Katie Boyd Britt

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the impactful and inspirational life of an Alabama legend, Charles Anderson. An entrepreneur, philanthropist, husband, grandfather, and great- grandfather, Charles will be remembered by his relentless drive, extreme generosity, and unwavering humility.

From a young age, Charles learned the values of faith, persistence, and hard work. Born in Florence, AL, Charles was the first of Clyde W. and Ruth Keenum's three children. He developed his entrepreneurial spirit by helping at his father's local newsstand, eventually picking up his own newspaper route. By age 11, Charles had started his own business, a roadside fireworks stand, and by age 14, he was

assisting at his dad's magazine and book business, which had grown from a roadside newsstand to an entire storefront.

Charles didn't just learn discipline and determination from working alongside his father. He was a star athlete, leader, and student. During his time at Coffee High School, he earned various accolades, including recognition as the youngest football player ever selected to the First Team All Tri-Cities Football squad and the All-Tennessee Valley Conference squad, cocaptain of the football team, and, to no one's surprise, was even named a senior class favorite at Coffee High School. His whole class looked up to him, a trend that would follow Charles wherever he went.

After earning his bachelor of science in marketing and minoring in economics from Florence State Teachers College, now the University of North Alabama, Charles joined the family business full-time. Just as he had done as a child, Charles dreamed big, worked tirelessly, and trusted his vision. Soon, that family business had turned into a wide- ranging network of successful enterprises, including Anderson Media, Anderson Press, Books-A-Million, and TNT Fireworks. And in 1987, Charles became the chairman of ANCO Management Services, eventually becoming chairman emeritus and providing mentorship and oversight to his beloved family-founded enterprises.

Even more impressive than Charles' professional career was his service to the community that helped fuel his success. He gave his time and expertise freely, serving in multiple board capacities, including the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Heritage Trust Fund, the First National Bank of Florence (now Truist), the Alabama Kidney Foundation of Alabama, the Salvation Army of the Shoals, the Shoals Economic Development Authority Board, and for nearly a decade, he was the executive chairman of the board of First Southern Bank. In 2026, Charles received the prestigious Life Membership award from the Salvation Army for his unwavering commitment to the organization. He was a valued and dedicated member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where his life was celebrated by the many who knew and loved him.

Charles also gave generously to various causes and organizations, from educational institutions and libraries to hospitals and medical research facilities. He was the benefactor of several scholarships, including the Clyde W. Anderson Scholarship at the University of North Alabama, named for his father, and a business scholarship at the University of Alabama. Proof of his generosity is scattered throughout our State--whether at the University of Northern Alabama's Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions and Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium, the University of Tennessee's Anderson Athletic Training Center and Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, or at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center's Hilda B. Anderson Endowed Chair in Nephrology. The Charles and Hilda Anderson Foundation and the Anderson Foundation both gave abundantly to the causes of literacy, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and expansion of opportunity. His philanthropy showcased his spirit of giving, but Charles never asked to be recognized for his generosity; he gave only because he believed that blessings ought to be shared. The Anderson family creed truly exemplifies Charles' ethos: ``There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.''

The great admiration Charles earned from his community and our entire State can be seen through several honors in his namesake. He was inducted into multiple prestigious associations, including the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, the Alabama Academy of Honor, and the Horatio Alger Association. Charles was named the 1979 University of North Alabama Alumni of the Year, the 2016 Shoals Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, listed as one of the 2021 Most Influential People in Numismatics by Coin World Magazine, named an honorary life fellow of the American Numismatic Society, and named the 2024 Numismatist of the Century by COINage Magazine. In 2016, he was a Walk of Honor inductee, selected for his national and international acclaim among individuals in Florence and Lauderdale Counties. In 2018, the University of North Alabama awarded him an honorary doctorate degree recognizing his extraordinary achievements and his commitment to excellence. In 2025, Charles was honored by Business Alabama as one of five recipients of the Business Alabama Lifetime Achievement Award.

Even with all of these great honors, it is hard to capture the spirit, kindness, and leadership that Charles exhibited each and every day. His family, friends, and each person who was fortunate enough to know him were witnesses to his extraordinary life of philanthropy, leadership, lifelong knowledge, and a deep love for his loved ones. His legacy will last for generations to come and touch the lives of so many.

Today, we honor the life of a man who exemplifies the American Dream and has been a pillar of Alabama for decades. From a simple roadside newspaper stand--built from piano boxes and manned by a father and his 5-year-old son--to a global success story with tens of thousands impacted by his generosity and leadership, Charles Anderson lived a life worth sharing, which I am humbled to amplify in this body. Along with his loved ones, the Florence community, and our entire State, I am honored to celebrate him here today.

Mr. President, today I rise to remember the incredibly full and long life of Mr. Roy Drinkard, an Alabama and American legend. Throughout his 106 years on Earth, Roy's joy, kindness, and drive touched the lives of so many. His dedication to business strengthened our communities, especially his home of Cullman; his military service inspired many Americans across our Nation; and his love for others impacted all who had the honor of knowing him.

A native of Falkville, AL, Roy grew up with three brothers and two sisters, all of whom learned the importance of hard work, public service, and a strong love for their community. Roy's father was a notable businessman who also served as the mayor of Falkville. Roy's own passion for business started from a young age when he began delivering newspapers at age 9. He attended St. Bernard Preparatory School and later graduated from Gumpton-Jones College of Mortuary Science.

After his graduation, Roy served as a private first class for the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Roy was incredibly proud of his service to our country, and at the time of his death, he was the oldest living marine in the United States. His bravery, perseverance, and love for our Nation were driving forces behind his exceptional military service. Though his service was just the beginning of his career, Roy was a marine until his final breath; honorable, courageous, and committed.

After his time in the Marines, Roy began working at the family funeral services business. He was a trained funeral director and mortician, and under his family's leadership, the business grew precipitously, serving families all across north Alabama. During the most difficult moments of someone's life, Roy lent a helping hand, a listening ear, and a space to grieve. It takes a special person to work in the funeral industry, and Roy was certainly that. His compassion and guidance brought consolation to so many.

When Roy returned to Cullman, he purchased the historic Cullman home, the Borkenau. It became the backdrop to so many occasions, from family reunions to business meetings to holiday parties. In Cullman, Roy began working in the auto industry, operating the Drinkard Chevrolet Company dealership from 1955 until 1974. For Roy, car sales were never about the cars; they were about the people he met, the deals he created, and the problems he solved.

Using his passion for people and business, Roy began Drinkard Development, a commercial real estate management company. Drinkard Development's early projects included Cullman's Town Square Shopping Center and King Edward Shopping Center. Soon, the business expanded into neighboring counties and even beyond Alabama into Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, and more. Soon, Roy and his partners became leading developers in the Nation, working as head developers for Kmart in 1981 and for Kroger in 1982. He worked with numerous prominent retailers including Walmart, Kroger, and AMC Theatres. After becoming an approved developer for the General Services Administration, he also helped to develop government facilities throughout the Southeast region. Through it all, Roy viewed Drinkard Development as more than just a job; it was a calling and one that gave him an even larger family.

Roy's devotion to his Cullman community extended far beyond Drinkard Development. Roy was among the original members of the Flying Fifty, business and civic leaders known for traveling throughout the country to attract new industry and investment to the area. He devoted nearly three decades to leading the Cullman Industrial Development Board and held numerous other local leadership positions, including president of the Cullman County Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Cullman Planning Commission. His work helped create jobs, strengthen the local economy, and shape the community he loved. His commitment to service was also evident through his nearly 84 years as a Freemason and through his longtime membership in First Baptist Church of Cullman.

Expanding access to education was another cornerstone of Roy's public service. He served as a director of what is now Wallace State Community College and later chaired the Wallace State Foundation, helping expand opportunities for students through scholarships, donating land, and other initiatives. In 2000, then-Governor Don Siegelman appointed Roy to the Troy University Board of Trustees, beginning more than 25 years of service to a university he loved deeply. He remained devoted to Troy, its students and leaders, and its football program, continuing to serve on the board even through his 100th birthday.

Yet the accomplishments that filled Roy's resume never overshadowed what mattered most to him: family and friendship. He treasured fishing trips with his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, annual gatherings at Buck Island, visits to New Orleans, weekly ``Pawpaw's Night,'' and countless conversations around a fire or on a porch. He kept up with the milestones of his great-grandchildren, celebrated their accomplishments, and was never

too busy for a phone call or a story. At age 100, he even joined his great-grandson Julius's fraternity, another reminder of his curiosity, humor, and determination to remain connected to the generations that followed him.

Roy often summed up the wisdom of his 106 years with the simple command from the Gospel of John: to love one another. That principle captured the heart of a man who measured his life not only by the businesses he built, the communities he strengthened, and the institutions he served, but most importantly by the people he loved and the relationships he carried with him across generations. He leaves behind his daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great- great-granddaughter, along with countless relatives, friends, colleagues, and members of his Drinkard Development family. Roy Drinkard's extraordinary life was marked by more than a century of accomplishments; his most profound impact is reflected in the remarkable number of people who knew and loved him.

I am incredibly proud to honor the incredible life of Mr. Roy Drinkard, whose life serves as a reminder to greet each day with joy, love, and humor. His legacy and service to our great Nation will live on in Cullman, across our great State of Alabama, and throughout his family, friends, and colleagues.

Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Jimmy Rane for his leadership in serving on the America250 Commission. As one of just 16 private citizens on this bipartisan commission, Jimmy's vision, patriotism, and direction helped ensure that our great Nation's semiquincentennial anniversary reflected both America's historic past and the promise of her future. At a time when our country can feel divided, the America250 celebrations gave us a chance to come together around our shared history founding principles. Jimmy was instrumental in reigniting that flame of allegiance as we look ahead to America's next 250 years.

Jimmy understands the fulfillment of America's promises all too well. In 1907, his grandfather Giuseppe Reina journeyed to Ellis Island from his home of Cammarata, Sicily, in search of a better life for his young family. For years, he worked to build that life and instilled in his children, including Jimmy's father Tony, a deep sense of patriotism and pride in their adopted country. Jimmy's story--the grandson of an immigrant who arrived at Ellis Island now entrusted with the Nation's celebration of 250 years of independence--is the embodiment of the American Dream.

Jimmy was born and raised in Abbeville, AL. His father, a World War II veteran, operated several hotels and restaurants and later served as the president of Abbeville's local chamber of commerce, teaching Jimmy the importance of hard work, drive, and giving back. Jimmy became a first-generation college graduate, earning his bachelor's degree in business administration from Auburn University, where he was a member of Theta Xi fraternity. He went on to earn his J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and began his career at a Birmingham law firm.

Jimmy's path since then has been anything but conventional, but in every role he has poured in the same relentless drive to build the best possible product. After his wife's parents passed away, Jimmy returned to Abbeville to take over their lumber-treatment plant, turning the business from the brink of bankruptcy into Great Southern Wood, one of the largest companies in the industry, best known for its YellaWood brand. While running the company, Jimmy also opened his own law firm and served as a judge for Henry County. He later attended Harvard Business School's president management program, inspiring him to push Great Southern Wood to even greater heights.

Instead of relocating Great Southern Wood to a larger market, Jimmy chose to keep the company's headquarters in Abbeville, bringing economic revitalization back to his hometown. He has since restored several of Abbeville's historical buildings, made a lasting impact on Auburn University through prodigious philanthropic efforts, and founded the Jimmy Rane Foundation, which has awarded over 600 scholarships over the past quarter century. Jimmy's greatest legacy is not simply his business success, but rather what he has chosen to do with it. His service and community pride are what made him an indispensable member of the America250 Commission.

From an immigrant family's search for opportunity, to a young boy growing up in Abbeville, to an Auburn graduate, lawyer, entrepreneur, and now a leader in commemorating 250 years of American independence, Jimmy Rane's story is deeply and uniquely American. I am grateful for his service on the America250 Commission and for the time, energy, and patriotism he devoted to this historic undertaking. Alabama is honored to call him one of our own, and I am proud to recognize his indelible contributions to our State and to our Nation.