Members named at the time of incorporation in 1956 included C.J. Coley, of Alexander City, who served as chairman until 1960 and A. L. Johnson, of Decatur, who served as chairman between 1960 and 1964.
Other charter members were Tom Allen, Gadsden; E.E. Anthony, Andalusia; E.C. Easter, Birmingham; Paul Grist, Selma; Walter Kennedy, Birmingham; John Kilgore, Jasper; Mrs. R. H. McIntosh, Birmingham; Walter Randolph, Montgomery; Frank Samford, Birmingham; Mrs. Tom Sharman, Riverview; Arthur Tonsmeire, Jr., Mobile; John Ward, Montgomery; and Howard Yielding, Birmingham.
The first
major project the Foundation Board initiated was a $1 million Capital
Campaign.
The funds were to support the building of a 4-H Youth Development Center
and the creation of an endowment fund to support and sustain the Center
and the 4-H Youth Development Program. The Board successfully led the
Capital Campaign effort and completed their fundraising goal in 1961.
For 17 years the funds were invested in an endowment at the First National
Bank of Birmingham. Earnings were returned to the county 4-H programs
for use in supporting local programs. In 1978, on the ecommendation of
Dr. J. Michael Sprott, the board voted to build the 4-H Youth Development
Center in Shelby County on 105 acres of land leased from Alabama Power
Company on Lay Lake.