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Executive Director's
Report - Volume 50, Number 5 - 2006
Old Friends Have Moved On...
This past year, many of our old friends moved on...
James W. Webb
County officials throughout Alabama were saddened to learn of the Nov. 7, 2006, passing of James W. Webb, long-time legal counsel for the Association. Jim was a personal and professional mentor to me for many years. I felt it appropriate to devote this space in his memory and honor.
Jim’s affiliation with county government began about 50 years ago when he was hired as legal counsel for the State of Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. It was during his tenure with that organization that he became familiar with county government law. He was also an assistant attorney general during the period and wrote many opinions relating to counties.
He left state employment in 1972 to begin a private law practice in Montgomery. It was shortly thereafter that he was retained by ACCA as our legal counsel. I had been with the Association about six months when he was retained. This means that his affiliation with the organization lasted longer than 35 years.
Jim’s involvement with the Association, though not always visible to those outside the board of directors, was nonetheless very important. In addition to serving as a constant advisor to the staff and board of directors, he participated in a number of important and historical Association events through the years. Jim was the primary author of most of the Association’s operational documents, most notably the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws under which it exists today.
Jim also wrote most of the original organizational and operational documents for the Association’s workers’ compensation and liability self-insurance funds. He guided the two programs through their formative years and was always present to make sure they operated on a financially sound basis and according to state and federal laws.
Jim was one of the finest men I have known. His many contributions to ACCA and county government in general are too numerous to count. He will be missed.
Judge Conrad “Bulley” Fowler
It is also appropriate to mention the recent passing of Conrad “Bulley” Fowler, former Judge of Probate and chairman of the Shelby County Commission.
Judge Fowler was president of the Association in 1971-72 and was president of the National Association of Counties a few years earlier.
He served in Shelby County from 1959 to 1977. He was a progressive and considered by many as a “man ahead of his time.” He foresaw, during the 1960s, that people were going to move from Jefferson County into north Shelby County.
He convinced the local legislative delegation to pass Act 65-816, which authorized the Shelby County Commission to adopt and enforce subdivision and zoning regulations for the development of the county. Because of his vision and leadership, Shelby was the second (Jefferson was first) county in the state to be granted such authority. North Shelby County is now recognized as one of the best planned and developed areas of Alabama.
After leaving office in 1977, Judge Fowler went on to serve as a member of the Alabama Constitutional Revision Commission created during the administration of Gov. Albert Brewer. He continued to be recognized until his death as a governmental innovator and reformer in Alabama.
Frank Courson
Everyone in the ACCA family is aware of the recent retirement of Frank Courson after 40 years with the Alabama Department of Transportation.
During his tenure with ALDOT, Frank served 32 years in the Department of County Transportation, the last 16 of which as its director. If county government ever had a better friend in ALDOT, I do not know who it was.
Frank had a unique ability to interact with county officials in a positive and productive manner. He was patient and understanding but knew when to “put his foot down.” He always conducted himself respectfully and professionally.
While he helped county commissioners and engineers perform $100s of millions of road and bridge projects through the years, his crowning period was the five years during which he guided counties through the $250 million GARVEE bond issue bridge replacement program. This program was one of the largest public works programs ever undertaken by counties, and Frank Courson made it happen.
I know county commissioners, engineers, administrators and many others join me in thanking Frank and wishing him a well-deserved retirement.
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