AtaDe c e mbe r1 5de di c a t i onc e r e monya tBr y a nt De nnySt a di um,hi sque s t i on wa sfina l l y a ns we r e d.Ma depos s i bl ebyFa i l ’ sg e ne r ousg i f t t ot heCr i ms onTi deFounda t i on,t hev i s i t or s ’ l oc ke rr oom wa soffic i a l l y na me d“ e Fa i l Room. ” Mor et ha n4 0f r i e nds ,f a mi l yme mbe r s ,a nd At hl e t i ca ndUni v e r s i t yoffic i a l sg a t he r e df ort he oc c a s i onhe l di nt hel oc ke rr oombe l owt hes out h e ndz ones t a nds .For1 8s e a s ons( 1 9 8 8 2 0 0 5 ) t hi ss pa c ewa st heCr i ms onTi de ’ shomel oc ke r r oom,unt i l2 0 0 6whe nne wt e a ma c c ommoda t i onswe r ebui l ta spa r toft henor t he ndz one s t a di um e x pa ns i on.Al a ba ma ’ sol dhomel oc ke r r oom i nt hes out he ndt he nbe c a met hev i s i t or s ’ l oc ke rr oom. “ i sna mi ngoppor t uni t yc a mea tMr .Fa i l ’ s r e que s t , ”s a i dMa l Moor e , Di r e c t orofAt hl e t i c s . “ Heha da l wa y sbe e nhe s i t a ntt ous ehi suni que na mef orana mi ngr i g htunt i l t her i g htoppor t uni t yc a mea l ong . ” Fa i l ,ana t i v eofMobi l e ,g r a dua t e df r om e Uni v e r s i t yofAl a ba mai n1 9 4 9a f t e rat hr e e y e a r s t i nti nt heU. S. Na v y .Fol l owi ngg r a dua t i on, he be g a nhi sl ong , s t or i e dc a r e e ri nt hei nv e s t me nt , mor t g a g e , ba nki ng , s a v i ng sa ndl oa n, a ndi ns ur a nc efie l ds .Mr .Fa i lc ont i nue st os e r v ea st he c ha i r ma nofSt oneHol di ng s , I nc . a ndBl ue bonne tSa v i ng sBa nka swe l la sv a r i ouspos i t i ons wi t hi nt hef a mi l yofSt oneHol di ng sc ompa ni e s . Fa i lc r e di t st heUni v e r s i t yf orhi ss uc c e s si nt he bus i ne s swor l d. “ Any t hi ng I ’ v e done woul d notha v e be e n pos s i bl ewi t houtt heUni v e r s i t yofAl a ba ma , ”he s a i d,“ butnots omuc hf r om a‘ ma ki ngmone y ’ s t a ndpoi nt .Att heUni v e r s i t y ,Il e a r ne dhowt o l e a r n.Il e a r ne ddi s c i pl i nea ndhowt oa ppl ywha t Il e a r ne dt ot her e a l wor l d.
04
TALK OF THE TI DE
De s pi t e
ofphi l a nt h
t oav a r i e t
J a me s
ne v e rf e l t
t oha v ea ny t
na me di n
“ Af t e ra l l “ whowo a ny t hi ng na me‘ Fa