Winton M. Blount
The following biographical sketch was compiled at the time of induction into the Academy in 1969 and 2002.
Born
February 1, 1921 in Union Springs, Alabama
Education
Union Springs Schools; Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Virginia; University of Alabama 1939-41.
Military Service
1942-45 U.S. Army Air Corps, B-29 pilot, released to inactive duty as First Lieutenant.
Professional/Career Experience
1941 Associated with father's interests in railroad and building materials business.
1946 Founded Blount Brothers Corporation, serving as President and Chairman of the Board until December
1968 President, Chamber of Commerce of the United States.
1969-70 Postmaster General of the United States and member of the President's Cabinet.
1970-71 Postmaster General and Chairman of the Board, U.S. Postal Service.
1972 Candidate, U. S. Senate, State of Alabama.
1973-January 1974 Chairman, Executive Committee, Blount, Inc.
1974-Dec. 1990 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Blount, Inc. (President, January 30, 1974 to October 1, 1979).
Dec. 1990 to Oct. 1991 Chairman of the Board, Blount, Inc.
Oct. 1991 to June 1993 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Blount, Inc. June 1993 to Nov. 1995 Chairman of the Board, Blount, Inc. Nov. 1995 to Aug. 1999 Chairman of the Board, Blount International, Inc. Blount International, Inc. is an international manufacturing company headquartered in Montgomery, AL. Annual revenues are over $500 million. Director: Union Camp Corporation, 1973 to 1993. Trustee Rhodes College Board.
Trustee Emeritus: University of Alabama. Founder: Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park, 1985.
Selected Business and Professional Associations
Member: Business Council, The Conference Board, Chief Executive Organization. Past President: Alabama State Chamber of Commerce and Alabama Road Builders Association. Director Emeritus: Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Past Director, Chairman of Executive Committee and Treasurer: Young Presidents Organization. Past Director: National Association of Manufacturers. Former Trustee: American Management Association. Past National Chairman, board member and Chairman of the Executive Committee: Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. Trustee Emeritus and Past Treasurer: American Enterprise Institute. Trustee Emeritus: The Aspen Institute. Member: Board of Trustees, Leadership Alabama. Chairman: Advisory Commission, National Postal Museum.
Selected Civic, Educational and Religious Organizations
Past Director: United Appeal of Montgomery, YMCA of Montgomery. Member: First United Methodist Church, Montgomery. Founding Chairman and member, Board of Governors: The Capital City Club of Montgomery. Director: Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Member: Alabama Foundation for Educational Excellence. Former Trustee: Alabama Trust Fund Board. Member Emeriti: Folger Shakespeare Library. Board member: Friends of American Art in Religion. Former member: President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Former Board Member: Alabama High School of Mathematics and Science. Board Member: Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Former Member: Court of Governors, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. Former Trustee: Southern Center for International Studies. Board Member: Americans for the Arts.
Awards and Honors
"One of the Four Outstanding Young Men in Alabama," 1956. Man of the Year, Montgomery, Alabama, 1961. "Golden Knight of Management" award by Alabama Council of National Management Association, 1962. Elected to Alabama Academy of Honor, 1969. National Brotherhood Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1970. Guest of honor and speaker, 1979 Alabama Dinner Newcomen Society of North America. "Golden Plate Recipient," American Academy of Achievement, 1980. Annual Gold Medal award from Pope John Paul II, 1981. "Living for America" award, Alabama, 1982. "Business in the Arts" award, Montgomery, 1982. "Outstanding Citizen of the Year," Mental Health Association of Alabama, 1984. Proclamation from governor for distinguished service to the State of Alabama, 1984. Cited as "...one who served the best interests of the construction industry, Engineering News Record magazine, 1985. Outstanding Business Leader award, Northwood Institute, 1986. Award for Excellence in Corporate Collecting, Association of Corporate Art Curators, 1986. Illustrious Moderns Award, Wedgewood Society of Chicago, 1986. "Citizen of the Year" award, Montgomery Advertiser-Journal, 1987. Induction to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, 1988. "Citizen of the Year" award, Alabama Broadcasters Association, 1988. "Award of Excellence," Alabama State Arts Council, 1989. "Silver Beaver Award," Tukabatchee Council, Boy Scouts of America, 1989. "Alabama Humanities Award," Alabama Humanities Foundation, 1989. Association of Governing Boards of Universities & Colleges 1991 Distinguished Service Award. National Endowment for the Humanities Charles Frankel Prize, 1991. National Governor's Association 1992 Distinguished Service Arts Award. Rhodes College Distinguished Service Award, 1993. "Citizen of the Year" Award, Beaver Creek, Colorado 1993. Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. Leadership Award, 1995. Retirement Systems of Alabama Outstanding Alabamian/Model for the Advancement of Education and Commerce in Alabama,, 1995. Leadership Alabama Lifetime Achievement Award, 1996. Cornerstone Award, Association of Builders and Contractors, 1996, Special Recognition Award, National Actors Theatre, 1998; Howell Heflin Statesmanship Award, 1999, Volunteer and Information Services Sustained Superior Performance Award, 1999; Alabama Stage and Screen Induction, 1999; Alabama Wildlife Federation Conservationist of the Year Award, 1999; Achievements in American Art Award from the Amarillo, TX Museum, 2000; Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Alabama, 2000; Man of the Century by Montgomery Living magazine, 2000; a special tribute paid by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce for his vision and generosity in tourism and the arts, 2001; Lifetime Achievement, International Quality of Life Awards, College of Human Sciences, Auburn University, 2002; named the year's Outstanding Philanthropist by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, 2002.
Honorary Doctorates
Judson College, Huntingdon College, Birmingham-Southern, Rhodes College, Seattle-Pacific College, University of Alabama, Samford University, St. John's University, Washington and Jefferson College, Troy State University, Amherst College.
Personal
Married to the former Carolyn Self Varner. Seven children: Winton M. Ill, Thomas A., Samuel Roberts, Katherine, Joseph W., Dr. Robert E. Vamer, Jr. and Carolyn Stuart Varner (Mrs. George King).
Winton Blount died on October 24, 2002.