If There’s One Thing That Runs in the Faulkner Family, It’s Bama

The SEC isn’t just a conference — it’s a tradition.

You may have noticed that tradition in an SEC commercial featuring three generations of the Faulkner family sporting their University of Alabama class rings. It all started with Lamar Faulkner (’64), a chemical engineering major. The principal of his high school was a Bama graduate and took a handful of students to tour the campus. Lamar was one of those students. Since he had no money, an academic scholarship secured his place as the tradition-starter in the family. As for his class ring? His wife, Susan, whom he met and married during his time at Alabama, made and sold Ken and Barbie doll clothes to her bank customers, raising the $65 needed for Lamar to have the class ring he so cherishes these days.

Lamar’s son Al (’88) grew up wanting to go to Alabama. Once there, he became a chemical engineering major just like his dad. And despite the 30 years that had passed, both were taught by the same professor, and both had long, successful careers in chemical engineering. Another thing left unchanged was the school’s effort to make a connection with every student, including Al’s son Caleb.

Way before becoming a finance major, Caleb (’16) attended Alabama football games at the tender young age of not yet 1. From then on, his fate was sealed. “When I thought about college, Alabama was the only school that I thought of,” he said. “It was the family tradition. It was what I knew.” He also knew that in 1929, his great-great-grandfather helped build Denny Chimes, the university’s bell tower. In fact, in a newer Alabama tradition, his class ring had been stored in Denny Chimes for 24 hours before being ceremoniously removed and presented to him. But his favorite memory is having his whole family at graduation, even his 99-year-old great-grandmother.

Today, Caleb is pursuing his law degree at Samford in Birmingham. Al continues to be a father and mentor to son Caleb and daughter Mallory. As for Lamar, he felt a debt that only grew as the university churned out his successful children and grandchildren, so he gives back in many ways. Recently, from his over-30-year position on the Alabama advisory board, he raised a concern to Dr. Stuart Bell, the president, about the school outgrowing its capabilities. Was there a cap on the number of students they should accept?

Dr. Bell responded that it wasn’t a number — it’s “when we can’t deal one-on-one with any student.” That’s the very connection Al felt when he was a student. It’s clear that as Bama continues to grow and thrive, they will never lose sight of that personal connection that makes every student, every generation, feel right at home.

In the SEC, It Just Means More.

To the Faulkners, It Just Means More Generations Rolling With the Tide.