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James Record

James Ralph Record Sr. (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 and numerous civic organizations.[1]

For the pastor, school teacher, and college president, see James Franklin Record.

James Ralph Record Sr.

(1918-12-27)December 27, 1918

New Market, Alabama

December 1, 1996(1996-12-01) (aged 77)

Huntsville, Alabama

Maple Hill Cemetery
Huntsville, Alabama

 United States

Politician

Madison County, Alabama

Lillian Marion Ahonen
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(m. 1946⁠–⁠1962)​
Ruth Parker McWhorter
​
​
(m. 1974)​

James Record Jr (1956-)
Carole D. Record (1948-)

John Raymond Record
Lillie Belle (Fisk)

Personal life[edit]

He married the former Lillian Marion Aho on June 15, 1946. They had two children, Carole D. Record and James R. Record Jr. His wife Lillian died on February 14, 1963, after a tragic accident. After raising 2 children as a single parent, Record later married the former Ruth Parker McWhorter on May 10, 1974.[2] Record enjoyed writing history and spent much of his time writing about Madison County. He helped preserve many historical articles over the years about Madison County which are stored in the Huntsville/Madison County Library historical room. 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.

Commemorative Album Celebrating our City’s Sesquicentennial of Progress: Huntsville, Alabama, 1805-1955 - Record served as co-chairman and editor of this 1955 publication illustrating the growth of Alabama's first city into America's Rocket City.

[11]

Huntsville, Alabama: Rocket City, U.S.A. - a 16-page pamphlet published in 1953 by Strode publishers, co-authored with John McCormick, to promote the city and provide an anecdotal history of Huntsville and Madison County.

[2]

Dedication: Madison County Courthouse 1967 A.D. - a 39-page booklet printed in 1967 by the Hicklin Printing Co. to celebrate the dedication of the then-new courthouse in downtown Huntsville.

A Dream Come True: The Story of Madison County and Incidentally of Alabama and the United States - published in two volumes by John Hicklin Printing Co. Volume 1 (published in 1970) covers "1492-1865, History and Our County Government." Volume 2 (published in 1978) covers "1866-1967 History," "1811-1977 Our City Government," "1798-1818 Our Territorial Government," and "1804-1977 Other Data."

Great Elks in Madison County? You Better Believe It! - a hardcover book published in 1972 as a history of Madison County, Alabama, Elkdom.

[12]

The Elks Move in Alabama: A History of Alabama Elks & Their Lodges - a 480-page hardcover book published in 1983 by Hicklin Printing Company about the history of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks fraternal organization in Alabama from 1868 to 1982.

Record authored several books and other works about the history of Huntsville, Madison County, and its inhabitants. Many of his papers, photographs, and other works are now housed in the James Record Collection located in the Huntsville Heritage Room at the main location of the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. Below is a selected bibliography.

James Record Road, near located off of Highway 20 just west of Wall Triana Highway, in southwest Huntsville, Alabama.[13]

Huntsville International Airport

James Record Street in .

Triana, Alabama

., Who's Who in the USA 1974, Who's Who in Alabama 1976, Who's Who in America 1980

"Marquis Who's Who on the Web"

Huntsville Times 1948-1981, Madison County Alabama Public Records, James Record Biography, Record Family History, YMCA board of directors 1974, Alabama Space and Rocket Center Plaque, plus multiple other state, city, county, and national publications records. ^Ronald Sparks, public statement of July 4, 1974 in the Madison County Record August 28, 1986).

Madison County, Alabama, official site

Huntsville Madison County American Legion Post 237

Madison County Record website

Sparks, Ronald. James Record: What He Is, What He Said, What He Did. (Huntsville: Hicklin Press, 1974)