THE TRUITT NEWS

THE OFFICIAL SKINNY FROM TRUITT INSURANCE AGENCY INC.

HOLIDAY 2008 (205)254-3005 Congrats: TONY TRAVELS BACK TO THE BP To: Jamie Grimmer, son of Congratulations to Tom Carruthers and Carruthers Real Estate Grimmer Realty Co.’s Park for recently completing the renovation of the Burger-Phillips Grimmer, on obtaining his Building on 3rd Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. Tony Eagle Scout badge. Truitt was bold enough to invite himself on a tour of the build- ing with some of the guys from Golden & Associates, who To: Scott Kirkpatrick, of served as general contractor on the project. In a former life, Tom James Clothiers, on the Tony handled management & leasing of the building. We are birth of his first child, Will, proud to note, he may be the single person most probably tied on October 26th. to the majority of construction problems the development team encountered during the renovation. Burger-Phillips was origi- To: The Pennington nally one of Birmingham’s most upscale retail stores before Group’s Corey Weaver for becoming an office building during the Costa-Head project in being a cover boy in the the 80’s. The building is now 35 fantastic looking apartments Birmingham Business Jour- with views of the big buildings downtown, private parking, and a nal’s November 14th issue. great street-level retail space available that would be fantastic for a gallery, pub or other use. Check out the project’s web- To: Meade Silsbee & Mar- site, www.burgerphillips.com, for more information on another tin Smith of Retail Special- great addition to the area near the Theatre, Hardin ists and J.R. Bertram of Residence, McWane Center, Red Mountain Theater Company, Grandbridge Real Estate The Speakeasy, Hawthorn Gallery & Hill Fine Arts Center. Capital on recently earning their CCIM designation. Golden’s Ryan Ferris, Jason Prickett & William Tynes on take Tony-To-Work Day at Burger-Phillips Apartments. To: Brice Building Com- pany’s Michael Waller & his wife Holly on the birth of PLEASE MAKE SURE TO KEEP US IN MIND FOR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: their first child, Leyton SURETY BONDING • BUSINESS COVERAGE • HOME & AUTO • LIFE INSURANCE Camille Waller, on 9/15/08.

To: Elbert Boothby on be- DESIGN WINNERS GO BIG OR GO HOME! ing named CPM of the Year Some people throw by the local IREM chapter. themselves a party when they turn 40, others go To: Chip Watts of Watts We would like to recognize our friend’s firms who out and buy a new Realty Co. on being named won awards for outstanding design during the 2008 sportscar. Not these the 2008 Realtor of the Year AIA National Convention held this year in Boston. guys. A group including by the Birmingham Associa- Bainbridge Mim’s Keith tion of Realtors. Louis Nequette—Dungan-Nequette Architects Mount Kilimanjaro Hamilton and Bradley Project: Richard Tubb Residence on Smith Lake, Arant’s Tripp Haston, agreed to head into their To: Brasfield & Gorrie’s Merit Award / Residential Category next decade with a challenge most people only talk Wes Talley on the birth of or dream about: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. In his new baby girl, Alex Ann, October, Keith, Tripp and crew headed toward on October 7th. Tim Lucy—Williams Blackstock Architects Project: Innovation Depot (former Sear’s Site), Merit Africa, had a great time and have some memories Award / Adaptive Reuse Category to look back on for their next 40 years. To: Balch & Bingham’s

Chris Still for being in- Tammy Cohen—Cohen Carnaggio & Reynolds Congratulations to Alabama State Senator cluded in the 2009 edition of Project: Liv On Fifth Condominium, Honor Award / “The Best Lawyers in Amer- Jabo Waggoner on being named Distin- ica. Adaptive Reuse Category guished Citizen of the Year by LVH.

To: Graham & Co.’s Dan Lovell, Walter Brown & Ogden Deaton on the big HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE! sale of the former AmSouth Op Center to O’Neal Steel. (And Best Wishes For A Prosperous 2009) Page 2 THE TRUITT NEWS

BUILDING A GOOD BASE GOOD EATS

We would like to congratulate all the participants of this years’ classes but especially recognize our Truitt’s own clients, friends, associates and others who were selected to participate in the 2008/2009 classes of Jean Wilson, these organizations focused on moving our communities & state forward: getting ready for some tail Russell Cunningham (Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce); -gating be- Philip McWane (McWane Inc.); Chip Grizzle (Brasfield & Gorrie); fore the Magic City Classic this Lee Sentell (Alabama Tourism). October at . Man those look good! Jim Dixon (Arlington Properties); David Fleming (Main Street Bir- mingham); Michael Waller (Leadership Birmingham); Jerry Perkins (Vulcan Materials); Nick Sellers (Alabama Power); Adam Snyder (CA FIGS FIGS FIGS Foundation). John Truitt’s fig preserves are Bryan Holt (Retail Specialists); Bill McMahon (KLMK Group); Kirk getting raves as we see people Parker (Bruster’s Real Ice Cream); Elam Holley Jr. (SouthCity Bank); around the state. If you are Ann Bennett (Pinnacle Bank); Keith Covington (Bradley, Arant, Rose & White); and Bruce Berthon (Hartford Fidelity & Surety). nice to us, you might get some.

FLORENCE: FASHION CAPITAL THINGS WE DO OUT & ABOUT How cool is this? Apparently, Please keep Truitt Insurance in We are constantly going all over Florence, AL is becoming a mind for all of your insurance & Alabama and into the surround- true hot-spot of the men’s bonding needs. We can handle any ing states working with our fashion world. Getting national of the following for you: clients. Check out a few of the pub up all over the place, in- places we run across in our cluding being recognized by Personal Home & Auto travels: Men’s Health BEST LIFE Maga- Personal Umbrella zine as one of America’s 10 Commercial General Liability best boutique men’s stores, is Commercial Auto Billy Reid. After a fast start in Worker’s Compensation New York, Billy relocated from Commercial Umbrella to Florence several years ago. Investment Property Coverage Home base, housing his collection in Alabama, is now Employment Practices Liability located in the historic Pickett Place residence near the Bid Bonds John & Gail Truitt enjoying the National gates of UNA. In addition, he now has stores in Char- Performance & Payment Shripm Festival in Gulf Shores in Octo- ber. lotte, Dallas, Houston and a new location in New York Bonds City. They are also exploring working with other fine License & Permit Bonds men’s stores so they will probably be coming to a re- Notary Bonds tailer near you before long. A soon not be secret, check Public Official Bonds them out now at www.billyreid.com before they go Supply Bonds global or get on your horse for a trip to Florence to Other Commercial Bonds meet them for a face-to-face fitting. Great looking stuff, Term Life Insurance nice people and a laid back atmosphere make this place We would love an opportunity to Jeff Rodgers outside the Alabama Fan a true find. Who knew? work with you & earn your trust. Club Museum in Fort Payne on a trip this past November.

AWARDS & HONORS FOR ALABAMA GENERAL CONTRACTORS We are pleased to recognize all the great Alabama contracting firms featured in the December 2008 edition of South Central Construction Magazine. Winners included Robins & Morton (Merit Award: Magnolia Regional Health Cen- ter); HOAR Construction (Merit Awards: Renaissance at Colony Park, Lakeshore Foundation Renovation & Hill Center; Award of Excellence: Crestwood Medical Center & UAB’s Heritage Hall); Charles & Vinzant Construction (Merit Award: City Federal Condominiums); Doster Construction Co. (Award of Excellence: International Diesels Big Bore Engine Assembly Plant). Also, in the “Best Of” Category, Doster won Best Multi-Family Project for the Renaissance Hotel & Conference Center in Montgomery; Gary C. Wyatt won Best Education Project for the Health & Sciences Building, Jefferson State Community College in Hoover. Congratulations to all the big winners. THE TRUITT NEWS Page 3

RECRUITING IREM CASINO NIGHT NAIOP TO VEGAS

TRUITT RECRUITING Truitt was proud The leaders of the CENTRAL SHOW to help sponsor local chapter of the the Institute of National Association EACH TUESDAY NIGHT Real Estate Man- of Industrial & Office Properties THRU SIGNING DAY agement’s (IREM) (NAIOP) attended DEVELOPMENT 1st Annual Char- 08, the national convention of NAIOP We are proud to sponsor the new ity Casino Night in late October. Held at The Hotel @ WJOX recruiting show this year. Be Bob Suellentrop playing like “a benefitting the Mandalay Bay, Daniel Corp’s Carla sure to tune in each week at 7:00PM whale” at the blackjack tables. Alabama Juvenile Williams, Harris-Tynes Realty Com- to see what is going in the world of Arthritis Initiative. Held at Park Lane on Oc- pany’s West Harris, Graham & Co.’s college football recruiting. Will Nick tober 24th, the local IREM chapter got down Mike Graham and others networked Saban continue to dominate the & dirty playing slots, craps, blackjack, Texas state? Will Auburn be able to play with other top developers. Hold-Em, roulette, and other “high-roller” catch up with the new coach on Also, we would like to thank Joe games. Joanne & Tony Truitt were part of the board? What kids will want to get Sandner III, Grant Woolwine and the fun and ran into Chip Watts, Bob Suellen- out of state and play for other top folks at Sandner Commercial Real trop, Brent Falkenhagen, Amy programs? Be sure to check out all Estate for sponsoring the November Adkins, Chad Hagwood, Lau- the action, rumors and behind the NAIOP meeting held at the offices of ren Gillabeau, David Corey, scenes intelligence from real & sup- Bradley, Arant, Rose & and many others. Please keep posed experts each Tuesday night. this event on your radar for White LLP.

GOOD GOVERNMENT NEVER STOPS MAKING THE CALLS AT TROY

We freely admit this is Tony Truitt was on hand as more than dorky, but Troy knocked off Arkansas Tony Truitt re- State to win the Sun Belt organized & re- Championship on December energized the 1986 Ves- 7th. Working as a spotter tavia Hills High School alongside stadium announcer SGA the night of Sep- Brock Murphy, Tony was

Julie (Boone) Latham, Holly (Renneker) Simmons, tember 26th at New pretty much happy his horrible Mark Hamilton, Mike Faulkner, Kirk Parker, Tony Orleans Restaurant in eye-sight did not cause any Truitt, Tealla Stewart & Barbara Gajewski. Not Vestavia Hills. Almost major incidents. Brock has been calling ANOTHER TROJAN pictured: Jeri (Siniard) Finchum & Brett Hendricks. everyone was able to FIRST DOWN, who made the stop, what pass fell IN-COM-PLETE make it including sponsors Tealla Stewart and Barbara Ga- and all the other action in the stadium since 2005. He does a jewski. It was a blast and it will happen again, probably in an- great job on the mic & also on his day job as an attorney helping other 22 years. Long live good government! contractors & other businesses throughout Alabama.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! BOO IS BACK AGAIN WALK TO REMEMBER

We would like to The proud say congratulations tradition We would like to com- to SouthCity Bank know as mend our own Chery for reaching their 1st the BOO Carrigan for organizing a anniversary this October. While other Halloween Party rocked on for another year, team to walk in the Alzehimer’s banks have been in the news for bad loans, stretching its mark of fun & spookiness to a of Central Alabama fundraiser stock slides and other terrible news, South- 13th year. Who knew when the original held at the Galleria November City has quietly grown to over $80,000,000 “Party in the Parking Deck” started in 1993, 1st. The event raised over in assets in its first year of operation. Check the party would move to the B & A Ware- $142,000 for research. Several them out for great rates on CD’s and other house and would still be going strong this members of our staff have had items for your personal & business banking many years later. A special thanks goes out family touched by the disease. needs. Elam, Scott, Brad, Steve, Emily, to all our sponsors, especially Birmingham We know we need all the help Ana, Jim, Paul and all of our friends there Budweiser, B & A Warehouse, WIAT 42, possible finding a cure for this have done an outstanding job during some and 106.9 The Eagle. The party once again truly terrible disease. Please see rough times elsewhere. benefitted the Leukemia Society efforts. www.alzca.org for more info. CONTACT TRUITT AT (205)254-3005 or EMAIL TONY AT [email protected]

Congrats: RIDING THE RAILS MAKING A DIFFERENCE To: Bernard & Sophia Tambu- rello, on their restaurant La KNOCKIN’ CANCER OUT OF THE Dolce Vita being named in Bir- BALLPARK SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT mingham Magazine’s Top 100. We simply cannot say enough about this fundraiser. Organized by Tony Truitt’s To: George Cowgill & the folks VHHS high-school classmate Anne at The Speakeasy (1920 3rd Ave- (Irving) Long after her son Andrew’s diag- nue North) on opening their new nosis with a brain tumor in 2004, this event establishment, The Black Mar- has raised more than $75,000 for brain ket Bar in the Colonnade. tumor research and treatment since its The Birmingham Regional Chamber of Com- inaugural game in 2004. Even after Anne To: Harley McGatha and merce’s ER Roundtable VI group got together and her husband Bruce lost Andrew in Sep- Harley McGatha Construction the night of August 23rd to celebrate a new tember 2007, their commitment to this for stepping up in a big way and venture by the group’s George Edwards. event has only strengthened. Held October 18th at the Softball donating $100,000 to the Boy & George owns The William Penn Dining Car Complex, this year’s event was the most Girls Club of South Rome, Geor- housed at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum successful ever. If you were not able to be gia to help complete the project. in Calera. After locating the railcar, refurbishing a part of the fun this time around, please This is what it is all about. it and having it moved to Alabama, The William Penn is now available for private dining parties not only be on the look-out for it next year and is a fantastic experience. After boarding the but also consider making a contribution Tom Bolton, President of To: WP, the group (including Joanne & TonyTruitt), before then to an absolutely great cause at: Cooper Brothers Construction in began their journey down the tracks before Selma, on the birth of his first stopping to enjoy dinner at a point overlooking a Children’s Hospital Hospital Foundation grandchild, Emma Kathryn beautiful lake. George and his partners have Attn: Knockin’ Cancer South, on 8/23/08. done an awesome job in the renovation of this car and it was a treat to take a ride in it. For 1600 7th Avenue South To: Burr & Forman’s Derek more information on The William Penn, please Birmingham, AL 35233 Meek for becoming the incoming refer to: www.wmpenn.info. President of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. Even more so to Contri Brothers’ Scott Perry for being the out-going President of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. .

To: Dent Baker & Co.’s Trey Whitt on becoming a partner in their accounting firm.

To: Terry Isaminger and DMI P.O. Box 531010 Birmingham, Alabama 35253 Tile & Marble, for being listed as one of the top Sub-Contractors in the state by Business Alabama.

To: Charlie Regan Jr. & Gorrie- Regan Associates on the acquisi- tion of the TIME SYSTEMS DI- VISON of ITR in Atlanta.

To: Jeri Finchum, of PRN Cap- tial, for finishing the Rock-N- Roll San Antonio Marathon No- vember 16th. BASKETBALL FANS: PLEASE JOIN US To: Bennie Bumpers, long-time fixture at Vulcan Materials & If you are a basketball junkie, let us know. We are members of coach of The Green Machine the Birmingham Tip-Off club and are always looking for people we (Tony Truitt’s basketball team can take to the meetings with us. Some of this year’s speakers when he was 12), on being include TNT’s Ernie Davis Jr., Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl, Ala- named 2008 Alumnus of the bama Coach Mark Gottfried, UAB Coach Mike Davis and other top Year by Samford University. experts. Come join us and be a part of all the fun this season. If you would like to join for the entire season, please refer to www.birminghamtipoffclub.com to get in on all the action.