Tuscaloosa Attorney, Former Public Safety Commissioner Delaine Mountain Dies at 84

Delaine Mountain, a beloved longtime attorney in Tuscaloosa and a former Public Safety Commissioner here, died last weekend at 84.

His obituary, submitted to the Thread, is shared below.

Our thoughts are with all who knew and loved Delaine, especially his son and partner in practice, Clint Mountain, who serves on the Tuscaloosa City Schools board of education.

Clinton Delaine Mountain, Sr. (84) passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 22, 2025.

He was born August 17, 1941 in Pisgah, Alabama to Lyle and Winnie (Boak) Mountain.

Delaine was predeceased in death by his mother and father, brother Braxton, stepbrothers Al Mountain and Alton Mountain, and stepmother Bonnie Mountain.

He leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Barbara Woodley Mountain, stepbrothers, Ron McCormick and Thurman McCormick (and families), children, Jennifer, Clint (Lindsay), Catherine, and Will (Carolina), grandchildren, Philamon, Mason, Camden, Elise, Julia, and James.

Delaine graduated from the University of Alabama and was an avid Alabama fan. He also graduated from Alabama School of Law in 1968 and started a law practice in Tuscaloosa. He continued to practice law for 57 years, still going into the office daily until his death. Delaine loved being a lawyer and helping so many of his clients get the justice they deserved.

Delaine taught Business Law at the University for 15 years.

He served the City of Tuscaloosa at different times as City Prosecutor and Public Safety Commissioner. Some interesting tidbits about his time as Police Commissioner include instituting overtime pay for police officers and presenting the “turn right on red” law in Tuscaloosa. Please remember him every time you turn right on red. His family has also heard Delaine tell stories of at one point being a temporary bodyguard for Bear Bryant and John Travolta.

Delaine loved and excelled at representing his clients, receiving many accolades and honors. Some of those achievements include serving as President of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association and being a member of the faculty of the Academy of Trial Lawyers. Delaine was selected to be on the faculty for the National College of Trial Advocacy Trial College and taught “Ultimate Trial Advocacy Course: Art of Persuasion” at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His greatest honor, though, was being able to practice law for so many years with his son, Clint.

Delaine had a genuine love for his family, friends, work associates and the law community. He touched so many lives and was loved by so many. If there was a need, he is someone you could always count on to help. He enjoyed many football games at Bryant Denny Stadium through the years as well as basketball games in Coleman Coliseum. Other than in person, one of his favorite places to watch games was in his favorite chair at home on Lake Tuscaloosa. He clocked millions of hours out on the lake on his boat pulling kids and grandkids on water skis, kneeboards, and tubes. Through the years, Delaine enjoyed playing tennis and golf, traveling with Barbara, snow skiing trips with family, lake weekends, and watching his children and grandchildren grow up. He counted so many “ribbies” on the little ones, always getting a good laugh from all. If you sat down for a conversation with Delaine, you would quickly discover his passion for politics, but more so was his passion for animals. He had a very sympathetic heart for the many dogs in his life and would fill his social media feed with lost dogs or animals needing help. Delaine had a good heart and a compassionate soul. His loss reaches many far and wide.

A memorial celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, December 11th at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church located at 900 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. A reception will follow at a place yet to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you support your favorite animal charity or the local Humane Society to help continue Delaine’s passion for helping man’s best friend and all other four-legged animals.