H. Awtrey

H. Albert Awtrey of Hoover, Alabama, passed away Wednesday,August 6, 2014 at his home in Hoover, Alabama. Mr. Awtrey was born on March 9, 1925, to Hubert Alexander Awtrey and Edna Irene Kirk Awtrey and grew up in the Central Park section of Birmingham. He was a seventeen-year-old high school student at Ensley High School in 1941 when the news broke that Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor, leading to World War II. With his parent’s permission, he immediately joined the United States Navy. While training in San Diego as a Pharmacist’s First Mate, he was assigned the position of Navy Corpsman, a special branch of the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Awtrey wore the uniform of both the Navy and Marines when he was deployed to the South Pacific. Essentially a doctor on the front lines, he cared for the wounded Marines in three major battles: Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa. For his service, Mr. Awtrey was awarded two Presidential Citations, a Bronze Star and three Asiatic Pacific Battle Stars. His story is featured in the book, “Hold Your Head High Marine” by fellow Marine, Tom Evans.

Upon his return from the war, Mr. Awtrey joined the Birmingham Fire Department. He worked at stations #6 and #2 serving as the “tiller man”, driving the back of the long ladder truck. Awtrey was a Birmingham firefighter from 1948 until 1962. Towards the end of his career, he was seriously injured by a collapsing chimney during an attempt to rescue a child in a house fire. Awtrey worked a second job at Seale Lumber Company where, along with night classes, he learned the art of residential home building. During this time Mr. Awtrey was contacted by the United States Army and asked to serve as coordinating administrator of the local Army training field hospital. He served in the Army Reserves from 1951-1962.

In 1959, Mr. Awtrey started his first building company along with friend and partner, Greg Scott. Scott & Awtrey began building residential homes that were quality constructed and affordable. Mr. Awtrey joined the Birmingham Association of Homebuilders in 1961. There he served as secretary, treasurer and vice president as well as heading up the Partnership for Assistance to the Homeless. He also served as Chairman of Birmingham’s Housing and Zoning Commission. He was the first homebuilder in Birmingham to receive “Super Spike” status, recruiting over 250 members into the association. Mr. Awtrey became the president of the Greater Birmingham Association of Homebuilders in 1968. The “Al Awtrey Builder of the Year” award still continues as a yearly award given in recognition of the organization’s outstanding builder. Mr. Awtrey was inducted into the GBAHB Hall of Fame in 1986.

In the mid 60’s, Mr. Awtrey formed Awtrey Building Corporation and later on, Awtrey Companies, which included Awtrey Development and Awtrey Realty. In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, Awtrey Companies, began to develop large tracts of land for residential home sites along with commercial ventures. During these years, Mr. Awtrey went on to serve at the state level with the Alabama Association of Home Builders and then onto the National Association of Home Builders, where he was elected to serve as a member of the National Housing Board in Washington DC. There, he served as representative of the state of Alabama on a special “fact finding and trends committee” which determined the current state of housing in America, reporting directly to the President of the United States.

Al Awtrey was a tireless champion for the city of Hoover. He played an instrumental role in helping to shape the city and bring the American dream of home ownership to thousands of families. Mr. Awtrey was vitally interested in every aspect of the building process from moving the dirt to personally getting to know the workers and tradesmen. He enjoyed seeing others succeed and was quick to help those in need along the way. He was generous and kind, not only to his friends, but to his competitors. In 2009, Mr. Awtrey was given the Freedom Award by the city Hoover. The award is given to those who have dedicated themselves to the ideals of freedom. Mr. Awtrey was born into modest beginnings; enduring the great depression and the ravages of war at a very early age. As a member of the Greatest Generation, he believed that he could succeed and helped countless others to do the same.

Mr. Awtrey was an avid supporter and fan of Auburn University. He donated generously to Auburn Athletics, sponsoring scholarships to those less fortunate. In 1964, he was an innovator in building the first “scholarship house” in the Birmingham Parade of Homes, of which the profits and proceeds were utilized to fund the college education of a deserving young person who could not afford it. The program continues to this day.

Mr. Awtrey was a follower of Jesus Christ, making a commitment to his Savior at the age of nine at Central Park Baptist Church. He lived life with true compassion and love for others. He enjoyed sharing the good things of life and was quick to pray for and help those in need.

Mr. Awtrey was preceded in death by his oldest son, Albert Lawrence (Larry) Awtrey. He is survived by his daughter, Donna Awtrey Trapp, and son, Russell Scott Awtrey, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Visitation for Mr. Awtrey will be held on Monday, August 11th, from 10am to Noon with service immediately following. Both will be held at Hunter Street Baptist Church Chapel, 2600 John Hawkins Pkwy, Hoover, Alabama. A military gravesite service and burial will take place at 2:45pm at the Alabama National Cemetery, 3133 Hwy. 119, Montevallo, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, please lend support to local health care advocacy/volunteerism to prevent elder abuse and neglect. Information: National Center on Elder Abuse at ncea.aoa.gov.

Visitation

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ,Monday, August 11, 2014
Hunter Street Baptist Church
2600 John Hawkins Pkwy Hoover, AL, Jefferson 35244

Church

12:00 PM ,Monday, August 11, 2014
Hunter Street Baptist Church
2600 John Hawkins Pkwy Hoover, AL 35244

Graveside

2:45 PM ,Monday, August 11, 2014
Alabama National Cemetery
3133 Hwy 119 Montevallo, AL 35115