Jimmy Hinton

TUSCALOOSA James Lucien Hinton, age 88, of Tuscaloosa, died Dec. 3, 2011, at DCH Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. A memorial service will be held Dec. 6, 2011, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Doctor Charlie Durham officiating. Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is directing.

Jimmy was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on April 8, 1923, and grew up in the Little Sandy Community. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Lycurgis Hinton and Mary Alice Strong Hinton; and his brother, George Hinton, Jr. and wife, Marjorie.

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Jean; son, Jimmy Hinton (Favor); daughter, Mary Katherine Gibson (Rusty); daughter, Elizabeth Pruett (Henry); and grandchildren, Jimmy III, Laura, Baker, Ford Hinton, William, George, Jon Blakeney, Katherine and Harry Pruett. He is also survived by his sisters, Elon Hamner Mackey, Mary Jean Hinton, Dorothy Hinton Crawford (David), and Elizabeth Holman Thomson (Jim).

He attended the University of Alabama in the 1940's and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He served in the United States Army. In 1958, Jimmy married Jean Jolly and they lived in Tuscaloosa where Jimmy Jr., Mary Katherine, and Elizabeth were born. Jimmy dearly loved his wife, Jean, his children, and his grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with his friends in Tuscaloosa and at his farm, Sedgefield Plantation in Dallas County.

Jimmy was a business entrepreneur and a passionate supporter of the University of Alabama Athletics Program. He was a strong advocate for wildlife conservation.

Jimmy was involved in many business enterprises during his lifetime and started his own sawmill company at the age of 16. He also was engaged in the lumber business, real estate development, box and pallet factory, automobile business, asphalt business and the family owned meat packing company, R.L. Zeigler Co, Inc, where he served as Chairman of the Board. He was a developer with Ward McFarland of McFarland Mall, Tuscaloosa's first shopping mall. In 1999, he was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame.

Jimmy was passionate about his family, and he loved hunting and fishing with them at Sedgefield. He enjoyed his bird dogs, quail and turkey hunting. He regularly opened Sedgefield for national and state field trials, and he also allowed hunts for persons with disabilities and terminal illness. Jimmy began the first Life Hunts for such hunters over 25 years ago, and today more than 8,000 persons with disabilities or terminal illnesses have benefitted from his concern for them.

In 1975, Jimmy was inducted into The Field Trial Hall of Fame and in 1998, he received the Governor's Award and was named Conservationist of the Year for his lifelong efforts on behalf of conversation in the state. Jimmy served on The Conservation Advisory Board for many years and was its chairman.

Jimmy was an original member of the Board of Directors of Indian Hills County Club, The Tuscaloosa Academy, The University of Alabama Presidents Cabinet, the Board of Visitors of the College of Commerce and Business Administration, and the deToqueville Society. He previously served as a Board Member for the First National Bank of Tuscaloosa and Southern United Life Insurance Company.

Visitation will be at home following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the First Presbyterian Church or the charity of one's choice .