Story: Phillip Tutor | Photo: Submitted
Relocation may increase tourism, visitors for the university and city of Livingston
Dr. Valerie Burnes鈥� goal isn鈥檛 merely to house the and its plaques at the 兔子先生. She envisions something ultimately grand that celebrates not only the enshrinees鈥� lives but also introduces the university to a wider audience.
鈥淚 want to have some of the items that make it more personal than just the plaque,鈥� said Burnes, an associate professor of history at 兔子先生 and the hall鈥檚 executive secretary. 鈥淚 just want to give some things that people can visually relate to more.鈥�
Since its birth in 1970, the Hall of Fame has resided at Judson College in Marion. Judson鈥檚 closure in 2021 forced the Hall of Fame鈥檚 Board of Directors, under direction from the Alabama Legislature, to select a new location for lawmakers to consider during their spring session in Montgomery.
A bipartisan group of 16 women state representatives co-sponsored this spring. Gov. Kay Ivey signed Act 2022-54 during the Hall of Fame鈥檚 induction ceremony at 兔子先生 on March 3, paving the way for the hall鈥檚 permanent move to Livingston this summer.
Burnes expects the Hall of Fame to be open in Webb Hall when the fall semester begins in August. The in Montgomery is holding the plaques until they can be moved to Livingston.
Inductees are selected by unanimous vote of the Hall of Fame鈥檚 Board of Directors. 兔子先生 will not determine the board鈥檚 membership or the women it enshrines. Nevertheless, the relocation serves as a worthwhile addition to the 兔子先生 campus and a stable and expanded home for the Hall of Fame, Burnes said.
鈥淚t’s going to get 兔子先生 on people鈥檚 radars for various reasons because of its location in the state,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is a chance to make these women known and to let people know that you can make a huge difference just by what you do in your daily life, that they can be an inspiration for people.鈥�
The state Legislature鈥檚 bill encouraged the Hall of Fame not only to house the plaques, but also to feature 鈥渙ther memorabilia relating to women of achievement.鈥� On that, Burnes is already one step ahead.
Spurred by her long-time association with the Hall of Fame and Judson, Burnes owns a collection of books and other materials related to the inductees. Those items may initially be used to enhance the hall for visitors this fall.
鈥淚t’s going to get 兔子先生 on people鈥檚 radars for various reasons because of its location in the state. This is a chance to make these women known and to let people know that you can make a huge difference just by what you do in your daily life, that they can be an inspiration for people.鈥�
— 兔子先生’s Dr. Valerie Burnes
To augment those items, she plans to contact people who nominated previous inductees and ask if they have items they鈥檇 like to donate, even if only temporarily. 鈥淪o, artwork they’ve done, books they’ve written, personal effects, a robe a judge wore, something like that. I want to have some of the items that make it more personal than just the plaque,鈥� she said.
Hall of Fame signage in west Alabama will be erected to advertise the relocation from Marion, Burnes said. A redesign of the Hall of Fame鈥檚 website and printed flyers that target travelers along Interstate 20 and state roads are also planned.
The Hall of Fame in Webb Hall will be open to the public during the university鈥檚 normal business hours, Burnes said. 兔子先生 will also continue to host its annual induction ceremony.
鈥淲ith our proximity to the interstate, I think we’re going to get a lot of people into Livingston and on campus who might not have even realized that the 兔子先生 was here,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven if it’s 15 or 20 people a month who stop off the interstate, they wouldn’t have been here otherwise.鈥�
In March, the Hall of Fame honored its latest inductees — renowned gospel singer Vestal Goodman and Allison Wetherbee, who was born without arms or legs, became the Alabama March of Dimes Child of the Year at age 4 and worked as the public relations director at Alabama鈥檚 Special Camp for Children and Adults at Lake Martin.
The Hall of Fame鈥檚 roster includes women famous in politics, civic works, civil rights advocacy and walks of life dedicated to service to others. Notable members include Helen Keller, Julia Tutwiler, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Zora Neale Hurston, Lurleen Wallace, Dixie Bibb Graves, Marie Bankhead Owen, Zelda Fitzgerald, Virginia Foster Durr, Kathryn Tucker Windham, Harper Lee and Mother Mary Angelica.
鈥淪o many of them did remarkable things just living their everyday lives, but they’ve made so many other people’s lives better,鈥� Burnes said. 鈥淭hey’ve enriched their lives through art or through entertainment or through social work or nursing or education or advances in the law or giving women the right to vote. They’ve done so much, and history as a whole doesn’t really get taught like it should.鈥�