James Record

James Record was the original chairman of the board for the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. Founded in 1989 due to the efforts of artist Vaughn Stewart, the sports hall of fame for the Madison County area tapped Record because of his knowledge of local history and many personal contacts within Madison County. Record himself was inducted into this hall of fame in 1990.

In 1981 he served as Exalted Ruler of Huntsville Lodge 1648 of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1989, James Record was recognized as Humanitarian of the year by the Arthritis Foundation.

Record served with distinction in the US Army Air Corps during World War II and remained active in organizations, such as the VFW, American Legion, Elks and YMCA. He also founded the Madison County Military Hall of Heroes in February 1975 honoring local heroes who won military awards for heroism or valor, which can be found in the Madison County Courthouse still today. It is the only one of its kind in the United States.

Record also founded the Madison County, Alabama, newspaper, The Madison County Record in 1967, a paper that is still published today.

He married the former Lillian Marion Ahonen on June 15, 1946. They had two children, Carole D. Record and James R. Record Jr. Lillian died on February 14, 1962, after an accident. Record married the former Ruth Parker McWhorter on May 10, 1974. Record enjoyed writing history and spent much of his time writing about Madison County. Record authored or co-authored over 10 books during his life. He graduated from Huntsville High School and later attending the University of Alabama in Huntsville obtaining a degree in accounting. Record also attended Howard College which today is known as Samford University in Birmingham Alabama. He was later presented with an honorary doctorate degree by Southeastern Institute of Technology.

James Record is recognized for his honest, effective leadership from the 1940s to the 1980s in the development of Madison County, Alabama. He is regarded as one of Madison County Alabama's most influential citizens. Record first served as Madison County Auditor from 1948 to 1960, State Senator 1960-1962 and then as Chairman of the Madison County Commission until 1981. Under James Record’s leadership, Madison County won over 50 awards from NACO (National Association of County Officials) including the prestigious Number One County in America Award, the first #1 award for Madison County/Huntsville which are displayed in the Madison County Alabama Courthouse. Record himself also won numerous awards during his tenure, more awards than any other public official in Alabama history. Many large industries were also attracted to move to the Huntsville/Madison County area through business recruitment trips James Record made with other civic officials recruiting.

Record served as the fund-raising chairman for the establishment and building of the United States Space and Rocket Center. Record enlisted the help of Paul "Bear" Bryant and Ralph "Shug" Jordan and others to help raise funds to build the Space and Rocket Center. Additionally James Record worked in the Alabama Legislature to secure funding for the University of Alabama in Huntsville and to move it towards full campus status. Record worked closely with state, city, and national leaders to bring multiple major industries to Huntsville and Madison County from the 1940s until 1981. James Record understood the need for funding and often visited Washington DC with Dr. Von Braun and other civic leaders in search of funding for new projects for Madison County. In 1974, the Madison County school board planned to surprise James Record with the naming of a new high school in Madison in his honor. When Record accidentally learned of the idea he modestly suggested that it instead be named after former U.S. Representative Robert "Bob" Jones. That school is now known as Bob Jones High School.

James Ralph Record (27 December 1918 – 1 December 1996) was an Alabama state senator, a former Chairman of the Madison County (Alabama) Commission, and a noted historical author. He was born in New Market, Alabama, near the Alabama-Tennessee border. Record also served as president of several local organizations such as the Alabama Space and Rocket Center, State of Alabama Historical Commission, Madison County Historical Society, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge, Burritt Museum, YMCA, Woodmen of the World, Alabama Association of County Commissioners, First Baptist Church Huntsville, and the Madison County Mental Health Association.