A native of Birmingham, Terry Points Boney was selected to be The University of Alabama’s first African American homecoming queen in November 1973. Segregationist Governor George Wallace presented her trophy at the barn fire and crowned her at the homecoming game. While attending the University, Points Boney also served as Student Government Association representative for women’s residences and was president of two women’s dorms. She was a member of the Afro-American Association, Associated Women’s Students and the Student Industrial Relations Society. Finally, she represented the University as a member of the Million Dollar Band and an Army ROTC sponsor. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration from Culverhouse, majoring in Management and Industrial Relations.
Points Boney started her career with International Paper (IP) in New York City in January 1974, after finishing her college coursework in December 1973. She held positions in human resources, manufacturing, sales/sales management and marketing, and relocated to Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Upstate New York and Tennessee with IP. In Miami, Florida, Points Boney worked in sales and customer service for Plastique, Inc., an importer of retail packaging. After moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, she represented retail packaging distributor Innovative Packaging Group.
Points Boney was a volunteer throughout her career. Over the years, she held community positions with the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Girl Scouts, American Red Cross, Junior Achievement and her Church. Now that she is retired, her retirement volunteer activities include work with the Mission Central Food Pantry, AARP Texas Dallas/Fort Worth and St. John the Apostle Church.
Points Boney presently lives in Hurst, Texas with her spouse Sam. They have four children and seven grandchildren.
Michael Jones was the first African American to major in finance at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business, and the first African American to complete a joint degree program that combined a Juris Doctor (law) degree and a Master’s in Finance from Manderson Graduate School of Business (1982). While a student at UA, Jones was a member of the Eta Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and an Associate Justice of the UA Student Court. He was inducted into the Jasons Honor Society, named Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities and engaged in numerous other UA, SGA and African American Association activities and engagements. Since graduation he has served and/or been a member of the Presidents Cabinet, the Center for Business and Law Advisory Board-The University of Alabama Law School, the Farrah Law Society and the Commerce Executives Society.
After a stint at Regions as a corporate banker, while working with the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham as a public defender, Jones founded Securities Capital Corporation in 1988, which is the nation’s oldest and longest-running Black-owned registered broker and investment banking firm. With Securities Capital Corp., he worked to underwrite $1,785,486,650 in bonds to bring Jefferson County out of what was at the time the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. He also underwrote key projects in Birmingham, including the construction of Protective Life Stadium, the renovation of the BJCC Legacy Arena, and the expansion of the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport, totaling over $500 million. Also through Securities Capital Corporation, he served as financial advisor or co-manager for the bond underwriting syndicate for several key University of Alabama capital improvements.
Securities Capital Corporation spearheaded a number of social initiatives. It was the first to teach the Stock Market Game in the Birmingham City School System. It also conducts Stock Market Roundtables around the state, leading the statewide effort during the National Month of African American Investments. Finally, it hosted an investment fair called “Take Stock in Alabama.”
Personally, Jones served as founding president of the Birmingham chapter of the Black MBA Foundation from 1985-1986. He also served on the Birmingham Industrial Development, the Family Gateway Board, the UAB School of Business original Advisory Board, and other charitable and community efforts through various fraternal and professional associations. A resolution was issued by the Alabama House of Representatives recognizing his efforts in community and state financial literacy.
A college football career as a three-year letterman running back, coached by the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant, helped direct Ralph Stokes’ fundamental drive for excellence. Stokes received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a focus on marketing from The University of Alabama in 1975 and is a lifetime member of the University’s “A” Club as well as a member of the charter line for the Beta Eta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Stokes began his business career as a Group Sales Representative for Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company in Chattanooga, Tennessee. During his career, he acquired the industry’s highest professional designations, including CLU, FLMI, MHP and HIAA.
His natural leadership skills, training and talent allowed him to weather the storm of acquisitions characteristic of the industry in the late 90’s. He has served as Regional Sales Manager for Provident Life and Accident, Director of Sales and Marketing for Healthsource, Inc., and, most recently, Senior Vice President of Sales for CIGNA Healthcare of Georgia.
With a successful track record as an exceptional sales and marketing strategist, Stokes founded Stokes Consulting, Inc., a sales consulting and procurement agency. During the growth of the consulting business, he served as Director of Business Development for Chesapeake Consulting, a process management and leadership development firm based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Stokes currently serves as Vice President, Diversity, Partnerships & Community Relations for PGA Tour Superstores, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The PGA TOUR Superstore is the largest golf specialty retailer in the nation. In this position he has helped to grow the company from 3 stores to 58 Superstores and one the industry’s leading on-line retailer.
His community involvement includes his service as the President Elect of the Georgia State Golf Association and Vice Chairman of the TOUR Championship Golf Tournament at East Lake Golf Club. His additional board memberships include Special Olympics Georgia, the Board of Visitors for the University Of Alabama School Of Commerce and Business, the Atlanta Public Golf Conservancy, the Atlanta Country Club, the AT&T Classic Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.