James L. Noles Jr. Kiwanis Club of Birmingham

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When founded in 1917, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, Alabama, embarked on a civic-minded journey that would take it through a century of service and tradition. The club's membership rolls would ultimately boast some of the most distinguished leaders in Birmingham's business community. At their weekly lunches, they would be entertained by both local and national speakers and visitors, ranging from Babe Ruth to Tom Brokaw. Equally importantly, the club's tradition of generosity continues to resonate in Birmingham today as the club celebrates its centennial year in 2017. The club's endeavors include commissioning a master urban parks plan for Birmingham in 1924, erecting the city's iconic statue of Vulcan atop Red Mountain, funding the construction of Birmingham's Boys Club, sponsoring professional football games at Birmingham's historic Legion Field in the 1960s, and more recently, funding a $4-million project to enhance Vulcan, build the Kiwanis Centennial Park, and establish a key link in Birmingham's Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System.