Alice Pigman

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Alice Elizabeth Wolfe Pigman (born March 15, 1908 in Oak Park, Illinois; died October 4, 2005 in Homewood) was the founding principal of the Opportunity Center School, executive director of Aid for Retarded Children, assistant to the director for community programs for the UAB Center for Developmental and Learning Disorders, and coordinator for community programs for the Jefferson-Blount-St Clair Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority.

Alice Wolfe graduated from Chicago's Austin High School in 1924 and completed a certificate in Kindergarten and elementary teaching at the Chicago Teachers College in 1930. She also enrolled at the University of Chicago, completing a bachelor's degree in 1932.

In the 1950s she and her husband, biochemist Ward Pigman, moved to Birmingham, where she founded the Opportunity School, serving as principal and executive director. She went back to school for a master's degree at Birmingham-Southern College, completing a thesis on the organization and administration of educational programs for children with intellectual disabilities in 1960. She followed that with an education specialist degree from the University of Alabama in 1964.

Pigman retired from her roles as principal and executive director of ARC in 1972. As a specialist in community programs she worked across the metropolitan area and testified before the U.S. Department of Justice officials. She was a Fellow of the American Association on Mental Deficiency and a member of the Council for Exceptional Children, the American Association of Social Workers, the Mental Health — Mental Retardation Council of Center Directors, and the National Association for Retarded Children. The Alabama Association for Retarded Citizens presented her with their Outstanding Service Award in 1997. UAB awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2003.

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