BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club has renamed its South Park Unit in the West End neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama in recognition of the late Dr. Kirkwood R. Balton. Dr. Balton is best known for his long-time commitment to the Club as one of its founding Board members.
“It is a great privilege to honor my friend and mentor, Kirkwood Balton,” said Walter Howlett, Jr., Board Chairman for the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club.
Dr. Balton was a great friend and supporter of the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, serving as the Club’s Board Chairman and Treasurer during his tenure with the organization. Dr. Balton and his wife Dr. Juanita J. Balton, in partnership with the Community Foundation generously supported the renovations of the then, South Park Unit Computer Lab. In 1999, he founded The A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, Classic Moments in Black History, a well-received county-wide Black History Month scholar’s bowl competition hosted at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. He also launched the Club’s first and only broadcasting program, WGBC, which taught Club members the fundamentals of radio broadcasting.
“The Boys and Girls Club here in Birmingham always had a special place in Kirkwood’s heart,” said Dr. Juanita J. Balton, wife of the late Dr. Kirkwood R. Balton. “He was devoted to these young people, as if they were his own. We are so honored and touched by this lasting remembrance. He would be so proud.”
He was born on June 9, 1935 in Birmingham and died on February 10, 2009 after a bout with stomach cancer. He was 73. A native of Birmingham, Dr. Balton was educated in the public school system graduating from A.H. Parker High School. Dr. Balton earned his bachelor’s degree at Miles College in 1957 and began working for Dr. A. G. Gaston two years later. He went on to earn a master’s in business administration at Samford University in 1970 and was also awarded doctorates in humane letters from Miles College and Birmingham Baptist Bible College. In addition to establishing his own successful enterprises, Dr. Balton spent 42 years working under the Club’s founder, Dr. A.G. Gaston. He rose within Dr. Gaston’s business empire to manage WENN-FM and became chairman and CEO of Dr. Gaston’s insurance company, Booker T. Washington Insurance Company, before he retired in 2001.
He later founded the J&B Medical Supply and later J&B Management and Electric Supply, both named for his wife, Juanita. In 2004, the supply company was formed after learning a medical supply company, and not the hospital, had provided his walker following hip surgery.
In retirement Dr. Balton remained active in Dr. Gaston’s charitable efforts, including the A. G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club. Dr. Balton served on the boards of several organizations including Mercedes-Benz USA International, Colonial Bank, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health Services Foundation, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System Managing Board, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, National Conference for Community and Justice and the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital. He was also a member of the Miles College Board of Trustees. Dr. Balton was a member of Rotary International, Leadership Birmingham Class of 1987, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Leadership Alabama Class of 1995 and The Guys.
At his death, he was survived by his wife Dr. Juanita J. Balton; daughter, Ms. Adriene Balton- Topping, J.D., a sister, a brother and a son-in-law, Mr. W. Frank Topping. He was a member of St Paul’s Cathedral and a resident of College Hills.
On Thursday March 27th Council President Pro Tempore Jay Roberson presented a resolution at the Facility Renaming Ceremony & Rededication of the A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club former South Park Unit in honor of the A.G. Gaston Legacy Board Chairman Dr. Kirkwood R. Balton. Attorney J. Mason Davis gave greetings on the past outstanding leadership of Dr. Balton in the Birmingham community and his charitable efforts to the A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club. Dr. Balton’s widow Juanita, performed the honors of unveiling the commemorative plaque.
