The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees is heartbroken by the loss of Trustee James Wilson III, who passed on March 11, 2023, after bravely fighting a sudden illness.

James Wilson III
Trustee James Wilson III

We all benefitted from Jim’s strong leadership, savvy business acumen, and relentless passion for the University of Alabama System. Jim, a proud graduate of The University of Alabama, served for two decades on the Board and made numerous lasting contributions. An accomplished real estate developer and investor, Jim served for six years as chairman of the Physical Properties Committee and oversaw the construction of dozens of buildings on the UA System campuses. He also chaired the UAB Health System Board for several years and was instrumental in the Health System’s unprecedented growth and success. Jim was an avid Alabama football fan, served on the Crimson Tide Foundation Board of Directors, and was the current chair of the Athletics Committee of the Board of Trustees.

We will miss our friend and colleague, who always kept us laughing. We are holding his wife, Susie, his daughters, Wesley and Lillian, his grandchildren, and his many other loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.