Tuscaloosa Chamber inducts 2021 Hall of Fame honorees – WVUA23 – wvua23.com

By WVUA 23 Digital Reporter Kyrsten Eller

Every year, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama celebrates residents who make a significant impact in Tuscaloosa County via their induction into the Civic Hall of Fame.

This year’s honorees will be inducted Oct. 21, and they include:

Robert N. Almon Sr., who changed the face of Tuscaloosa through Tuscaloosa’s water supply design, including its sewage system to downtown revitalization and the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk. He was voted Advocate for the Year in 2007 by the Chamber and has continued to commit to bettering the state of Alabama.

David E. Gay Jr. is a lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa and the first African American director at Bryce Hospital. Gay is dedicated to bettering Tuscaloosa and has served as a leader on multiple boards including the United Way of West Alabama and Temporary Emergency Services. He currently serves on the boards of the Department of Human Resources, PARA Foundation, Elevate Tuscaloosa Advisory Council, Mayor’s Alliance for Opportunity and Advancement for Project Unity, Tuscaloosa VA Credit Union and DCH Regional Medical Center. Gay is currently CEO of Whatley Health Services and senior pastor at Beulah Missionary Baptist Church.

Jheovanny Gomez came to Tuscaloosa in 1997 to attend school at the University of Alabama from Colombia, South America. He currently co-owns three Jalapenos Mexican Grills, a restaurant he helped open in 2001. He serves as vice chair of membership and investor relations at the Chamber, is an appointed board member of the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority and Northport Redevelopment Authority, a board member and former chairman of the Boys and Girls Clubs of West Alabama and serves among the board of directors for several other Tuscaloosa County organizations.

Mark Sullivan is a University of Alabama graduate who recently retired from serving as president and CEO of Bank of Tuscaloosa. He came out of retirement to serve as executive vice president for Bryant Bank. During his short-lived retirement, he volunteered his time and skills in assisting with the Chamber’s Small Business Relief Fund. He served as chairman of the Chamber in 2012, and was instrumental during the search for current President and CEO Jim Page. Now he serves as chairman of the Tuscaloosa Education Foundation, executive board member of the Black Warrior Council of Boy Scouts and volunteers for Junior Achievement. Sullivan was also key in the creation of the Edge business incubator, a collaboration between the University of Alabama, the Chamber and the city of Tuscaloosa.

For more information on honorees and the induction, click right here.