Catherine J. Randall

Dr. Randall came to the University of Alabama (UA) at the age of 18 because of the Computer-Based Honors (CBH) Program. She met her husband here and, as such, UA will always hold a special place in her heart. A Birmingham native, Randall bonded with Tuscaloosa early on. “I came to Tuscaloosa as a freshman at the university, met Mr. Wonderful and never left,” she said. Pettus Randall was a second-year law student and she was a sophomore when they connected. She was the chairman of the youth campaign for Albert Brewer, who was running for governor and was asked to get Pettus Randall involved. They were married a year later. A fitting match as she had been the first president of Girls Nation from Alabama, and her husband, the first Boys Nation president from Alabama.

In years since, Dr. Randall has taken on many roles and responsibilities. She has served as the national Mortar Board president and headed the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame board of directors. She was the director of Alabama Girls State for ten years and continues as an advisor and counselor to this organization. She was the Director of CBH (and later of the University Honors Program) and grew CBH into the world-class program that it is today.

She has been honored at many levels,

By her university:

• Top 31 Most Outstanding Women Graduates of the Century
• 2002 Roger Sayers Award as Most Outstanding Faculty/Staff
• 2007 Living Legend

By her community:

• 2004 Tuscaloosa’s Philanthropist of the Year and Pillar of the Community
• 2005 Tuscaloosa’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Women of Distinction
• 2012 Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame
• 2013 Tuscaloosa’s first Champion of Character

And by her state:

• 2004 Alabama Academy of Honor as one of Top 100 Outstanding Living Alabamian
• 2013 One of Two Birmingham Outstanding Civic Leaders
• 2015 Bryan Lifetime Achievement Award from the North Central Girl Scout

Dr. Randall holds a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and two PhD degrees from UA. Her three children went on to earn degrees from Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Cambridge, Oxford, and Stanford.

Adding to her ever-impressive list of accomplishments, recently Dr. Randall published a Lenten Devotional. Still very active today, Dr. Cathy Randall is the Chairwoman of the Board of Pettus Randall Holdings, LLC, and The Alabama Academy of Honor. She was also recently elected to the Alabama Power Company’s Board of Directors.

This commitment to excellence, achievement, and service is the legacy that her children wanted to honor. They talked to their neighbor and miracle worker Pam Parker, and soon thereafter the Catherine Johnson Randall Premier Award was established and the first award given in her honor in 2008.