Title
Henry Holman (Bene) Mize, 1911-1971
Subject
Civic leaders
Judges
Description
Few individuals have been called to service in as many leadership capacities as was Henry Holman (Bene) Mize, and few have a record of accomplishment his equal. In his own quiet, dignified, and unheralded manner, he made many contributions to a better Tuscaloosa County.
A native of Tuscaloosa, Bene Mize was born in 1911 and attended local public schools as well as the University of Alabama, receiving his undergraduate, graduate, and law school degrees. An excellent scholar, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and held a teaching fellowship while attending the university.
He served with distinction in the US Army, National Guard, and the reserve and at the time of his retirement in 1963, he had served his country for over 33 years. In his chosen law profession, Bene Mize was also a leader, serving as president of the Tuscaloosa Bar Association as well as president of the Alabama Association of Circuit Judges.
He was elected to the Alabama State Senate from Tuscaloosa County and served from 1946 to 1950. An effective and respected legislator, he was instrumental in passing legislation that created the Druid City Hospital Board of Trustees, of which he was later appointed to serve as a member during an important time of growth for the community’s hospital.
A practicing attorney for over 30 years, he was the senior member of the law firm of Mize, Spiro & Phelps when he was elected as circuit judge in 1966, and was elected by his peers as the presiding judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. He served with a reputation of integrity and fairness until his untimely death in 1971.
In addition, Judge Mize served on the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education, and was chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Pensions and Security. He was a lifelong active member of First Baptist Church, serving in a number of key leadership roles, and Judge Mize was also a charter member of the Tuscaloosa Lions Club, which honored him with the Lion of the Year award in 1960.
A devoted and loving family man, Bene Mize was a friend, counselor, and inspiration to many, and Tuscaloosa is a better place to live because of his service and lifelong contributions. He took his citizenship seriously and set the highest example of unselfish public service.
In 2005, he was inducted posthumously into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
Material from the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama was used in this description.
A native of Tuscaloosa, Bene Mize was born in 1911 and attended local public schools as well as the University of Alabama, receiving his undergraduate, graduate, and law school degrees. An excellent scholar, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and held a teaching fellowship while attending the university.
He served with distinction in the US Army, National Guard, and the reserve and at the time of his retirement in 1963, he had served his country for over 33 years. In his chosen law profession, Bene Mize was also a leader, serving as president of the Tuscaloosa Bar Association as well as president of the Alabama Association of Circuit Judges.
He was elected to the Alabama State Senate from Tuscaloosa County and served from 1946 to 1950. An effective and respected legislator, he was instrumental in passing legislation that created the Druid City Hospital Board of Trustees, of which he was later appointed to serve as a member during an important time of growth for the community’s hospital.
A practicing attorney for over 30 years, he was the senior member of the law firm of Mize, Spiro & Phelps when he was elected as circuit judge in 1966, and was elected by his peers as the presiding judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. He served with a reputation of integrity and fairness until his untimely death in 1971.
In addition, Judge Mize served on the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education, and was chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Pensions and Security. He was a lifelong active member of First Baptist Church, serving in a number of key leadership roles, and Judge Mize was also a charter member of the Tuscaloosa Lions Club, which honored him with the Lion of the Year award in 1960.
A devoted and loving family man, Bene Mize was a friend, counselor, and inspiration to many, and Tuscaloosa is a better place to live because of his service and lifelong contributions. He took his citizenship seriously and set the highest example of unselfish public service.
In 2005, he was inducted posthumously into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
Material from the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama was used in this description.
Source
Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama
Contributor
Brenda Harris (Description)
Identifier
1247
Coverage
Tuscaloosa County (AL)