In a unanimous decision, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees elected O.B. Grayson Hall, Jr., a retired chairman and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation, to represent Alabama’s 6th Congressional District on the board. Hall, an alumnus of the University of Alabama, brings with him a legacy of leadership, having guided a Fortune 500 company and contributed widely to Alabama’s business and civic sectors.
“After growing up on his family’s potato farm in rural Alabama and going on to achieve remarkable professional success as the leader of a Fortune 500 company, Grayson Hall created a legacy rooted in integrity, hard work and passion for community,” said Trustee Karen Brooks, chair of the Board’s Nominating Committee.
“The University of Alabama System exists to improve lives through teaching, research and service, and Grayson’s strong character and values-based leadership will help amplify our impact across Alabama.”
The UA System Board of Trustees oversees the governance of three major doctoral research institutions — The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville — as well as the UAB Health System. As Alabama’s largest employer, the system plays a critical role in education and healthcare throughout the state.
“Grayson Hall is a proven and principled leader who is well known throughout the state for his innovative vision, sharp acumen and impressive leadership,” said Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Scott Phelps. “We look forward to having him serve on the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and know his contributions will be invaluable.”
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Hall’s career with Regions Financial Corporation spanned 38 years, beginning as a management trainee with AmSouth Bancorporation, Regions’ predecessor. After serving in roles of increasing responsibility in several divisions, he became Regions’ president and CEO in 2010 and chairman in 2013. Hall is widely recognized for successfully leading the financial institution through the financial crisis.
Before earning his Master of Business Administration from The University of Alabama, Hall received a bachelor’s degree from the University of the South, familiarly known as Sewanee, where he played baseball and football. He also attended Stonier Graduate School of Banking and Executive Development Programs at Harvard Business School.
As a strong supporter of the UA System, Hall and his wife, Susan, established a need-based scholarship at The University of Alabama to increase access to higher education. He is a member of the Culverhouse Board of Visitors and the Crimson Tide Foundation. He also serves on the boards of Alabama Power, Great Southern Wood Holdings, Inc., Vulcan Materials, and the Newcomen Society of Alabama. He previously served on the boards of the Birmingham Business Alliance, Children’s of Alabama, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the Board of Governors’ Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve System.
Hall’s election will be submitted to the Alabama State Senate for confirmation. The UA System Board of Trustees is comprised of 15 elected members who represent Alabama’s Congressional districts on a volunteer basis, and the Governor of Alabama is an ex-officio member of the Board.
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270
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