Member Showcase

Bill Hereford

 I am a Charter member of RCPC. My interest in becoming a Rotarian was the result of my friendship with the late Harold Dean King. Harold was a great Rotarian and President of the Peoples Bank of Pell City which was late acquired by Colonial Bank. Harold served as Vice Chairman of Colonial Bancgroup until his death. After running afoul of the required attendance rule, I was out of Rotary until I was sponsored by another great Rotarian, the late Paul Turner. I have tried to do better in my attendance since being readmitted. / wife: Paula Duncan Hereford dom Oct. 9, 1965 / BA University of Alabama (English major) children: Daughter: Margaret Gibson Hereford Ellison, LPC BS (psychology) Tulane University Masters Degree in Education UAB Masters Degree in Counseling Georgia State University. She is married to Hollis C. Ellison, a professional photgrapher. They have a child (my first grandchild. Her name is Katherine Duncan Ellison, dob 7.26.07. Gibson, Hollis and Katie live in Atlanta. / Son: William E. (Trip) Hereford III, AIA BS and MS in Architecture Catholic University of America (cum laude) Trip is an architect. He is licensed in several states including Alabama / He is married to the former Amanda Potter, a speech pathologist at Vanderbilt. Amanda is the daughter of Richard and Judy Potter of Pell City. Trip and Amanda live in Nashville. member: First Baptist Church of Pell City professional activity: served as Senior Circuit Judge by appointment of the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. In this capacity I heard cases around the state in situations where the local judges are disqualified and I also served as the first Judge of the St. Clair County Drug Court. / Education: Woodlawn High School, Birmingham graduated 1958 South Georgia College, Douglas Georgia University of Alabama BA 1964 University of Alabama School of law, JD 1970 / Military: United States Marine Corps (active and reserve duty from 1961-67) Honorably Discharged after having risen to the rank of private first class. The Marine Corps did a lot more for me than I did for the Marine Corps. / Employment: Hereford Blair Holladay and Parsons Holladay, partner, 1970-1991 Circuit Judge 1991- 2005 I was appointed by Governor Guy Hunt to succeed one of my all time heroes, the late Hugh Edwin Holladay (our Hugh's father). Judge Holladay was the first person to hold this place, I was the second and I was succeeded by Rotarian James E. (Jim) Hill who I admire greatly as an outstanding person and judge. Jim is at the forefront of innovation within the Alabama Judicial System. I was fortunate to have the late Teresa Bunt as my first Judicial Assistant. Later Sandra Reinhardt succeeded Teresa. I finished my career under the close and outstanding supervision of my Judicial Assistant Kay Hill Adams and my Official Court / Reporter Michele Church Seay. / Civic activity: Rotary Club of Pell City Charter member President 2007-2008 / District 6860 Group Study Exchange Committee member 2006-2008 / St. Vincent's St. Clair Hospital, Local Board Chair 1997-present / St. Clair County Headstart, Board Chair 2006-present / Pell City Housing Authority, Board member 2006-2008 /Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, Board member 2004-present Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce, Board member 2005-2008 / Jefferson State Community College, advisory board member 2006-present / Leadership St. Clair County, Board Chair 2007-2008 / Alabama Bar Task Force on pro se litigants 2008 / Alabama Circuit Judges Association / Life Member (associate) United States Naval Academy Alumni Association / In the past: District 6860 Youth Exchange Committee, Chairman 2006-07 / PALS President / American Legion Post 109 Commander / St. Clair County Bar Association. President / Alabama Board of Bar Commissioners/ Literacy Council of Central Alabama, board member / Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, Vice President / Leadership Pell City, class member / Leadership Alabama, class member / St. Clair Literacy Council, a founding member / Blount Literacy Council, a founding member / Birminham Track Club member /successfully completed 10 marathons including New York Chicago, Hunstville, Birmingham and Rome(Italy)/ Citizen of the Year 1993 /