The Cottage Hill Civitan Club has named Mobile City Councilman Reggie Copeland as the 2011 Mobilian of the Year.

As Mobile’s most prestigious civic honor, the Mobilian of the Year award has been given annually since 1948 to an individual who has made an extraordinary, positive impact on the Mobile community.

Copeland has served continuously on the Mobile City Council since 1985, including three terms and the current term as Council president. Over the years, his leadership has helped unify and guide a divided Council. A tireless spokesman and advocate for the City of Mobile, he has represented Mobile on numerous occasions in meetings with business and industry leaders and assisted in economic development.

In addition to his political career, Copeland has also served the community in a variety of other ways, including as a board member of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission. He has had a leadership role with the development of the Distinguished Young Women of America program, the Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center, the Mobile Bay Bears, Riverfront Park, Omnimax, the Convention Center, museums, parks and libraries. He also is known by generations of Mobilians for his officiating on the basketball courts in numerous games.

The Mobilian of the Year banquet will be held on Thursday, April 12, at the USA Mitchell Center. A cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m.

The Civitan Club of Mobile sponsored the Mobilian of the Year program from 1948 until 2007, when the Cottage Hill Civitan Club began coordinating the event. In 2007, USA joined the Cottage Hill Civitan Club as a partner in the event. USA is not involved in the selection process for the award.

Randall “Randy” Eckhoff, Mobilian of the Year chairman for the Cottage Hill Civitan Club, said the Civitan Club is excited about the 2011 Mobilian of the Year award program.

“The Cottage Hill Civitan Club is excited to have Mr. Reggie Copeland as the Mobilian of the Year for 2011,” Eckhoff said. “Mr. Copeland has represented the City of Mobile well over the years and helped promote our city to others across the state, region and country.

“His leadership has brought many wonderful things to our city, including the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center, the Mobile Bay Bears, golf courses, museums, libraries and parks. His leadership even helped with the creation of the Distinguished Young Women program.”

Banquet tickets are available by contacting Eckhoff at (251) 666-1973 or rh.eckhoff101@comcast.net.

Reggie Copeland: A Legacy of Community Involvement

            A graduate of Murphy High School, Copeland attended both Spring Hill College and the University of Alabama – Mobile Center. After serving two years in the Korean War, Copeland returned to Mobile and began his involvement in a variety of civic groups, including the Mobile Jaycees. During his presidency of the Jaycees, Copeland led the creation of America’s Junior Miss program, now known as the Distinguished Young Women. He also served as a nationally recognized collegiate basketball official, including 25 years as a member of the SEC Basketball Officiating staff and 12 years in the NCAA tournament.

            Over the years, he helped lead the development of many sports-related facilities and organizations across the city, including the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center, the Mobile Bay Bears, Magnolia Grove Golf Course, the redevelopment of the Azalea City Golf Course. He was instrumental in bringing a minor-league hockey franchise to Mobile and is currently working to bring a soccer complex here. He also helped bring a variety of other civic improvements to the area, including the Convention Center, Riverfront Park, OmniMax Theater, museums and libraries. Copeland has also been very supportive of USA Jaguar Athletics, especially the football program.

            Copeland was elected to the Mobile City Council for consecutive four-year terms beginning in 1985. He has served as president of the Coucil for three terms and is currently serving in that capacity.

In addition to his civic service, Copeland worked in management at Alabama Power Company for 24 years and served as chairman of the Gulf Coast Illuminating Engineering Society. He led Copeland Agency, an advertising and public relations firm, and he also worked for Saad Healthcare as a marketing and public relations expert from 1986-1998. He also served multiple terms as a member of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and as a member of the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.

            Copeland is a charter member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, where he has served on the athletic booster club, president of the Parent-Teachers Association, lectern, usher and parish development council member. He was awarded the Knight of St. Gregory Medal by Pope Benedict in 2006.

            Over the years, his community service has been recognized through many awards on the local, state and regional level. He has been honored as an inductee into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, Mobile Little League Hall of Fame, and the Murphy High School Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was selected as Mobile’s Most Influential Sports Person and also awarded the Golden Eagle Award by the Greater Mobile Area Boy Scouts.

Civitan International

Civitan International is devoted to improving the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Civitan International Clubs enrich communities across the globe by sponsoring summer camps, vocational programs and Special Olympics. Civitan International Research Center focuses its scientific energies on developing cutting-edge treatments for autism, cerebral palsy and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Cottage Hill Civitan Club

The Cottage Hill Civitan Club has worked with many local charities over the years. The group supports Augusta Evans Special School and the school’s Special Olympics Weight-Lifting Team. It has also given time and resources to the Mulherin Home, United Cerebral Palsy's Camp Smile, MobileARC, Penelope House and Wilmer Hall Children's Home. The group also sponsors Junior Civitan clubs at local area high schools, training the next generation in civic involvement.

Since 1948, area Civitan clubs have championed civic involvement through the Mobilian of the Year award, the most prestigious and longest-running award in the region.