TUSCALOOSA — From Monday, June 11 through Thursday, June 14, 560 rising high school seniors will clean and landscape areas at McKinnet, Monnish, Kaulton and Sokol parks, and along the Pettus Randall Walking Trail in Tuscaloosa.  These students have come from all over Alabama to participate in the 75th American Legion Alabama Boys State, being held this week on the campus of the University of Alabama.

Boys State is a leadership program for rising senior boys, whose motto is “We Build Citizenship.” This is both a declaration and a promise to the young men selected from high schools across the state to be representatives at the week-long program.  The purpose of this program is to further develop the strong leadership skills and talents of the participants, and to instill in them virtues of civic responsibility and an understanding of the machinery of state and local governmental institutions.  The program gives participants the opportunity not only to understand their state and local government, but to create it.  Over the week the participants will form political parties, elect candidates to state and local office, and run their government as members of the legislature, board of education, courts and city councils. 

Also as part of the program this year, Boys State participants will devote some of the time in their busy schedules to community service projects in the Tuscaloosa area.  These projects will be capped with a Service Celebration in Sokol Park on Friday, June 15, at 2:45 p.m. with government representatives from Tuscaloosa and a flag football game between some of the Boys State participants and young children from the Tuscaloosa community.

“Being selected for Boys State was a great honor,” said Richard Todd, quarterback for the Crimson Tide from 1972-1976, who went on to play 12 years in the NFL for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints.  “I was one of two boys chosen from my high school (Davidson High School in Mobile).  It was, and still is, a great leadership opportunity.”

Todd and some 100 other former Boys State participants attended the opening session on Sunday, June 10, with some participants dating back to 1938. These participants included physicians, farmers, and members of the business and legal communities.

Judge O.L. “Pete” Johnson, director of Alabama Boys State, is very excited about this year’s program, giving the boys the opportunity to do something great for their state.

“It has been my honor to work with the American Legion Alabama Boys State for the past 50 years.  Boys State gives young leaders the opportunity to learn how their government works, hands on.  Boys State inspires these young men to make their state and nation better.”

Over 34,000 participants have gone on to serve their state and nation.  Many have gone on to serve their country in the armed forces, with too many making the ultimate sacrifice. James V. Thompson, the first governor of Alabama Boys State, was killed in action during World War II on Nov. 30, 1944 in France.  A few other prominent former participants include Jim Sumner, director of the Alabama Ethics Commission; former Gov. Fob James; Gov. Robert Bentley; Tim Jones, CEO of Apple Computer; Mike Warren, CEO of Children’s Hospital of Alabama; and many other successful farmers businessmen, lawyers, doctors, bankers and members of all professions.

Guest speakers for the 75th Anniversary program include Birmingham Mayor William Bell, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, Lt. Governor Kay Ivey, and political journalist Steve Flowers.

The Alabama Girls State, a program for young women, also rising seniors, is directed by the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, held at Troy University. It is also underway this week.