Exactly 40 years ago in the city of Montgomery and at a spot named Patterson Field a hard fought, nail-biting baseball game took place. It was on a late May night as the Ensley High School Yellow Jackets squared off against Montgomery’s mighty Robert E. Lee Generals.

About midway through the game a bony and forgettable Yellow Jacket pitcher toed the rubber and tossed his best pitch to hometown slugger and Lee star, Paul Spivey. The massive whip and crack of the bat from Spivey was deafening and the crowd was wooed as the ball sailed deep into the Montgomery night, over the fence and out of sight. Much to the dismay of the poet, Mighty Casey did not strike out and on this night there was no sadness in Mudville. It was long and gone.

Now slide with me into base 40 years later once again in Montgomery on yet another May night. This time the site is the big field named Wynfield Estates. The occasion is the 50th anniversary celebration of the publication of Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. This time the home team is the Alabama Humanities Foundation. The starting lineup of wonderful food and drink, live music, a highly competitive art auction and more than 250 guests were all at home plate, the beautiful home of the late Winton and Carolyn Blount.

The participation of many sponsors, guests, artists and constituents from around the state teamed to generate significant funds to advance the mission of AHF. Proceeds will be targeted to reach all Alabamians, through AHF’s many public programs and initiatives, including those for teachers, students and the public alike. You can read the box score and about all of the details at ahf.net/mockingbird.

Yes, Matilda, 40 years later there remains no sadness in Mudville, as another homerun was hit by AHF. (And perhaps there are more innings to play.)

Written by: Paul L.

For whatever reason, this particular birthday got me to thinking. When we were all a bit younger, birthdays were always a time of looking ahead. Ah! next year I will be 16! or I can’t wait until I am 21! Not so now. We enjoy looking back. And, believe it or not, America is getting older with me. Every 20 seconds another person reaches 65.

No one really wants to get old, and yet most people want to live a long time. My mother often told me the longest period of her life was the 10 years between the time she was 39 and 40. Of course, I had just turned a teenager ,which probably made that year overly long.

But there is a good side to turning a year older. We have many examples of people reaching new heights in that period commonly called “old age” Tintoretto, the Italian artist, painted “Paradise” when he was 72. Thomas Edison conducted pioneering studies on the production of synthetic rubber at the age of 83. At 78, Benjamin Franklin went to France in his country’s service and wrote his biography at 80.

Here in Alabama, the wonderful novel To Kill a Mockingbird has a golden birthday this year. The Alabama Humanities Foundation has several events planned in recognition of Harper Lee’s treasure. Take a look to see how you can be a part of this birthday celebration.

Written by: Paul L.

The affirmative vote by our grants committee to fund this project caused me to reflect about the national pastime with a different look. Baseball is loaded with many things associated with the humanities. The story telling is legendary. Names like Dizzy, Yogi, Country, Duke, Say Hey, Scooter, Jolton Joe, Red, Lefty, Smoky, Moose, Catfish, The Hat and Cool Papa help make the stories larger than life. I could go on and on with other names like Pee Wee, The Lip and Charlie Hustle. Of course, there’s Frank “Pig” House from Bessemer, who was recently enshrined in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

And about history… The ultimate headliner, of course, would include Branch Rickey and the signing in 1948 of a second baseman by the Brooklyn Dodgers of a guy named Jackie Robinson. The breaking of the color barrier in the Major Leagues not only changed baseball, but an entire nation.

The tradition of baseball is unmatched. The old ballparks are sacred with some gone like the Polo Grounds in New York, Ebbets Field in Brooklyn and Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Some still live on like the nation’s oldest, Rickwood Field in Birmingham. It is a timeless game in so many ways.

Alabama has been blessed more than any state with baseball legends. Names like Aaron and Mays, Sewell, Walker are immortal. And calling the games was the greatest of all time, Bessemer’s Mel Allen.

When you have a moment, click on the Encyclopedia of Alabama baseball players of Alabama gallery and look at all the great stories on baseball in our state.

Written by: Paul L.

Many donors are surprised to find that using highly appreciated but low-earning property to fund an income-producing charitable gift provides a wonderful combination of personal and philanthropic benefits.

The most versatile is the charitable remainder trust (CRT). The donor places cash or property in a qualified CRT and the governing trust agreement. In Bud’s case, he would like the trustee to either be the Alabama Humanities Foundation (AHF) or his long-time financial institution. The beneficiaries are the person(s) who will receive income from the CRT and AHF, who will receive the trust’s principal at its termination. In most situations, the donor is also the income recipient.

Because the trust is irrevocable, assuring an eventual gift to AHF, the donor receives a current income tax deduction. The resulting tax savings reduce the net cost of funding the trust, which increases the effective rate of return.

A further financial benefit of a CRT is freedom from capital gains taxation in two ways. First, if funded with capital gain property, there is no tax payable on the past appreciation. Second, any capital gains subsequently realized from investing and selling is added to the trust assets, with no tax payable. Individuals should check with their accountant, attorney or other tax advisors.

Sounds complicated, but it is not.

When CRT terminates at the death of the last income recipient, or upon expiration of a fixed term of years, there are two other benefits: no estate settlement costs are attributable to trust assets passing outside of probate and the remainder values are not subject to federal estate tax.

The most popular trust agreements are CRATS and CRUTS. We will save the exact details on those for another day.

If you would like to know the nuts and bolts about CRATS and CRUTS, phone me at the AHF office (205) 558-3992, or e-mail me at plawson@ahf.net.

Written by: Paul L.

By the way, time is running out for you to visit the AHF Museum on Main Street exhibition: “New Harmonies.” It will be in Alabama through the end of 2009 with final stops in Troy and Tuskegee before the new year.

There is an Alabama component to “New Harmonies” that prompted me to think about all of the great song writers and performers from Alabama. Truly stars fell and continue to fall on Alabama.

In recent history, Alabama has had three consecutive top two finishes in the number-one hit television program “American Idol.” And of those three, two won the contest.

But thinking back into yesterday, can any state match the names of Eddie Kendrick of Union Springs and the Temptations, Erskine Hawkins of Tuxedo Junction fame, Dothan’s Bobby Goldsboro, Montgomery’s Nat King Cole, Lionel Ritchie from Tuskegee, Hackleburg’s Sonny James, Mobile’s Jimmy Buffett, Sheffield’s Arthur Alexander and the country band of Alabama from Fort Payne.

Also, don’t forget Leighton’s Percy Sledge, Tuscaloosa’s Dinah Washington and Toni Tenille from Montgomery. Maybe you can help me remember more. Be sure to write in and let us know your thoughts.

To read more about your favorite Alabama musicians, visit the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Written by: Paul L.

A story credited to Mark Twain is that there once was a steamboat on the Mississippi River, which stopped dead still in the water every time its whistle was blown. It couldn’t proceed until more steam was developed. With that thought in mind, we will not blow too much of an AHF horn regarding the recently completed 20th-annual awards luncheon, or our birthday cakes sliced in honor of AHF’s 35th birthday. But if you couldn’t join us, you are going to say to yourself, “I hate I missed that…”

Due to the hard work of our AHF Board of Directors, AHF staff, and volunteers from the Hoover Library, the event once again unofficially kicked off the community’s cultural calendar. And to add to the excitement: a full ballroom at the Wynfrey Hotel.

Witty radio personality Paul Finebaum, keynote speaker Warren St. John, and of course the 2009 AHF Award winner Dr. William C. Carter, AHF provided a wonderful, humanities-filled program to an audience filled with scholars, university presidents, librarians, politicians and perhaps future Mark Twains.

Prior to the luncheon, at a special reception, six Jenice Riley Memorial Scholarships were presented by Rob Riley and his mother, First Lady Patsy Riley. Through the generosity of Edgar and Louise Welden, the scholarships are presented to elementary school teachers in support of their professional development and classroom enhancements in history and civics.

Whether you attended the luncheon or missed it, you are invited to view photos of the luncheon here on Flickr, and any other AHF photos at flickr.com/photos/alahumanities. If you were unable to attend but would still like to give, visit ahf.net/give.

Thanks to all who attended and made the event a success! If you did not receive an invitation and don’t want to miss next year, be sure to sign up for our mailing list here.

Special thanks to our generous sponsors: Vulcan Materials Company, the Birmingham News, and the Hoover Public Library

Written by: Paul L.

As the story goes…an elderly, die-hard golfer from Fosters passes away from this old world and finds himself at the pearly gates. St. Peter unfolds the Book of Life and tells the old golfer that he has lived an exemplary life and can enter. Of course, the first question the man asks St. Peter is, “Where is the golf course?”

“I’m terribly sorry,” replies St. Peter, “but that’s one thing we don’t have here.”

The golfer is quite unhappy and decides that he will see if he can swing a better deal in hell. On the road to hell, he is greeted by the devil, who has already heard of the golfer’s unpleasant rejection of heaven. “This way, sir,” says the devil, “the finest tournament-quality 18 holes you are likely to find this side of Augusta, Georgia.”

Reserve your spot in the Swinging for AHF Golf Tournament.

The golfer looks around and agrees that it is the finest course he has ever seen. He decides he’d rather spend eternity there than in heaven, so he signs up for the full package. “So,” he says to the devil, “why don’t you go get me some clubs and balls and I’ll have the game of my after-life.”

The devil responds “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t have any.”

“What?” says the man. “No balls or clubs for a fine course like this?”

“No, sir,” says the devil, “that’s the hell part of it.”

Just a little golf humor to remind you to reserve your spot in the Swinging for AHF Golf Tournament. It will be held Thursday, November 5, at the Pine Tree Country Club. Hosted by the Birmingham Lions Club, the tournament proceeds will benefit the Lions Club Sight Charities and the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

Sign up here.

Written by: Paul L.

Last week I heard a story from a small town, not far from the Enterprise city limits. A farmer used to sit on a stone ridge that crossed his land and mourn over the lack of fertile soil the land had. Later, the sad farmer gladly accepted an offer of $25,000 for the property. When the buyer opened a natural gas well right under the rocky ridge where the farmer used to sit and pity himself, he made a fortune.

Very few of us have farms with vast deposits of natural gas. Yet, most of us do have a “rocky ridge” on which we sit and worry ourselves as having been dealt a short straw in life. That very rocky ridge is keeping us unaware of countless opportunities.

As you go through your daily activities paddling your own canoe all the while watching your resources and expenditures, many needs for education and social services in Alabama have been increasing. We hear about them every day. And just as our social services increase, so does our need to examine who we are and what we want as individuals. Many of us remain on a rocky ridge missing right at our feet endless opportunities for lifelong learning.

Your investment in the mission of the Alabama Humanities Foundation will have a similar result as had the man who bought the farm. Contact us today with your gift.

Written by: Paul L.

There is a story often told in Geneva County down in the Wiregrass country side of Alabama. A middle-aged man made his first-ever visit to a funeral home to pay his respects to a loving aunt. Prior to his arrival, a thoughtful person had placed in her hands a well-worn book about sweet home Alabama. It looked fitting and symbolic as the kind aunt always enjoyed reading. One could see how her face used to shine as she would sit for hours and read from its pages. It was most appropriate.

Reading is good for the mind. Reading books written by Alabama authors or about Alabama is good for our state.

The middle-aged visitor then asked himself what if someone put an item that would seem most appropriate in his hands. Would it be a fishing pole, car keys, a cigarette, a television remote or a deck of cards? But then again, would it be a book?

We all are guilty to underestimate the influence we have on others. Reading is good for the mind. Reading books written by Alabama authors or about Alabama is good for our state. It influences others to do the same.

How long has it been since you read a good book. Would it be the first time?

Tell us your favorite books about Alabama, or your favorite Alabama authors. We want to hear from you.

Written by: Paul L.

“I know,” said the preacher with a huge sigh, “I have the same trouble in my business.”

So. . .

Go ahead and circle this very important date on your calendar and don’t wait until the last minute. The annual AHF awards luncheon is booked at the Wynfrey Hotel for Monday, September 14, 2009. Don’t miss it!

The luncheon has unofficially been recognized as the kickoff to the community’s cultural calendar. AHF is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2009, and this year’s luncheon will be the 20th.

We will welcome author Warren St. John as our keynote speaker, who will be introduced by popular sports radio personality Paul Finebaum.

The annual AHF awards luncheon is booked at the Wynfrey Hotel for Monday, September 14, 2009. Don’t miss it!

St. John was born in Birmingham and attended the Altamont School. He later attended Columbia College in New York City, where he now lives with his wife Nicole. His most recent book, Outcasts United, was released in April 2009. It is a real-life story of a soccer team made up of refugee children known as the Fugees. Representing 13 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and led by a coach from Jordan, the Fugees unite the small town of Clarkston, Ga.

The 2009 Alabama Humanities Award will be presented during the luncheon, as well as the 2009 Jenice Riley Memorial Scholarships. This year’s winners are to be determined.

Stay tuned..and mark your calendars!

Photo credit: Charles Thompson

Written by: Paul L.