St. Paul's Distinguished Alumn1 Award
The Distinguished Alumnus Award will be presented at the Annual Alumni Luncheon to a St. Paul’s Episcopal School graduate whose life exemplifies in an exceptional way the academic and social values set before him/her during his/her years as a St. Paul’s student and whose outstanding accomplishments in his/her professional field and civic leadership have won for the alumnus the respect, confidence and affection of the community.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award gives us an opportunity to mark in a fitting manner exemplary performance by alumni. If you would like to nominate a St. Paul’s Episcopal School alumni for this award, please fill out the nomiation form return it to the Advancement Office at 161 Dogwood Lane, Mobile, AL 36608, fax 251-342-1844. Click here for a link to the online nomination form.
Distinguished Alumnus 2013
Mr. Alan I. Franco ’80 was honored at the annual Alumni Luncheon as the St. Paul’s Episcopal School Distinguished Alumnus on April 10, 2013. The Culinary Club under the direction of Elizabeth Galanos Gregory ’99 catered the event where Alan’s former classmates and teachers, the St. Paul’s Alumni Council, Board of Trustees and friends celebrated Alan’s achievements.
Alan continues to support St. Paul’s with special interest in the Community Service Program where he was instrumental in creating the Rutledge Fellows of Philanthropy, a unique and special group of students who serve as the ambassadors for community service and philanthropic endeavors school-wide. The group was named in recognition of former headmaster Bob Rutledge who spear headed the creation of the Community Service program.
Alan addressed the group with a heartfelt speech alluding to his years at St. Paul’s, Bob and Martha Rutledge, Mrs. Marsh and Roger Miller. He thanked his mother Reita, wife Diane, Martha Rutledge, Leslie Lerner, the faculty and staff at St. Paul’s, and his friends from the Class of 1980. “I never dreamed the Rutledge Fellows would become such an integral part of the life of St. Paul’s. But then again, I am not surprised that it has. For this School, in talking about educating the complete person, realizes that it isn’t just about what takes place in the classroom, it is the total experience that makes the young men and women who walk through these doors.”
Mr. Tom Davis, former president and CEO of the Community Foundation of South Alabama and husband to St. Paul’s Lower School Director Anne Davis, was the guest speaker at the luncheon and expressed how honored he was to be a part of the Foundation to award a grant to St. Paul’s to start the Community Service program 12 years ago. He is proud of how St. Paul’s students and teachers change the lives of others.
The luncheon was hosted by the Alumni Council, the Rutledge Fellows of Philanthropy and the Culinary Club.
About Alan I. Franco
Alan is co-Chairman of Goldring Family Interests in New Orleans, which oversees interests in Real Estate, Beer Distribution, Distilled Spirits manufacturing, and other investments.
Born in Atlanta in 1962, Alan spent his formative years in Jacksonville Florida, San Juan Puerto Rico and Mobile Alabama. He is a graduate of St. Paul’s Episcopal School where he attended from 1974 – 1980, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama.
Moving to New Orleans in 1997, Alan has been active in numerous community and civic activities. He currently serves as President of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. Alan has served on numerous community boards, including AIPAC, The Jewish Community Center of New Orleans and the National World War II museum. Alan also co-chaired Jewish Leadership Forum, a series of programs that dealt with next generation philanthropy in 2005-2006 and 2010.
Alan is married to Diane, and is the proud father of Eli, age 4.
Click here for previous Distinguished Alumnus Recipients.