Jack Warner Parkway: The name behind the popular Tuscaloosa road
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One of the most popular roadways around Tuscaloosa is Jack Warner Parkway.
The road runs next to the Black Warrior River, stretching from the downtown area to the Holt community with plenty of major landmarks along the way.
But who exactly was Jack Warner? You may be surprised by the size of the legacy he left on the city beyond just one road.
Jack Warner
Jack Warner was born in Illinois but moved to Tuscaloosa when his grandfather bought Alabama’s first modern pulp and paper mill in 1929.
After serving in the Army during World War II, he returned to Tuscaloosa and eventually became the CEO and Chairman of the Gulf States Paper Corporation where he worked for over 50 years.
During his time there, Warner’s company earned environmental protection awards from the National Wildlife Federation, the American Paper Institute and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Warner created the Northriver Yacht Club, which remains open in Tuscaloosa.
He was awarded the Frederic Edwin Church award in 2010 for assembling one of the greatest private collections of American art, representing masterpieces of American art from the 18th century through the early decades of the 20th century.
The Tuscaloosa giant died at the age of 99 in 2017 but his legacy remains.
His name may now be mostly associated with a road by visitors and newcomers to the city but his list of accolades is much longer than that including:
- Alabama Hall of Fame. 1979
- Alabama Business Hall of Fame, 1983
- Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame, 1989
- Distinguished Achievement Award, President’s Cabinet, University of Alabama, 1999
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Alabama State Council on the Arts, 1997
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Greater Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, 1997
Jack Warner Parkway
The road just south of the Black Warrior river has long been used as a way to quickly get through town without going through the University of Alabama campus.
However, the city has put a focus on bringing more options for the community along the parkway, making it busier than ever.
Some stops on Jack Warner Parkway include:
- Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater
- Parker-Haun Park
- Tuscaloosa River Market
- Tuscaloosa River Walk
- Kentuck at Queen City
- Tuscaloosa Public Library
- Park at Manderson Landing
Alabama’s road namesakes
Have you missed any stories from our series focused on Alabama roads? See what you might have missed:
- Don Mincher Drive in Huntsville
- Charles Barkley Court in Leeds
- Don Sutton Street in Clio
- Demeco Ryans Street in Bessemer
- Marie Foster Street in Selma
- Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood
- Hank Williams Road in Butler County
Have a street in your city you want us to highlight? Send us an email or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
