Anthony Barnes, Former Birmingham Water Works Chairman, Dies
Anthony Barnes, former chairman of the Birmingham Water Works Board and long-time Birmingham businessman died Tuesday, October 13. He was 65.
“Anthony Barnes was devoted and loyal to the Birmingham Water Works Boards, its employees, and customers,” says Mac Underwood, general manager of the Water Works Board.
“Sometimes, when he would see employees out working in the cold, he’d go and get coffee for them,” says Underwood. “If a water main break was repaired in front of a church, he wanted us to make sure the area was pressure washed so people wouldn’t mess up their shoes on the way in.”
The Birmingham City Council appointed Barnes to the board in 1991. He became chairman in 1996 and held that position for 14 years.
Under his leadership, the Cahaba Pump Station building, which had been slated for demolition, was restored. Today, it’s a museum and conference center, named in honor of Barnes.
Birmingham Water Works
The Birmingham Water Works reveals a new name for the conference center at the Cahaba Pumping Station.
According to Underwood, as chairman of the board, Barnes championed a summer work program for Birmingham-area high school students. The students often shadowed professionals in labs, along with engineers, accountants, and others.
Norm Davis, a leader in Birmingham civic and financial community, says he met Barnes in the early 1990s.
“Our friendship grew as he served as head of the Water Works and I was chairman of the Housing Authority of Birmingham,” Davis says.
“He was a pioneer. He left his job at the Post Office and went into real estate,” remembers Davis. “He built the largest black-owned real estate company in the state.”
Davis thinks Barnes was a successful businessman because he cared about people. “That’s what people will remember most about him,” Davis says.
3 things to know about Trump’s plan to send troops to Portland and Memphis
President Trump ordered the deployment of troops to Portland and said he's authorized them to use "full force" to curb protests outside of ICE facilities.
Overseas Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law denied entry to Singapore
The activist wanted by the Hong Kong government said he was denied entry to Singapore over the weekend for what he presumes were political reasons.
Moldova’s pro-EU party wins clear parliamentary majority, defeating pro-Russian groups
Moldova's pro-Western governing party won a clear parliamentary majority, defeating pro-Russian groups in an election that was widely viewed as a stark choice between East and West.
She felt abandoned — until a teacher’s hug reminded her she wasn’t alone
When she was in the sixth grade, Tanya Eby's world was unraveling. One day, overcome with grief, she cried in class — and her teacher, Mrs. Welch, wrapped Eby in a hug.
Neglected form of diabetes with unusual symptoms finally gets its own name
An unusual type of diabetes linked to malnutrition now has a name. Scientists are calling for wider recognition of the newly classified Type 5 diabetes to spur better treatments.
Prone to winter depression? Starting light therapy now can help
As daylight diminishes people can feel their mood dimming. In fact millions of U.S. adults experience seasonal affective disorder. Light therapy can help fend off winter depression, starting in the fall.
