Blount, Winton M., 1921-2002

Winton Malcolm Blount was born February 1, 1921 in Union Springs, Alabama. Educated in the Union Springs public schools, he later attended Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Virginia, and the University of Alabama, 1939-1941. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-29 pilot, 1942-1945. After his release from service, he founded Blount Brothers Corporation in 1946, serving as President and Chairman of the Board until December 1968. In 1968 he also served as President, Chamber of Commerce of the United States. In 1969, Blount became Postmaster General of the United States, overseeing the changeover of the U. S. Postal Service from a government department to a private corporation. In 1972, he ran unsuccessfully for the office of U.S. Senator from Alabama. Since 1973, he has been involved with Blount, Inc., an international manufacturing and construction company headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. Since 1974, he has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (President, 1974 to 1979). He has been a director, Union Camp Corporation, 1973 to present, a trustee and chairman, Rhodes College Board, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama. 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. Board member and Treasurer: American Enterprise Institute. Board member: Alabama High School of Mathematics and Science. Member: Board of Trustees, Leadership Alabama. 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. Trustee: Alabama Trust Fund Board. Director: Folger Shakespeare Library. Board member: Friends of American Art in Religion. Member: President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Board Member Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Member: Court of Governors, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. 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 U, 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 die 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. 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: Mr. Blount is married to the former Carolyn Self Varner. They have five children, Winton M., III, Thomas A., Samuel Roberts, Katherine (Mrs. James Verner Miles, III), and Joseph W.

From the guide to the Winton M. Blount papers MSS. 0176., 1956-2004, (W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama)