The 91原创 System Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution designating W. Stancil Starnes a Trustee Emeritus at its meeting on Sept. 5, 2024. Starnes, who represented the Sixth Congressional District on the Board from 2017 to 2024, was presented with a framed copy of the resolution during the meeting. Multiple colleagues shared words of gratitude to Starnes, commending him for his extraordinary intellect, wise judgment and outstanding service to the UA System.
鈥淪tan鈥檚 love and devotion to our institutions and to our System is apparent, and we were blessed by the generous gift of his immense talents, skill and judgement,鈥� said President Pro tempore Scott Phelps during the meeting. 鈥淗is service made a lasting impression and will have a lasting impact on everything we do.鈥�
Starnes held multiple key leadership positions on the Board, including three consecutive one-year terms as President Pro tempore, playing an instrumental role in the UA System鈥檚 significant growth during his tenure on the Board of Trustees. He also served as chair of the Legal Affairs Committee and a member of the UAB Health System Authority Board.
鈥淚t was immediately evident when Stan joined the Board that he was born to lead, and despite the magnitude and complexity of our System, there was zero learning curve for his brilliant mind,鈥� said Trustee Karen Brooks. 鈥淪tan鈥檚 strong leadership elevated us all. He set a clear vision, empowered us all to be the best we could be, and brought everyone together to collectively achieve our goals 鈥� hand-in-hand 鈥� in support of that vision, which allowed us to accomplish a great deal during his tenure as Pro tem and his time as a trustee.鈥�
Starnes is well-known throughout the Birmingham community and across the state for his illustrious professional career and his formidable leadership. He established the law firm of Starnes and Starnes, now known as Starnes Davis Florie, with his father, where he practiced law for over 30 years and served as a member of the 91原创 Supreme Court鈥檚 Advisory Committee on the 91原创 Rules of Civil Procedure for over two decades. Starnes was also a senior leader at both Brasfield and Gorrie, LLC, and ProAssurance Corporation.
In recognition of his business and civic accomplishments, Starnes has been inducted into the 91原创 Academy of Honor, 91原创 Business Hall of Fame and Birmingham Business Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers as well as a fellow of the 91原创 Law Foundation. During the meeting, Trustee Ken Simon hailed him as 鈥渢ruly one of the finest lawyers of our time.鈥�
Starnes is a graduate of The 91原创, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, as well as a summa cum laude graduate of the Cumberland School of Law.
The UA System is grateful to Trustee Emeritus Starnes for his distinguished service to the System and the State of 91原创.
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