William Houston Blount

William “Houston” Blount (January 3, 1922 - January 10, 2011) was an American businessman and philanthropist from Birmingham, Alabama who served as CEO, President and Chairman of Vulcan Materials, the largest U.S. producer of construction aggregates, from the time period 1979 - 1991.
Mr. Blount of Birmingham was born in Union Springs, Alabama, January 3, 1922, the son of William Madison and Clarabel Chalker Blount. He was educated at Staunton Military Academy, the University of Alabama, and Harvard Business School. He entered the U. S. Naval Air Corps in 1942 and served until 1946, attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
On August 5, 1943, he married Mary Frances Dean. They have five children: Barbara Dean Blount Viar, William Houston Blount, Jr., Beverly Dean Blount McNeil, Frances Dean Blount Kansteiner and David Dean Blount.
In 1946, Blount co-founded Blount Brothers Corporation with his brother Winton “Red” Blount and then became President and Director of the Southeastern Sand and Gravel Company and Vice President of Southern Cen-Vi-Ro Pipe Company. In 1957, he began his career with Vulcan Materials Company, as the President of the concrete pipe division. Within two years, he had been named Corporate Vice President of Marketing, and a Director and then was named Executive Vice President of the construction materials group, a member of the executive committee. By 1977, he had become President and Chief Executive Officer of Vulcan Materials Company, as well as a member of the executive and finance committees. By 1983, Blount had become Chairman of the Board, retaining his positions as CEO, President, member of the executive and finance committee, and Director. .
He also served as a Director of Blount, Inc., First Alabama Bancshares, First Alabama Bank of Birmingham, Statesman Life Insurance Company, Vulcan Life Insurance Company, VF Corporation and Life Emeritus of Birmingham Southern College.
Mr. Blount was also active in the work of the Boy Scouts of America, having served as president of the Birmingham Area Council and as a member of the Executive Board and National Council representative. He was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scouts of America and also assisted in the work of the Cahaba Girl Scout Council.
He was active in the Young Women's Christian Association, Baptist Medical Center, the Children's Hospital, the Arthritis Foundation, the Heart Hospital and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Mr. Blount was general chairman of the General Fund Drive for the United Way and also a member of the Finance Committee of the Birmingham Museum of Art and of the Advisory Board of the School of Business at Samford University.
Mr. Blount was also a member of Augusta National Golf Club and a prominent Alabama Republican assisting the Presidential campaign of George H. W. Bush.
The W.H. Blount, a refitted Panamax-class vessel was named after him, as well as the Blount-Bowden Charity Classic, which has raised more than $1.3 million for college scholarships and numerous Florida charities.

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