Kelley Named 2000 Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award Recipient At UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Former Crimson Tide football and baseball player Joe Kelley of Nashville, Tenn., will receive the 2000 University of Alabama National Alumni Association’s (NAA) Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award on Sept. 30 during halftime activities of the UA vs. South Carolina football game in Tuscaloosa.

Kelley is president of the American General Career Distribution Group, a subsidiary of the American General Financial Group, where he leads more than 6,500 employees in 28 states.

A native of Ozark, Ala., Kelley graduated from UA in 1970 with letters in football and baseball and a bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration. He is a member of the National Advisory Board for UA.

Kelley holds several leadership positions in business and civic organizations in Nashville. He is currently board chair of the Board of Trustees of United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and a member of the Board of Trustees of Leadership Nashville. He serves on the Board of Governors, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Tennessee Association of Business. Kelley is also a member of the Executive Board for the Middle Tennessee Boy Scouts Council of America and the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

As chairman of the Nashville Sports Council, Kelley was a leading force in promoting the city as a major professional and amateur sports center. In addition, American General was the first title sponsor of college football’s Music City Bowl. In 1999, Kelley received the Fred Russell Distinguished American Award from the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame.

Under Kelley’s leadership, American General has launched several programs to recognize and reward high school students. The American General Scholarship program provides scholarships to students in 12 states who demonstrate strong character traits. The company also recognizes achievement of high school athletes by sponsoring the American General Mr. Football Awards in Tennessee; the American General Mr. Basketball and American General Miss Basketball Awards in South Carolina and Tennessee; and the American General Player of the Year Awards for football and basketball in Alabama.

He is also a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Advanced Management Program, and is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). He began his career in 1970 as a life insurance agent with the Prudential Insurance Company of America, qualifying for MDRT. Over the next 24 years, Kelley assumed positions of increasing responsibility with Prudential, including senior vice president and chief marketing officer. In 1994, he joined American General Life Insurance Co. as senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Kelley was named to his present position in July 1995.

Kelley is Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Life Underwriters Training Council (LUTC) and is a member of various other industry organizations

“Hardly a day goes by when I don’t think of the strength and character of Coach Bryant,” Kelley said. “His principles of surrounding yourself with dedicated individuals, recognizing winners and planning effectively are appropriate guidelines for anyone wanting to lead a company.”

Kelley and his wife, Margaret, have three children; each of children graduated from UA.

Presenting the alumni award at the halftime ceremony will be the UA President Andrew Sorensen, Athletics Director Mal Moore, NAA President Philip Young, NAA President-elect Terry Redmill, Director of Alumni Affairs Pat Whetstone and A-Club President Paul Sullivan.

For the first time, two recipients will receive the award in the same year. Wendell Hudson of Waco, Texas, a former Crimson Tide basketball player and the first African American to receive an athletic scholarship to UA, will be given the 2000 Bryant Award with Kelley.

The criteria for selection of the award, which is given annually to former Alabama athletes, include character, contributions to society, professional achievement and service to fellow man.

Past recipients of the Bryant Award have included John Croyle, Young Boozer, Charlie Boswell, Fred Sington, Holt and Tom Rast, Hoyt “Wu” Winslett, Bart Starr, Bud Moore, Ozzie Newsome and Jerry Duncan.