Jerry Belk, 1932-2021

jerbelk.jpg

Title

Jerry Belk, 1932-2021

Subject

Coaches (Athletics)
Civic leaders

Description

Jerry Belk was born December 10, 1932 in Tuscaloosa. He is a graduate of Tuscaloosa High School, and earned his B.S. degree in 1954 from the University of Alabama where he played third baseman for the Crimson Tide from 1952-1954. He earned his master’s degree in 1958, also from the University of Alabama, after which he served in the U.S. Army for two years as an infantry platoon leader.

Belk returned to Tuscaloosa as a teacher and coach at Holt High School. He then joined the Tuscaloosa Park and Recreation Authority, known as PARA. Belk served as Director of PARA from 1966-1997, transforming it into a county-wide parks and recreation program. In 1979, Belk was named Professional of the Year by the Alabama Recreation and Parks Society. PARA also honored him by naming the Jerry Belk Activity Center at Bowers Park in his honor.

Belk has provided distinguished and effective leadership through the Tuscaloosa Public Library Board, Tuscaloosa County Department of Human Resources Board, Salvation Army, Tuscaloosa County Heart Association, and Veteran’s Memorial Park Board, First Baptist Church, American Legion baseball, and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. He is a past president of the Exchange Club, the Alabama Recreation and Parks Society, Alabama Recreation and Parks Association, “A” Club Alumni Association of the University of Alabama, and a host of other civic and service organizations. In 2006, he was inducted into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
Jerry Belk died on January 7, 2021 at the age of 88.

Material from the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama was used in this description and is available at: http://www.tuscaloosachamber.com/the-chamber/hall-of-fame-new

Source

Tuscaloosa News Archive
Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama

Date

1990

Contributor

Jordan Bannister (Description)
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)

Type

Photograph

Identifier

837

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)

Original Format

Photograph