.
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