ALBERT JAMES KNIGHT

KNIGHT, ALBERT JAMES age 69, of Wilsonville, AL passed away on August 22, 2010. Al was born on May 2, 1941 in Alexandria, LA. He was a graduate of Murrah High School in Jackson, MS. After high school he went on to Mississippi State, and graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He served in the United States Navy and while on active duty, was on the USS Canberra CAG2 during the time it served on patrol in the Cuban Blockade. He retired from Bell Systems after over 30 years of service, was a member of the Shelby County Planning Commission and a Trustee at Valley Elementary School. He served on the Shelby County YMCA Board of Managers, University of Montevallo Board of Trustees and was a Council Member of Boy Scout Troop 5. Mr. Knight served in the Alabama State House of Representatives from 1986 to 1998 for House District 40 and was the House Minority Leader. He had an abiding interest in education, the home building industry, the healthcare industry and commerce. He co-authored and co-sponsored much legislation for these industries as well as legislation that helped create and support The American Village. He served on the Board of Directors of The Citizenship Trust at The American Village and was a founding member of the Shelby County Republican Party. He was the 1st Non Governor Chairman of SERVE (Southeastern Regional Vision for Education) and was Chairman of The Commerce Transportation and Utilities Committee and was the Ranking Minority Member on the Committee on Health for the Alabama House of Representatives. He was a member of The Shelby County Legislative Committee of the Alabama House of Representatives, The Southern Legislative Conference, The American Legislative Exchange Commission, The National Association of State Legislators and The Energy Council that is made up of 11 US states, 5 Canadian Provinces, and the country of Venezuela. He was elected Legislator of the Year by his peers and inducted into the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders Housing Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his parents, Buford & Kathryn Knight. He is survived by his wife Carol Knight; son: Michael Albert Knight (Nicole), their children: Griffin, Joshua, and Addison; daughter: Shannon Knight Vann (Daniel) their children Molly & Amelia; brother: Gerald Buford Knight (Bobby); sister: Sylvia Knight Webb (James) and several nieces and nephews. There will be a celebration of life on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 beginning at 4:00 PM at The American Village in Montevallo, AL. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The American Village.