William Rushton III: Difference between revisions
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'''William James "Billy" Rushton III''' (born [[April 23]], [[1929]]; died September 30, [[2021]]) was CEO of the [[Protective Life Corporation]] from [[1969]] to [[1992]]. | [[File:Billy Rushton.jpg|right|thumb|William Rushton III]] | ||
'''William James "Billy" Rushton III''' (born [[April 23]], [[1929]]; died [[September 30]], [[2021]]) was CEO of the [[Protective Life Corporation]] from [[1969]] to [[1992]]. | |||
Rushton is the son of | Rushton is the son of [[William Rushton Jr|William "Colonel" Rushton Jr]] and [[Elizabeth Rushton|Elizabeth Perry Rushton]]. He graduated from Princeton University in [[1951]], ''magna cum laude'', with a bachelor of arts in mathematics. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves and served as an artillery observer for the 25th Infantry Division during the [[Korean War]], where he was awarded a Bronze Star and promoted to Captain. | ||
After his discharge Rushton worked in the actuarial departments of the Prudential Insurance Company of New Jersey and later at Protective Life in [[Birmingham]]. In [[1958]] he moved over to the sales department. | After his discharge Rushton worked in the actuarial departments of the Prudential Insurance Company of New Jersey and later at Protective Life in [[Birmingham]]. In [[1958]] he moved over to the sales department. he was elected a vice president of the company in [[1962]] and oversaw a restructuring of the sales department. He was promoted to succeed his father as president in [[1967]], and was named CEO in [[1969]]. As CEO, Rushton oversaw the expansion of the company into all 50 U.S. states. In [[1976]] he moved the company moved out of its downtown headquarters to a [[Protective Life building (Office Park)|new building]] in [[Mountain Brook]]'s [[Office Park]]. Later the company began building a corporate campus on a 28-acre site on [[Highway 280]]. Rushton turned the company over to [[Drayton Nabers Jr]] in [[1992]]. | ||
Rushton also served on a number of other corporate boards, including [[Alabama Power Company]], [[Avondale Mills]], [[AmSouth Bank]], [[Moore & Handley]] and the [[Southern Research Institute]]. He also served as a trustee of [[Birmingham-Southern College]] and on the board of visitors for the [[Culverhouse College of Commerce|University of Alabama College of Commerce]]. Rushton chaired the [[Birmingham Community Chest]] United Appeal in [[1977]] and served on the boards of [[Children's Hospital]], the [[Industrial Health Council]], the [[Birmingham Council of Social Agencies]], [[United Way of Central Alabama|United Way]], the [[Birmingham Baptist Hospital Foundation]], and the [[Meyer Foundation]]. | Rushton also served on a number of other corporate boards, including [[Alabama Power Company]], [[Avondale Mills]], [[AmSouth Bank]], [[Moore & Handley]] and the [[Southern Research Institute]]. He also served as a trustee of [[Birmingham-Southern College]] and on the board of visitors for the [[Culverhouse College of Commerce|University of Alabama College of Commerce]]. Rushton chaired the [[Birmingham Community Chest]] United Appeal in [[1977]] and served on the boards of [[Children's Hospital]], the [[Industrial Health Council]], the [[Birmingham Council of Social Agencies]], [[United Way of Central Alabama|United Way]], the [[Birmingham Baptist Hospital Foundation]], and the [[Meyer Foundation]]. He was a former president of the [[Rotary Club of Birmingham]], the founding chair of [[Leadership Birmingham]], and longtime chair of the [[Alabama chapter of the Newcomen Society of North America]]. He was also a trustee of the [[Mountain Brook Club]], chair of the board of deacons for [[1st Presbyterian Church]], and a member of the advisory committee for the [[Robert Meyer Foundation]]. | ||
Rushton married the former [[LaVona Rushton|LaVona Price]] on [[August 19]], [[1955]] and had three sons, [[William Rushton IV|William IV]], Deakins, and Tunstall. He was inducted into the [[Alabama Academy of Honor]] in [[1979]]. | Rushton married the former [[LaVona Rushton|LaVona Price]] on [[August 19]], [[1955]] and had three sons, [[William Rushton IV|William IV]], Deakins, and Tunstall. He was inducted into the [[Alabama Academy of Honor]] in [[1979]]. In retirement Billy and LaVona spent a month every year in Paris, France. | ||
==References== | |||
* "William 'Billy' James Rushton III" obituary (October 3, 2021) {{BN}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rushton, William III}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Rushton, William III}} | ||
[[Category:1929 births]] | [[Category:1929 births]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:2021 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:US Army officers]] | [[Category:US Army officers]] | ||
[[Category:Bronze Star recipients]] | [[Category:Bronze Star recipients]] | ||
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[[Category:Insurance executives]] | [[Category:Insurance executives]] | ||
[[Category:Alabama Academy of Honor]] | [[Category:Alabama Academy of Honor]] | ||
[[Category:Birmingham-Southern trustees]] | |||
Latest revision as of 15:12, 4 October 2021
William James "Billy" Rushton III (born April 23, 1929; died September 30, 2021) was CEO of the Protective Life Corporation from 1969 to 1992.
Rushton is the son of William "Colonel" Rushton Jr and Elizabeth Perry Rushton. He graduated from Princeton University in 1951, magna cum laude, with a bachelor of arts in mathematics. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves and served as an artillery observer for the 25th Infantry Division during the Korean War, where he was awarded a Bronze Star and promoted to Captain.
After his discharge Rushton worked in the actuarial departments of the Prudential Insurance Company of New Jersey and later at Protective Life in Birmingham. In 1958 he moved over to the sales department. he was elected a vice president of the company in 1962 and oversaw a restructuring of the sales department. He was promoted to succeed his father as president in 1967, and was named CEO in 1969. As CEO, Rushton oversaw the expansion of the company into all 50 U.S. states. In 1976 he moved the company moved out of its downtown headquarters to a new building in Mountain Brook's Office Park. Later the company began building a corporate campus on a 28-acre site on Highway 280. Rushton turned the company over to Drayton Nabers Jr in 1992.
Rushton also served on a number of other corporate boards, including Alabama Power Company, Avondale Mills, AmSouth Bank, Moore & Handley and the Southern Research Institute. He also served as a trustee of Birmingham-Southern College and on the board of visitors for the University of Alabama College of Commerce. Rushton chaired the Birmingham Community Chest United Appeal in 1977 and served on the boards of Children's Hospital, the Industrial Health Council, the Birmingham Council of Social Agencies, United Way, the Birmingham Baptist Hospital Foundation, and the Meyer Foundation. He was a former president of the Rotary Club of Birmingham, the founding chair of Leadership Birmingham, and longtime chair of the Alabama chapter of the Newcomen Society of North America. He was also a trustee of the Mountain Brook Club, chair of the board of deacons for 1st Presbyterian Church, and a member of the advisory committee for the Robert Meyer Foundation.
Rushton married the former LaVona Price on August 19, 1955 and had three sons, William IV, Deakins, and Tunstall. He was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 1979. In retirement Billy and LaVona spent a month every year in Paris, France.
References
- "William 'Billy' James Rushton III" obituary (October 3, 2021) The Birmingham News
External links
- William James Rushton III at the Alabama Academy of Honor