Alabama Broadcasters Association Honors Alabama Games Founder

In 1982, at the recommendation of then Governor George Wallace, Alabama businessman Ronald J. Creel, Sr. received a call from the United States Olympic Committee asking him to build a grassroots sports movement in Alabama.

That led to the founding of the Alabama State Games, one of the first in the nation.

Fast forward to June of this year, when the Alabama Broadcasters Association (ABA) named Creel, Sr., its 2026 Citizen of the Year at the opening ceremony of the Alabama State Games in Birmingham. Last week, he was again recognized by ABA at the Association's 80^th Anniversary Reception in Tuscaloosa.

The ABA website defines the purpose of the Citizen of the Year award as honoring and paying tribute, "...to a citizen of Alabama for distinguished and honorable public service, and outstanding contributions to the well-being, prosperity, and progress of the state."

According to their website, "...the Alabama State Games matter because they serve as Alabama’s largest Olympic‑style, multi‑sport event and play a major role in youth development, community unity, and statewide athletic opportunity."

Get our free mobile app

The games Creel helped found have grown from 600 athletes and 4 sports into 4,200 athletes competing in 25 sports in 2025, making the Alabama State Games the largest annual multi-sport event in the state.

Known as a highly successful businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, non-profit executive, and sports management executive, it is his 40 years of involvement with the Alabama State Games that have helped earn him respect and honors in Alabama and nationally.

Creel worked diligently over the years to create scholarships for the games, which have seen an average of $13,800 awarded annually in academic scholarships totaling $468,000 – more than any other state games. 

Creel is also largely responsible for bringing Olympic Soccer to Alabama during the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Congratulations to Ron Creel, Sr., on recognition well earned.