Alabama Leadership
Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Commission
Gov. Kay Ivey
On April 10, 2017, Governor Ivey was sworn in as the 54th Governor of the state of Alabama in the Old Senate Chamber in the Alabama State Capitol by Acting Chief Justice Lyn Stuart. Following a successful nineteen months in office, the people of Alabama made history again in November 2018 by electing Governor Ivey to a full term. She is the first Lieutenant Governor of Alabama elected to a full term after taking over as governor due to a vacancy in the Governor’s Office.
Sen. Arthur Orr
Since his election to the Alabama Senate, Sen. Arthur Orr has sponsored and his colleagues have passed legislation to address the high school student drop-out rate, put the State’s checkbook online, improve campaign finance reporting, remove racist language from the state constitution, and scores of other laws to improve the state of Alabama.
He was instrumental in the formation and development of the Robotics Technology Park, The Alabama Center for the Arts and the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering.
Sen. Orr had a distinguished academic record at Wake Forest University, University of Alabama School of Law and, more recently, Austin Peay University.
After graduation from law school, while his classmates pursued legal careers, Arthur joined the U.S. Peace Corps. He was assigned to a remote Himalayan village in Nepal, where he lived primitively with no indoor plumbing and dirt floors, and conducted teacher trainings throughout the region.
After completing his Peace Corps commitment, he returned to Decatur and practiced law. Although Arthur was a partner in a law firm and active in his community, he felt led to return overseas to do what he could to help the poor in the developing world. He was hired by Habitat for Humanity International and was assigned to establish a new Habitat program in Bangladesh. To date, that program has constructed more than 2000 houses.
He presently serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. He chairs the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering, and Athens State University Boards of Trustees. Since his election, he has received numerous national, state and local awards and recognitions.
He is married to the former Amy Wallace Bethshares and has one son, Jack, and a daughter, Anna. He works as the Executive Vice-President of Cooks Pest Control. Senator Orr and his family reside in Decatur, Alabama. The Orrs are members of Redeemer Presbyterian Church where Senator Orr serves as an Elder and adult Sunday school class teacher.
Rep. Kenneth Paschal
Representative Kenneth Paschal was Elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in the July 13, 2021 Special Election.
Born in Tuskegee to Lumas and Betty Paschal Jr., Kenneth and his four siblings grew up in the small town of Eclectic, AL, where he graduated as “Mr. E.C.H.S.” in 1985 from Elmore County High School (E.C.H.S.). He went on to study Criminal Justice at Pierce College where he received the National Collegiate Minority Award, and then studied at the University of Alabama to earn credits toward his Bachelor of Science degree.
Kenneth served 21 years in the United States Army, earning the rank of First Sergeant. During this time, he received eleven awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He retired in 2006 to Shelby County and has been active in his community ever since. He is the proud father of Abigail, whose name literally means “a father’s joy.”
Kenneth’s Memberships/Activities:
- Charter Member, Post Commander (2019-2020), and First Vice Commander of the American Legion Post 555 of Pelham.
- Appointed by the National American Legion Commander to serve on the National Executive Americanism Council for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
- 2016 American Legionnaire of the Year, Post 555.
- Lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
- Receiver of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Seven Seals Award.
- Obtained security clearance from the FBI for InfraGard’s (critical infrastructures protection sharing program) in 2008.
- Appointed Alternate by the Alabama Supreme Court to serve on the Alabama Advisory Committee on Child Support Guidelines and Enforcement.
- Served in various leadership roles since 2009 with the Alabama Family Rights Association.
- Founded Bridging the Gap – Walk in Our Shoes Survey, and Child Abuse Awareness–Bubbles of Love.
- Charter Member of the Exchange Club of Shelby County and served on their Board of Directors.
- Served on the Board of Directors for Kids First Awareness Community Center.
- Influential in the development of the new Alabama Child Custody Bill.
- Earned a Certificate of Training from the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Center of Birmingham, Alabama in 2015.
- Government liaison, speaker, educator, and community advisor on the importance of parent-child relationships.
- Organizer of Family Day/Week in the City of Pelham in 2016, which evolved into Alabama’s annual event, earning proclamations from two Governors and 80 mayors.
- Organizer of Continuing Legal Education training classes for five consecutive years.
- Member of the Shelby County Legislation.
- Member of the Shelby County Republican Party Executive Committee.
- Member of the Shelby County Chamber.
- Served on the Chamber’s Governmental Affair Group for the Shelby County Chamber.
- Member of the Shelby County Children’s Policy Council and Pelham Impact Team.
- Served as PTO board member at Meadow View Elementary and participated in their Junior achievement Program.
- Active member of the First Baptist Church of Pelham, serving in the preschool worship care ministry.
- Kenneth was assigned to the following committees:
- Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
- Military and Veterans Affairs- Vice Chairperson
- Shelby County Legislation
- Education Policy
Dr. Geri Albright
Text
Sen. Tom Butler
Senator Tom Butler was elected for the second time to the Alabama State Senate in November of 2018. Senator Butler works as a pharmacist, and he earned his B.S. in chemistry and biology from the University of Alabama, his Certificate in Medical Technology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and his pharmacy degree at Auburn University.
Memberships and Activities: University Baptist Church (has been on multiple mission trips); Gideon’s International; American Society For Clinical Pathology; Alabama Pharmacy Association; Alabama Republican Executive Committee; Community Free Clinic Board; and the Calhoun Community College Foundation Board. Member of the House 1982-1994; Member of the Senate 1994-2010 and since 2018.
Ret. Maj. Gen. Janet L Cobb
Maj. Gen. Janet L. Cobb enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in May 1974 and served until August 1976. She is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Alabama ROTC program, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve upon graduation in May 1978.
Her Reserve assignments include Platoon Leader, 543d Signal Company (Huntsville, AL); Personnel Officer, 324th Personnel and Administration Battalion (Livingston, AL); Administrative Officer, 121st ARCOM (Birmingham, AL); Briefing Officer, 314th Public Affairs Detachment (Press Camp HQ)(Birmingham, AL); Motor Transport Planning Officer and Deputy Commander, 375th Transportation Group (Composite)(Mobile, AL); Plans/Prestow Officer, HHD Commander, Vessel Chief and S-2/3 Operations Officer, 1184th Transportation Terminal Unit/Battalion (Mobile, AL); and Liaison Officer (IMA), Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (Fort Eustis, VA). MG Cobb’s command assignments include 412th Replacement Detachment (Regulating) (Pascagoula, MS); 1184th Transportation Terminal Battalion (Mobile, AL); 1190th Deployment Support Brigade (Baton Rouge, LA); and the Army Reserve Deployment Support Command (Birmingham, AL). As battalion commander, MG Cobb and the 1184th Transportation Terminal Battalion operated the Port of Ash Shuaybah, Kuwait from 14 November 2002 through 19 May 2003. The battalion discharged 105 vessels and 90,152 pieces of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps cargo throughout the period of combat operations for Operation Iraq Freedom I.
MG Cobb’s joint experience assignments include Director, Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center (Camp Arifjan, Kuwait) and Commander, 598th Transportation Group (Terminal)(Rotterdam, the Netherlands). She is currently assigned as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, Mobilization and Training (IMA), Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G4 (Washington, D.C.).
MG Cobb is a graduate of the Signal Officer Basic Course, Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.
Her decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. MG Cobb holds a J.D. from the Samford University Cumberland School of Law, an M.S.S. from the United States Army War College and a B.A from the University of Alabama. In civilian life, MG Cobb is a licensed Realtor and works in the Property Management Division of Kaiser Realty, Inc. in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Kristin Hellmich
Kristin Hellmich is Director of Strategy and Media Communications for The Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Hellmich is responsible for strategizing, implementing, and managing media relations and external media initiatives.
Hellmich has more than 15 years of experience in public relations, marketing, advertising, and communication strategy. She previously served as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for OWA, the Tribe’s multi-million-dollar entertainment complex located in Foley, Alabama, where she led all marketing and communication efforts for not only the OWA Resort, but also more than twelve company-owned businesses.
Hellmich is a graduate of Columbia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing. She also holds the designation as a Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) and Festival & Event Planner (FEP) awarded by Southeast Tourism Society – one of the most respected continuing education programs for Tourism and Hospitality Professionals in the United States.
Steve Murray
Steve Murray is Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH), the state agency that serves as the permanent repository for state government records, a special collections library, and the state’s history museum. Murray became Director in 2012 after serving for six years as Assistant Director for Administration. His prior experience in public history included service as Managing Editor of the Encyclopedia of Alabama and The Alabama Review, both at Auburn University.
From 2013 to 2020, Murray was a member of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission and co-chaired its Education Committee. He co-chaired the Alabama World War I Centennial Committee and is a past president of the Alabama Historical Association. At the national level, his service includes terms on the Council of State Archivists (CoSA) and the board of the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). He is a member of the AASLH
Coordinating Committee for the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.
A native of Louisiana, Murray has called Alabama home since he began graduate school at Auburn University in 1993. He and his wife, Laura, have three children and one grandchild.
Peggy Towns
Peggy Allen Towns retired after 20 years as a Congressional aide from the U.S. House of Representatives. She is an author, Alabama Humanities Alliance Roads Scholar speaker, and local historian of African American history. A native of Decatur, Alabama, she has done extensive research on the Black community in her hometown, and she has been instrumental in educating the public about the indelible contributions of African Americans. From her efforts, several sites have been placed on the Alabama and National Registers of Historic Places, as well as the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register; a brochure printed on Decatur’s African American Heritage; and a William G. Pomeroy marker placed on the National Votes for Women trail in Decatur. She leads walking tours and portrays characters. She has written three books: Duty Driven: The Plight of North Alabama’s African Americans During the Civil War; Scottsboro Unmasked. Decatur’s Story; and Scapegoat. The Tommy Lee Hines Story.
Ms. Towns serves on several Boards and has received numerous recognitions; among them, the Barrett Shelton Freedom Award, Spirit of Freedom Commemorative Medal of Honor, the Alabama Historical Association’s 2022 Virginia V. Hamilton Award, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association’s 2022 String of Pearls award, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber’s 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award, and inducted into the 2023 Morgan County Leadership Hall of Fame.
Tom Walker
Tom Walker is the Founder and President Emeritus of the American Village, chartered in 1995. In the late 1980s he conceived the idea of the American Village to be an American history and civics educational campus to inspire and prepare young people for their roles as good citizens and leaders. He led efforts to build the 188-acre campus just south of Birmingham, AL in Montevallo, and to design and implement its widely-acclaimed and engaging history and civics programs. The campus has served over three-quarters of a million students from throughout the Southeastern United States since its opening and draws thousands of public visitors each year.
In 2017 Tom Walker was one of only sixteen citizens appointed by Congressional leaders to the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. The Commission is responsible for leading the Nation’s 250th birthday celebration and commemoration of American Independence in 2026. He was unanimously elected as Vice Chairman of the national commission at its first meeting in Philadelphia.
He earned his B.A. with Honors in History and Political Science at the University of Montevallo and his M.A. in Political Science at Mississippi State University.
In December 2020 Tom was conferred the Honorary Doctor of Laws by Troy University. He is a past recipient of the American Bar Association’s highest national award for excellence in K-12 law-related education. He is the recipient of the DAR Medal of Honor and the SAR Gold Citizenship Medal, the highest national honors awarded by the National Societies of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and of the Sons of the American Revolution, respectively and has received numerous other state, regional and national awards. Tom was named a few years ago as “Birmingham Citizen of the Year” by The Women’s Committee of Birmingham.
Tom is former City Manager of Northport, AL and formerly served as Special Assistant to the President at the University of Montevallo. He is the former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of Montevallo and was the founding chair of the Alabama Higher Education Partnership. Tom is both a writer and frequent speaker. He advocates teaching American history, government and civic engagement as a vital part of an American education for students.
Tom is married to the former Betty Ann Driver of Montgomery and they have three adult children and two grandsons.
Natalie Steed
Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Commission (A250AL)
Email: nsteed@americanvillage.org
Phone: 205-665-3535 x 1072