For over sixty years, the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa has annually honored at least one “unsung hero” of the community through the Rotary Rose award. Earlier in the year the Club awarded Vicki Kerr, director of Caring Days, with the honor. At last week’s Veterans Day event, the Club honored another community servant with a second award.

The recipient was James Shirley. James has been married to his wife Linda for over 40 years, and they have two daughters (Jennifer & Laura) and one granddaughter (Savannah). He is the  Founding Pastor of Five Points Baptist Church in Northport, and now serves as Minister of Music at Taylorville Baptist Church.

Shirley recently retired after 25 years from Alabama Power Company. While there, in 1992, he received the Presidential Award, given by Alabama Power “in recognition of outstanding, world-class service to Alabama Power, and our customers and communities.” It is the highest honor bestowed by the company.  James is currently with DCH Regional Medical Center as Guest Services Manager.

James is a volunteer with several local organizations, but he was honored last Tuesday for his service on all three of Tuscaloosa Rotary Honor Flight programs. He was tireless in his efforts at fundraising, and beyond. “You give this man a job,” said Rotarian J.G. Brazil in his introduction, and he does it 150%.”  He secured wheelchairs for many of the veterans who needed them for the trip to Washington, for example, and even went to work building them a ramp. “In every phase of his life, personal, church, community, in the workplace,” J.G. said of James Shirley “he is thinking of others… and leading by example to make his surroundings and those around him better. I can’t think of an individual that deserves our recognition more than this person.”

In 2001 the Rotary Rose award was named for Clem Duckworth, who had become one of Tuscaloosa Rotary’s most distinguished members.  Clem was a member of the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa 1933 – 2001, and served as both club president (1947-48) and  district governor (1955-56). In honor of his lifetime of service, the award became known as the “J. Clemson Duckworth Rotary Rose Award for Outstanding Community Service.” Rotary extends its thanks to James Shirley for all of his hard work, and its congratulations for a well-deserved award!