Denny Chimes

Denny Chimes in January 2007.

The Denny Chimes (Building #1045) is a 115-foot-tall belltower equipped with a 25-bell carillon, located on the south side of The Quad of the University of Alabama fronting University Boulevard in Tuscaloosa.

The tower was named in honor of former University president George Denny, who served from 1912 to 1936 and again in 1941. Today, the tower is often recognized as the most visible landmark of the campus. The tower is art deco in design and features a concrete base followed by a brick shaft that gradually tapers towards its concrete top.

History

The idea of erecting a clock tower on campus was initially suggested in 1919 to be constructed as a war memorial for those who fought in World War I. Due to an inability to secure funding for its construction, the tower was not completed at that time. However, by the late 1920s, university students were successful in collecting the necessary funding for its construction. This was done in an effort to dedicate the structure to then university president George Denny after hearing a rumor stating he was looking to leave the university and return to his native Virginia. Constructed by Skinner, Maxwell and Company at a final cost of $40,000, the tower was dedicated on May 27, 1929, with governor Bibb Graves in attendance.

Carillon

The carillon features 25 cast bronze bells, with the largest having a circumference of about eleven feet and a height of three feet. The chimes ring every 15 minutes, chiming on the hour in addition to chiming other songs or the alma mater as part of university celebrations or holidays. Inside the base is an automatic player that plays roll music in addition to a keyboard console that is used on special occasions. For many years the Alabama organ professor Warren Hutton served as the carillonneur for memorial services and special events, and today the manual organ is played by both university faculty and students.

By 1945, the bell carillon was converted into an electronic system and modernized in 1966. The 1966 modernization was complete with a rededication ceremony on May 28. The system was completed by Schulmerich Carillons of Pennsylvania with internationally known carillonneur David Klein delivering the inaugural performance.

Walk of Fame

Surrounding the tower is the Walk of Fame, whereby captains of the football team have placed their hand and footprints in cement slabs at its base since 1948, with only a brief interruption between 1971 and 1975. The ceremony annually occurs as part of the A-Day festivities, whereby the previous seasons captains are honored.

The names enshrined as part of the Walk of Fame are as follows:

1947: Harry Gilmer, John Wozniak 1948: Billy Cadenhead, Ray Richeson 1949: Billy Cadenhead, Ed Holdnak, Doug Lockridge 1950: Ed Salem, Mike Mizerany 1951: Jack Brown, Harold Lutz 1952: Bobby Marlow, Bobby Wilson 1953: Ralph Carrigan, Bud Willis 1954: Thomsa Tharp, Sid Youngleman 1955: Nick Germanos 1956: Jim Cunningham, Max Kelly, Wes Thomas 1957: Jim Loftin, Clay Walls 1958: Bobby Jackson, Dave Sington, Bobby Smith 1959: Jim Belvins, Don Cochran, Marlin Dyess 1960: Bobby Boylston, Leon Fuller 1961: Billy Neighbors, Pat Trammell 1962: Lee Roy Jordan, Jimmy Sharpe 1963: Not awarded 1964: Steve Allen, Benny Nelson 1965: Joe Namath, Ray Ogden 1966: Richard Cole, Ray Perkins, Steve Sloan 1967: Bobby Johns, Kenny Stabler 1968: Mike Hall, Donnie Sutton 1969: Danny Ford, Alvin Samples

1970: Dave Brungard, Danny Gilbert 1971: Johnny Musso, Robin Parkhouse 1972: Terry Davis, John Mitchell 1973: Wilbur Jackson, Chuck Strickland 1974: Ricky Davis, Sylvester Croom 1975: Lee Roy Cook, Richard Todd 1976: Thad Flanagan, Charles Hannah 1977: Ozzie Newsome, Mike Tucker 1978: Marty Lyons, Tony Nathan 1979: Don McNeal, Steve Whitman 1980: Alan Gray, Major Ogilvie 1981: Warren Lyles, Randy Scott 1982: Randy Edwards, Steve Mott 1983: Walter Lewis, Eddie Lowe 1984: Paul Ott Carruth, Emanuel King 1985: Thornton Chandler, Jon Hand 1986: Cornelius Bennett, Mike Shula 1987: Kerry Goode, Randy Rockwell 1988: Derrick Thomas, David Smith 1989: Marco Battle, Willie Wyatt 1990: Philip Doyle, Gary Hollingsworth, Efrum Thomas 1991: Siran Stacy, Robert Stewart, John Sullins, Kevin Turner 1992: Derrick Oden, George Teague, George Wilson, Prince Wimbley 1993: Chris Anderson, Lemanski Hall, Antonio Langham, Tobie Shiels

1994: Jay Barker, Tommy Johnson, Tarrant Lynch, Sam Shade 1995: Shannon Brown, Brian Burgdorf, Tony Johnson, John Walters 1996: John Causey, Fernando Davis 1997: Curtis Alexander, Paul Pickett, Rod Rutledge, Deshea Townsend 1998: Calvin Hall, John David Phillips, Daniel Pope, Kelvin Sigler, Travis Smith 1999: Shaun Alexander, Cornelius Griffin, Miguel Merritt, Ryan Pflugner, Chris Samuels 2000: Paul Hogan, Bradley Ledbetter, Kenny Smith 2001: Jarret Johnson, Terry Jones, Jr., Saleem Rasheed, Tyler Watts, Andrew Zow 2002: Lane Bearden, Ahmaad Galloway, Jarret Johnson, Kenny King, Kindal Moorehead, Tyler Watts 2003: Derrick Pope, Shaud Williams 2004: Todd Bates, Wesley Britt 2005: Brodie Croyle, DeMeco Ryans 2006: Le'Ron McClain, Juwan Simpson 2007: Antoine Caldwell, Rashad Johnson, Darren Mustin 2008: John Parker Wilson, Rashad Johnson, Antoine Caldwell 2009: Javier Arenas, Mike Johnson, Rolando McClain 2010: Greg McElroy, Dont'a Hightower, Mark Barron

References

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• Historical Marker Program for Tuscaloosa County: Denny Chimes, The Alabama Historical Association, accessed April 27, 2011
• Denny Chimes, University of Alabama Virtual tour, accessed April 27, 2011
• Staff Reporters (May 27, 1949) "Anniversary noted for Denny Chimes". p. 3 The Tuscaloosa News
• Staff Reporters (May 27, 1966) "A new era chiming in". p. 9 The Tuscaloosa News
• Browning, Al (April 6, 1976) "Crimson Tide tradition gets a fresh breath". p. 8 The Tuscaloosa News
• Vickery, Scottie (September 2, 1998) "For old chimes' sake: Electronic technician keeps bells ringing in UA landmark" The Birmingham News p. G1
• Coulter, Lucinda (October 27, 2006) "Behind the chimes". The Tuscaloosa News
• Morton, Jason (April 10, 2008) "A-Day anticipation". The Tuscaloosa News