Corts, Cunningham, Sledge Tapped for Alabama Men’s Hall of Fame

Longtime Alabama leaders Thomas E. Corts, Emory Cunningham and Eugene B. Sledge will be inducted into the Alabama Men’s Hall of Fame on Sept. 24 at a luncheon at The Club in Birmingham.

Founded by the Alabama Legislature in 1987, the Hall of Fame recognizes men “whose lives have impacted the state, the nation and the world.” Honorees must have been deceased for at least two years. Plaques recognizing all honorees are housed in Samford University’s Harwell G. Davis Library.

Corts, who died in 2009 at age 68, was a higher education leader who also invested himself personally and professionally in public policy reform efforts. He was president of Samford University from 1983 to 2006.

Cunningham, a publisher, civic leader and philanthropist who died in 2000 at age 78, was president and chief executive officer of Progressive Farmer Corporation and founder of Southern Living magazine.

Sledge, an educator, biologist and author from Mobile, taught biology for decades at the University of Montevallo. Also known for his compelling books on World War II, he died in 2001 at age 77.