Kiwanis Club of Birmingham to honor 6 new inductees into Business Hall of Fame

Birmingham
The Birmingham skyline from the 21st Street viaduct. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham is adding six business leaders to its Birmingham Business Hall of Fame.

The sold-out event will be held at The Fennec this Thursday, August 25 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Here are the 2022 inductees: 

  • Dr. Kirkwood R. Balton, Booker T. Washington Insurance Co.
  • Thomas E. Jernigan, Marathon Corporation
  • Dr. Judy M. Merritt, Jefferson State Community College
  • Claude B. Nielsen, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED
  • David W. Wood II, Wood Fruitticher Grocery Company
  • John H. Wood, Wood Fruitticher Grocery Company


The Birmingham Business Hall of Fame Committee annually selects business leaders to induct into the hall of fame who have shown strong leadership and made extraordinary contributions to the Greater Birmingham area. Inductees can be living or deceased.

“The Kiwanis of Birmingham is honored to recognize Birmingham leaders who have helped build a stronger community, economy and workforce. Twenty-five years ago, past Kiwanis President Fox DeFuniak created the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame to thank these leaders, now numbering 135, by celebrating their hard work. We hope it preserves the legacy of their work, helps future generations understand what it has taken to build the Magic City, and inspires them to keep strengthening our community.”

Kiwanis President Leigh Davis

Birmingham Business Hall of Fame established in 1997

Kiwanis
(Kiwanis Club of Birmingham)

Kiwanis Club of Birmingham established the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame in 1997. Honorees are recognized on a glass wall inside the Harbert Center in Downtown Birmingham.

Sponsors for this year’s event include Alabama Power Company, Balch & Bingham, Bradley, Brasfield & Gorrie, Coca- Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Featheringill Capital, Milo’s Tea Company, Oakworth Capital Bank, The Piedmont Group, Protective Life Corporation, Regions Bank, Starnes Media, Synovus and Wood Fruitticher.


Want to learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame and the mission of the 105 year old organization? Visit: kcob.org

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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