Sam Faucett, Former Northport Politician, Banker & Philanthropist Dies at 90
Sam Faucett, a respected banker, beloved philanthropist, and former Northport politician, died this weekend at the age of 90.
The civic titan, a Northport native born in 1935, was as local as they come, educated at Northport Elementary School, Tuscaloosa County High School, and the University of Alabama. He also earned graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Oklahoma.
After a few years in New Orleans and New York as an accountant at Shell Oil, Faucett returned to west Alabama in 1962, where he joined City National Bank of Tuscaloosa, which later became First Alabama Bank and then Regions Bank.
In just a decade, Faucett advanced from loan teller to senior loan officer at City National Bank, then to president and CEO of the Tuscaloosa location of First Alabama Bank soon after.
He continued climbing the ladder as the financial institution grew, earning regional leadership roles overseeing banks in Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida for the company, which would become Regions Financial Corporation in 1994.
He retired in 2000, but spent much of his professional career and the last quarter-century as a philanthropist and leader in both elected and appointed roles. He served more than 12 years on the Northport City Council, including a stint as mayor, and spent 25 years on the Board of Directors of the DCH Health System.
His personal donation of nearly $1.5 million in 1996 also helped fund the relocation and modernization of his alma mater, Tuscaloosa County High School, after Northport voters rejected several proposed property tax increases.
A civic legend whose contributions and accolades are too numerous to list here, Faucett also chaired the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority, whose Northport activity center is named for his family.
He was also known for service and support of the United Way, the American Heart Association, Christ Episcopal Chuch and more.
Facuett was a member of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and the West Alabama Chamber's Civic Hall of Fame and was voted Northport's Citizen of the Year in 2000 and the Tuscaloosa County Citizen of the Year in 2010.
Our thoughts are with all who knew and loved Sam as they mourn his Friday passing.
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