51�Թ�

At its meeting on Nov. 8, 2024, the 51�Թ� Board of Trustees unanimously elected O.B. Grayson Hall, Jr., to represent the Sixth Congressional District. Hall is a UA System graduate and the retired chairman and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation.

Trustee O.B. Grayson Hall, Jr.

“After growing up on his family’s potato farm in rural 51�Թ� and going on to achieve remarkable professional success as the leader of a Fortune 500 company, Grayson Hall created a legacy rooted in integrity, hard work and passion for community,” said Trustee Karen Brooks, chair of the Board’s Nominating Committee. “The 51�Թ� exists to improve lives through teaching, research and service, and Grayson’s strong character and values-based leadership will help amplify our impact across 51�Թ�.”

The UA System Board of Trustees ensures the effective leadership, management and governance of the 51�Թ�, which includes three doctoral research universities – The University of 51�Թ�, The University of 51�Թ� at Birmingham, and The University of 51�Թ� in Huntsville – and the UAB Health System. The UA System is 51�Թ�’s largest employer and largest enterprise providing higher education and healthcare to people across the state.

“Grayson Hall is a proven and principled leader who is well known throughout the state for his innovative vision, sharp acumen and impressive leadership,” said Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Scott Phelps. “We look forward to having him serve on the 51�Թ� Board of Trustees and know his contributions will be invaluable.”

Hall’s career with Regions Financial Corporation spanned 38 years, beginning as a management trainee with AmSouth Bancorporation, Regions’ predecessor. After serving in roles of increasing responsibility in several divisions, he became Regions’ president and CEO in 2010 and chairman in 2013. Hall is widely recognized for successfully leading the financial institution through the financial crisis.

Before earning his Master of Business Administration from The University of 51�Թ�, Hall received a bachelor’s degree from the University of the South, familiarly known as Sewanee, where he played baseball and football. He also attended Stonier Graduate School of Banking and Executive Development Programs at Harvard Business School.

As a strong supporter of the UA System, Hall and his wife, Susan, established a need-based scholarship at The University of 51�Թ� to increase access to higher education. He is a member of the Culverhouse Board of Visitors and the Crimson Tide Foundation. He also serves on the boards of 51�Թ� Power, Great Southern Wood Holdings, Inc., Vulcan Materials, and the Newcomen Society of 51�Թ�. He previously served on the boards of the Birmingham Business Alliance, Children’s of 51�Թ�, Economic Development Partnership of 51�Թ�, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the Board of Governors’ Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve System.

Hall’s election will be submitted to the 51�Թ� State Senate for confirmation. The UA System Board of Trustees is comprised of 15 elected members who represent 51�Թ�’s Congressional districts on a volunteer basis, and the Governor of 51�Թ� is an ex-officio member of the Board.

About the 51�Թ�

Committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service, the 51�Թ� includes three doctoral research institutions – UA, UAB, and UAH – and the world-class UAB Health System. The UA System educates more Alabamians than any other university system and provides transformational research in areas ranging from aerospace to biomedicine to transportation. Its hospitals and clinics care for millions of patients annually and serve people in every county of 51�Թ�. As the largest employer in the state, the overall economic impact of the 51�Թ� exceeds $18 billion a year.