HUNTSVILLE — Dr. Jimmy Wall Jr., a former Huntsville City Councilman and retired Huntsville Utilities Natural Gas and Waterworks Board member, died Tuesday.
Wall, a native Huntsvillian, was appointed to the Huntsville Utilities Gas & Waterworks Boards in July 1995 by the Huntsville City Council. He was subsequently reappointed until he completed his final term in July 2019. Wall served as chair, vice-chair and secretary of the boards.
A dentist by profession, Wall also served on the Huntsville City Council from 1970-94. His leadership contributed to economic development projects that helped to sustain the vitality of Huntsville.
Mayor Tommy Battle said he considers himself fortunate to have served on the City Council with Dr. Wall in the 1980s, remembering him as a “strong advocate for the betterment of Huntsville.”
City Councilman Bill Kling said it was a privilege to serve alongside Wall from 1988-96.
“City employees and the citizens of Huntsville will certainly miss Dr. Wall,” he said.
As a nod to his service with the utilities, the Huntsville Utilities Waterworks Department opened the Owens, Statum, & Wall Southeast Water Treatment Plant in Grant.
The plant is named for Wall, former Huntsville Utilities President/CEO Tony Owens, and former Waterworks Board member Stanley “Shot” Statum.
A graduate of Huntsville High School and the University of Alabama, Wall earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he taught at the dental school for many years.
A staunch believer in giving back to the community, Wall was instrumental in opening the Community Free Dental Clinic, where he donated his services even after retirement.
He lent his talents to the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center Bessemer from 2006-10, performing dental exams on sailors and marines in preparation for readiness training or deployment.
Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A graveside service will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Maple Hill Cemetery with Dr. Travis Collins officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Huntsville – Madison County Library Foundation, P.O. Box 443, Huntsville, AL 35804.
