James Record


James Ralph Record was an Alabama state senator, a former Chairman of the Madison County Commission, and a noted historical author. He was born in New Market, Alabama, near the Alabama-Tennessee border. Record also served as president of several local organizations such as the Alabama Space and Rocket Center, State of Alabama Historical Commission, Madison County Historical Society, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge, Burritt Museum, YMCA, Woodmen of the World, Alabama Association of County Commissioners, First Baptist Church Huntsville, and the Madison County Mental Health Association.

Personal life

He married the former Lillian Marion Ahonen on June 15, 1946. They had two children, Carole D. Record and James R. Record Jr. Lillian died on February 14, 1962, after an accident. Record married the former Ruth Parker McWhorter on May 10, 1974. Record enjoyed writing history and spent much of his time writing about Madison County. Record authored or co-authored over 10 books during his life. He graduated from Huntsville High School and later attending the University of Alabama in Huntsville obtaining a degree in accounting. Record also attended Howard College which today is known as Samford University in Birmingham Alabama. He was later presented with an honorary doctorate degree by Southeastern Institute of Technology.

Mr. Madison County

James Record is recognized for his honest, effective leadership from the 1940s to the 1980s in the development of Madison County, Alabama. He is regarded as one of Madison County Alabama's most influential citizens. Record first served as Madison County Auditor from 1948 to 1960, State Senator 1960-1962 and then as Chairman of the Madison County Commission until 1981. Under James Record’s leadership, Madison County won over 50 awards from NACO including the prestigious Number One County in America Award, the first #1 award for Madison County/Huntsville which are displayed in the Madison County Alabama Courthouse. Record himself also won numerous awards during his tenure, more awards than any other public official in Alabama history. Many large industries were also attracted to move to the Huntsville/Madison County area through business recruitment trips James Record made with other civic officials recruiting.
Other major achievements during James Record's tenure as chairman include establishment of county-wide water service provisioning, building of the Huntsville International Airport, county-wide road paving, county-wide garbage pickup, county-wide 911 house numbering, and the building of multiple parks such as the Madison County Nature Trail on Green Mountain in south Huntsville, Sharon Johnston Park, the Constitutional Walk at the Huntsville Botanical Garden and numerous ball parks throughout Madison county. Record was involved in most efforts to fund and build many of Huntsville's downtown civic buildings including the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library, the Von Braun Civic Center, Alabama Space and Rocket Center, Constitution Hall, Huntsville City Hall, and the Madison County courthouse. Record even implemented programs such as the braille trail for the blind at the Madison County Nature Trail so that the visually handicapped could experience the beauty of Madison County.
Record served as the fund-raising chairman for the establishment and building of the United States Space and Rocket Center. Record enlisted the help of Paul "Bear" Bryant and Ralph "Shug" Jordan and others to help raise funds to build the Space and Rocket Center. Additionally James Record worked in the Alabama Legislature to secure funding for the University of Alabama in Huntsville and to move it towards full campus status. Record worked closely with state, city, and national leaders to bring multiple major industries to Huntsville and Madison County from the 1940s until 1981. James Record understood the need for funding and often visited Washington DC with Dr. Von Braun and other civic leaders in search of funding for new projects for Madison County. In 1974, the Madison County school board planned to surprise James Record with the naming of a new high school in Madison in his honor. When Record accidentally learned of the idea he modestly suggested that it instead be named after former U.S. Representative Robert "Bob" Jones. That school is now known as Bob Jones High School.
Record served with distinction in the US Army Air Corps during World War II and remained active in organizations, such as the VFW, American Legion, Elks and YMCA. He also founded the Madison County Military Hall of Heroes in February 1975 honoring local heroes who won military awards for heroism or valor, which can be found in the Madison County Courthouse still today. It is the only one of its kind in the United States.
In 1981 he served as Exalted Ruler of Huntsville Lodge 1648 of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1989, James Record was recognized as Humanitarian of the year by the Arthritis Foundation.
Record also founded the Madison County, Alabama, newspaper, The Madison County Record in 1967, a paper that is still published today.
James Record was the original chairman of the board for the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. Founded in 1989 due to the efforts of artist Vaughn Stewart, the sports hall of fame for the Madison County area tapped Record because of his knowledge of local history and many personal contacts within Madison County. Record himself was inducted into this hall of fame in 1990.
A deeply religious man who was active at the First Baptist Church of Huntsville, James Record will be remembered for publicly being quoted as saying that he wanted to make Madison County, Alabama, a better place to work, live, play and pray for current and future generations.

Books and other historical writing

Record authored several books and other works about the history of Huntsville, Madison County, and its inhabitants. Many of his papers, photographs, and other works are now housed in the James Record Collection located in the Huntsville Heritage Room at the main location of the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. Below is a selected bibliography.