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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

MONTEVALLO – A historic night is coming to a historic venue this October, as American Village is set to host the inaugural induction ceremony for the Shelby County Hall of Fame Cornerstone Awards presented by Central State Bank.

The special induction ceremony will take place Thursday, Oct. 10 at American Village in Montevallo, honoring seven inductees into the very first Shelby County Hall of Fame with each honoree receiving a special Cornerstone Award for their impact on Shelby County.

“Shelby County has achieved a reputation of being one of the best places in Alabama to live, work and raise a family,” said Shelby County Historical Society President David Nolen. “The individuals honored in the first Shelby County Hall of Fame class helped develop that reputation through their efforts in education, government, journalism, healthcare, sports and the judicial system.  What we see in these honorees is success in their careers accompanied with the ability to use their careers to help their fellow citizens live better. It is because of these extra efforts that we recognize them.”

The event, which is presented by Central State Bank and put on by Shelby County Newsmedia, Inc., will feature a special night of celebration in a formal setting, including a cocktail hour, a plated dinner and a special ceremony to honor each inductee. The cocktail hour, presented by Bud Light of ATG Distribution in Harpersville, will begin at 5 p.m. with the induction ceremony beginning at 6 p.m.

“Shelby County’s history is Central State Bank’s History,” Central State Bank CEO Mitt Schroeder said. “The people that made Shelby County successful is a big part of the reason Central State Bank is successful. So, if we are going to recognize those people, we want to be a part of it. As far as I know, we are the only bank that originated in Shelby County, so being the presenting sponsor of this event was an easy decision.”

Schroeder also said he wants to give back to the community as much as he possibly can because it was something his mom, Deegee, was passionate about.

“She wants us to give like she gave, teach like she taught and love like she loved,” Schroeder said. “It is our duty to live out and pass on the sweet spirit that made her so special.”

It is that attitude that has Schroeder excited about Central State Bank’s sponsorship for this monumental community event.

Other sponsors of the first ceremony include A.C. Legg, Shelby County and the University of Montevallo as silver level sponsors as well as AmFirst, the city of Alabaster, the city of Calera, DUNN Construction and Building, KELLIS Vegetation, Russ and Lindsey Allison, Renasant Bank, Rux Carter Insurance and Wallace | Ellis as table sponsors.

“Shelby County is proud to support the inaugural Shelby County Hall of Fame,” Shelby County Manager of Tourism and Events Kendall Williams said. “The effort demonstrates the true collaborative spirit of what makes Shelby County continue to thrive. It is vitally important to share the stories of those so instrumental in paving the way for Shelby County to be the absolute best place to live, work and do business. These people honored, and many more in the future, are foundational and true cornerstones of Shelby County.”

The seven inductees, which features a diverse group with different career backgrounds, will be announced in the September/October issue of Shelby Living magazine with stories posted online the first week of September.

The event is set to be an ongoing, annual event that inducts 5-10 new class members each year. The inaugural event has been a year in the making with a board of volunteers working to prepare for the first ceremony.

The future permanent home of the Hall of Fame will be at the Shelby County Museum and Archives in Columbiana with the goal of creating an interactive exhibit to highlight each inductee.

“As President of the Shelby County Historical Society, I am happy to have our organization be a partner in the Shelby County Hall of Fame program,” Nolen said. “Honoring individuals who have had an impact on the development of Shelby County meets the mission of our organization to preserve the history of Shelby County. The individuals selected for this first Hall of Fame class are a part of that history through their careers as well as their personal accomplishments.”

Tickets are very limited for the event and cost $100 per person. If you are interested in any tickets or being a sponsor for this historic event, email alec.etheredge@shelbycountyreporter.com.