David Hudson Jr. '81

Alumni Loyalty Award, 2011

David Hudson Jr. has, in some ways, been associated with Huntingdon all his life. Growing up, Mr. Hudson listened to his father’s memories and stories of Huntingdon before attending college here and living the Huntingdon experience first-hand. His father attended Huntingdon to prepare for a career in ministry, but was called into the service before graduation, later completing his degree at the University of Alabama. David Jr.'s parents wanted him to attend Huntingdon, where they knew he would thrive in the small college environment—and they were right.  Mr. Hudson believes the leadership experience he had during his time at Huntingdon, along with faculty who helped him build on his strengths and strengthen his weaknesses, made him the person he is today.

While at Huntingdon, Mr. Hudson was a founding father and charter member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and then served as its president during his senior year. Following graduation, he built a jewelry store business in Tuscaloosa before joining his father in the family business, Dixie Pulp and Paper, in 1988. Since he joined Dixie, the company has grown from four employees to 75 and from a single office to a 225,000-square foot facility in Tuscaloosa and operations in Georgia, Maryland, and Oklahoma.

In 2002, Mr. Hudson joined the Huntingdon College Board of Trustees. He chaired the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees from 2006 until 2009, when he assumed the role of Chairman of the Board. He and his wife, Kim, loyally and consistently support Huntingdon College, giving of their time, talents and gifts. They are charter members of The Huntingdon Society and have been inducted into the Order of the Countess of Huntingdon. They have been significant donors to Huntingdon’s Campaign 150, The Million Dollar Club Campaign, the Ligon Hall Renovation, and were among the first donors to contribute to Huntingdon’s Pep Band, which evolved into the Huntingdon First Marching Band. Mr. Hudson served as a member of the Campaign 150 Committee and now serves as chair of the Huntingdon Tomorrow Task Force.

Mr. Hudson has served as president of the Alabama Jewelers Association, member of the Young Presidents’ Association from 2002 to 2010, and is currently a member of the World Presidents’ Association.  He is a member of First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa, where he attends church with Kim and their sons,Trey and Mark.