Roy Henry Drinkard (born July 12, 1920, in Falkville, Alabama) is an American businessman who owns numerous properties and shopping centers throughout the Southeastern United States.[1] He currently resides in Cullman, Alabama, where he serves as president and CEO of Drinkard Development, Inc.,[2] a company which provides management, leasing and maintenance services for commercial properties. He was named 2007 City Family Patriarch by the Committee of Cullman Farm-City.[2]

Early life

Drinkard's father was a business man and the mayor of Falkville for twenty years.[3] Drinkard has five siblings, three brothers and two sisters.[3] He attended St. Bernard Preparatory School in Cullman.[4]

Drinkard served honorably in the US Marine Corps[4] during World War II as a Private First Class. For a time, Drinkard ran a funeral home in Guntersville. In 1949, Drinkard returned to Cullman and became an autotrader.[4] Drinkard was a member of the “Flying 50,” a group of local Cullman leaders who traveled across the country recruiting businesses and industries to the area. Drinkard's work improving Cullman's economy led to him being named The Cullman Times Distinguished Citizen of the Century.[5] In April 2000, Roy H. Drinkard was appointed a trustee of Troy University[4] in Troy, Alabama by then Alabama Governor Don Siegelman.[1]

Many of the buildings owned by Drinkard are designed in German village-inspired themes, reflecting the German heritage and history of Cullman County, Alabama .

Drinkard recited the Pledge of Allegiance ahead of Donald Trump's August 21, 2021 rally in Cullman.[6][7]

Personal life

Drinkard is a long-time resident of the Borkenau, one of Cullman's most historic houses. The Borkenau was constructed in 1909 by Austrian-born Cullman resident Ignatius Pollak. Drinkard bought the Borkenau when he moved to Cullman in 1949.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Tiffany Green (October 21, 2009). "Roy Drinkard – Burgermeister". Cullman Times. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Shannon Meadows (November 17, 2006). "'Mr. Cullman' honored". Cullman Times. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Conservation Director's Father dies". The Tuscaloosa News. July 12, 1956. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Evan Belanger (April 13, 2006). "Drinkard influential in building Cullman's economy". Cullman Times. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Roy Drinkard celebrates 99th birthday". The Cullman Times. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  6. ↑ Henderson, Amy. "Trump holds rally in Cullman". The Cullman Times. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ "101 Year Old Marine Recites Pledge of Allegiance". Facebook. Cullman Daily. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  8. ↑ Moore, David. "Have a Visit with Roy Drinkard at the Borkenau". Cullman Good Life Magazine (Spring 2017): 36–44. Retrieved September 2, 2023.


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