​Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame Names 2021 Inductees

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama on Wednesday announced four pillars of the Tuscaloosa community will make up the 2021 list of inductees for the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame.

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The Civic Hall of Fame has been in existence since The Chamber's 100th anniversary in 2000 and aims to honor "exceptional citizens who have made significant, long-term contributions to the overall development of Tuscaloosa County."

Organizations, businesses and individual citizens submitted nominations for the 2021 class and the honorees will be inducted into the Civic Hall of Fame on Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. at Government Plaza.

Here's a quick look at the 2021 inductees

• Robert N. Almon Sr. — The founder of the engineering firm Almon Associates, Inc., he also helped found Tuscaloosa Testing Laboratory, which is now TTL. The Chamber pointed out the lasting mark Almon has left on Tuscaloosa, including the design of Tuscaloosa's water supply from Lake Tuscaloosa, the city's downtown revitalization, planning and implementation of the city's first sewage collection system, and the widening of 15th Street from a two-lane street to a six-lane thoroughfare.
• David E. Gay Jr. — Gay served as the first African American director of Bryce Hospital as well as the director for the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility. He has previously served on the United Way Board of Directors, Red Cross, Temporary Emergency Service and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Board. A dedicated and involvement member of the community, he also remains very active and continues to serve on a long list of boards and committees.
• Jheovanny Gomez — Known for his civic engagement and generosity, Gomez helped open the first Jalapeños Mexican Grill in 2001, going on to co-own and manage three locations at present in Tuscaloosa and Northport.
• Mark Sullivan — Sullivan first accepted the position of vice president with the Bank of Tuscaloosa in 1991 and would eventually rise to president and COO of the bank. In 2010, he became the CEO of the Bank of Tuscaloosa and would retire from Synovus in March 2020 after nearly three decades. He was also instrumental in coming out of retirement to aid the Chamber with its Small Business Relief Fund.

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