Harold B. Kirby

Harold Hal B. Kirby, 79, of Russellville, Ala., died Sept. 22, 2005. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Spry Memorial Chapel. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at Russell-ville First Baptist Church, with burial in Knights of Pythias Cemetery. The body will lie-in-state one hour before the service. Officiating at the funeral will be Dr. Gene Balding, Brother Richard Parker and Brother Bert Fowler.Pallbearers will be Curtis Grissom, Homer Grissom, Raymond Grissom, Ford Grissom, Jim Grissom, Ray Darnell, Bill Lucas, John H. McKinney Jr., Wayne Hester, Bill Pugh, Dr. Terry Graves, John Darty, Joe Beasley and Henry Pace.Honorary pallbearers will be Gordon Aycock Jr., Gene Ellison, Travis Garrison, James A. Jackson Jr., Hollis James, Bill Moss, Johnny McMicken, John Boy Quillen, Bobby Taylor, Jimmy Weatherford, Marvin Wilson, Dr. A.E. Terry, Dr. Richard Deal, Dr. Andy Pritchard, Dr. Hermant Patel, First Baptist Church deacons and Russellville Rotary Club members.He was preceded in death by his parents, EC and Susie Harrold Kirby, and a son, Hal Kirby Jr.He is survived by wife, Myra Grissom Kirby; daughter, Denise Allen and husband, Bill; grandsons, Kirby Allen and Emory Allen; granddaughter, Anne Kathryn Allen; many nieces and nephews.Hal was born in Jefferson County, Ala., on May 18, 1926; he made Russellville his home in 1949, where he was the general manager of WWWR radio station. Hal served two years in the U.S. Navy and graduated from the University of Alabama. Through the years, Hal held numerous public offices and played major roles in the Russellville Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County United Fund, Russellville Jaycees, Franklin County Civil Defense, Russellville Board of Education, North Alabama Council of Local Governments, Alabama Mountain Lakes Association and Russellville Lions Club. He was a past president of the Alabama Broadcasters Association, recipient of the ABA's Lifetime Achievement Award, member of the board of directors of Franklin County Red Cross and a Twelve-gallon blood donor. Hal was a deacon at Russellville First Baptist Church, where he also served as Sunday school teacher and director for young people for more than 45 years. In 1977, he was chosen as Franklin County's Citizen of the Year; he has been the Voice of the Golden Tigers since 1950, and in 1998, was chosen as a member of inaugural class of the Franklin County Sports Hall of Fame. He was elected Franklin County probate judge and served as Franklin County commission chairman from 1983 through 1989, and again from 1995-2001. Hal was instrumental in the installation and the expansion of the Franklin County Water System, realizing the completion of public water access for all citizens of Franklin County. From the day he arrived in north Alabama, Hal gladly donated his time and energy to make Russell-ville and Franklin County a better place to live, work and raise a family. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame Award. Hal will be greatly missed by his family and friends alike. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Russellville First Baptist Church.Spry Memorial Chapel, of Russellville, assisted the family.