Tuscaloosa Community Leader Gary Nichols Dies at 76

A West Alabama community icon passed away this week at the age of 76, less than a month before he was scheduled to be inducted into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame.

Walter Gary Nichols was a long-time industrial leader in Tuscaloosa, with a five-decade career culminating in 23 years as the chief operating officer at McAbee Construction.

He climbed to that role after signing on as a summer laborer digging ditches when he was a college student.

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He was also a one-of-a-kind community leader who served with or advised the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, Go Build Alabama, The University of Alabama College of Engineering, the Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority, Regions Bank, Tuscaloosa City and County Schools, Hospice of West Alabama, the DCH Foundation Board, the Shelton State Foundation Board and the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority.

He was also a driving force at West AlabamaWorks!, where Nichols had previously served as chairman of the board.

His lasting contributions also include involvement with and support of Adopt-A-School (Oakdale Elementary and Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy), the American Heart Association, United Way, March of Dimes, the Junior League of Tuscaloosa and the Druid City Garden Project.

He would have been inducted into the Civic Hall of Fame during a ceremony planned for October 21st.

"Gary has been a good friend to this community and a good friend to me," said Tuscaloosa City Councilman Norman Crow during a meeting Tuesday. "He was instrumental in the formation of West AlabamaWorks!, which has made a huge difference in workforce development in this community."

For more coverage of news in west Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.