The following biographical sketch was compiled at the time of induction into the Academy in 1989 and 2002, and updated in 2016.

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Mr. Garry Drummond was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Drummond Company, Inc., a major coal producer, manufacturer of foundry coke and real estate developer. The company includes large coal mines in Alabama and in Colombia, South America; a worldwide coal sales organization; ABC Coke, the largest merchant foundry coke producer in the United States; and a real estate division with major community developments in Alabama, Florida and Palm Springs, California. Mr. Drummond's father, Heman Drummond, founded the company in 1935 and Garry Drummond had served as Chief Executive Officer since 1973.

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In its 67th year of operation, Drummond Company employed over 3,300 people worldwide and had annual revenues in excess of $800 million, making the company one of the top 500 on Forbes' list of largest private companies. Drummond was the 20th largest U.S. coal producer in 2001.

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Mr. Drummond received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama in 1961 and also held an honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Alabama, awarded in 1983. He was a member of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees from 1983 through 2001 during which time he served three years as President pro tempore. Mr. Drummond was the University of Alabama College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Lecturer for 1987-88 and University of Alabama Department of Civil Engineering Outstanding Fellow in 1987. Mr. Drummond was presented the Keith-Woodman Award in 1987 and established the Garry Neil Drummond Endowed Chair of Mining at the University of Alabama in 1985. He was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 1997.

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Mr. Drummond was active in state, national and international organizations within the coal industry, as well as boards of numerous local and state organizations dedicated to charitable causes and economic development. He served on the board of the National Mining Association, Business Council of Alabama, SouthTrust Corporation, Center for Energy and Economic Development and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, where he served as Chairman. He was a member of the Birmingham Rotary Club and was elected to the Alabama Academy of Honor in 1989. 

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Mr. Drummond died on July 13, 2016.