Siegelman makes four new appointmentss to AIDB board

From: Daily Home Online, AL - 18 Jan 2003

By Michael Seale
01-18-2003

TALLADEGA — When the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees convenes for its next meeting, some new faces will be present, as four new board members were appointed by Gov. Don Siegelman.

Siegelman also reappointed three existing members to new terms on the board.

Ronald Garrett, Lynwood French, Amy Burks and William P. Dobbs III are the new appointments to the board, while Jackie Smith, Bunny Gamble and Morris Savage were reappointed.

Garrett is a 1963 graduate of the Alabama School for the Blind, and he earned degrees from Auburn University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama.

He served as a teacher and coach for 11 years at ASB before becoming principal at the school in 1980.

He served at that capacity at ASB until his retirement in 1994. He and his wife, Brenda, live in Talladega.

Garrett replaces former trustee Eddie Thomas and will represent the Third Congressional District on the board.

French served as an AIDB prevocational director for 10 years before working as an instructor at the Helen Keller School of Alabama for 17 years.

French, who lives in Ashland with his wife, Gina Haynes, replaces former trustee Bill Latham of Clanton.

Burks, a resident of Decatur, replaces former trustee and board chairman Dr. Annas Aytch. She will represent the Fifth Congressional District.

Burks, French and Garrett will each serve terms that run through Nov. 30, 2008.

Dobbs, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of trustee Lottie Mae Crook, was valedictorian of the Alabama School for the Deaf in 1981. He graduated from Athens State College and now serves as the Industrial Property Management Specialist for the NASA Property Management Group at the Marshall Space Flight Center.

He lives in Huntsville with his wife, Sally and their two sons. He will represent AIDB alumni from the state at-large through Nov. 28, 2004.

Gamble has served on the board since 1997. A graduate of the University of Alabama, she lives in Selma with her husband, William Gamble. She is a former member of the Selma City Board of Education.

Gamble represents the Seventh Congressional District, and her term continues through Nov. 30, 2008.

Smith is a 1972 graduate of the Alabama School for the Deaf and has served on the board since 1997. He is an at-large member of the board and his term runs through Nov. 30, 2008.

Savage has served on the board since 1995. He is an attorney and lives in Jasper, representing the Fourth Congressional District in a term that runs through Nov. 28, 2006.

AIDB President Dr. Terry Graham said he is pleased with the new appointments.

"We are very excited about these appointments and we look forward to working with all of our trustees as we strive to make our institute the best it can be," Graham said.

"Lynwood French and Ronnie Garrett especially will be able to make great contributions to the board because of their history here," Graham added. "They have shown a long-standing commitment to our students and clients, and they will want the best for AIDB and the people we serve."

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