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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Even after his death, lifelong Montevallo resident Herbert Galloway McGaughy’s love of his hometown and passion for the arts lives on.

On Wednesday, April 2, attorney Butch Ellis joined Shelby County Arts Council Executive Director Bruce Andrews and Janice Burks for the presentation of a $100,000 check to the SCAC in Columbiana for its continued promotion of the arts in Shelby County. The funds were presented on behalf of H.G. McGaughy who died on March 28, 2023 and had left behind instruction for distributing his wealth among the organizations he loved.

H.G. McGaughy grew up in Montevallo and lived on the historic McGaughy farm. He attended the Alabama College during the late ‘50s in Montevallo before its name was changed to the University of Montevallo. It was there he became lifelong friends with Ellis.

“He was a dear close friend,” Ellis said. “He and I saw each other a lot.”

H.G. McGaughy married Doris Ann McGaughy in 1959. Both were graduates of UM with H.G. graduating in 1962 and Doris in 1959. The two lived together on McGaughy farm until Doris’s death in 2020.

H.G. McGaughy continued to be a supporter of Montevallo until his death and enjoyed traveling about the city and spending time with the fire department and at Czeskleba TV Service with his friend, Walt Czeskleba.

Since H.G. McGaughy and Doris McGaughy did not have any children or close relatives to leave an inheritance to, he ensured that funds from his estate would go on to benefit his home and the arts.

H.G. and Doris worked with University of Montevallo President John Stewart to ensure their farm would be able to continue servicing the university by leaving the property adjacent to the campus to the university to foster its programs. Their estate, represented by Ellis, also included funding to support the long-term maintenance of the property as well as funding for a scholarship in their name.

In 2025, on behalf of the McGaughy estate, Ellis presented a $2 million check to Stewart, Scott Dillard and Dr. Kristy Lee at UM in support of the university’s programs.

As instructed in the McGaughy’s will, the city of Montevallo was presented with $50,000 to go toward its fire department and $50,000 toward its emergency medical services. The Shelby County Arts Council was presented with $100,000 in support of its mission to promote the arts.

“He had no children and he wanted to use his money for good things and the arts council was one of them,” Ellis said. “He came down here and saw it and was impressed with it and all they had to offer.”

In honor of H.G. McGaughy’s generosity and impact on the county, a portrait of him will be painted by local artist Lynn Dodson and placed at the Shelby County Arts Council.

“I just appreciate somebody like H.G who’s exemplary,” Andrews said. “He was a great guy and everybody loved him. How many people can you find that have a legacy like that?”

Burks, who was H.G.’s girlfriend before his death, recalls the type of man he was and said that he was always smiling.

“From the time he got up in the morning until he went to bed, he was never in a bad mood,” she said. “He woke up with a smile and he went to bed with a smile.”

Despite two years passing since H.G. McGaughy’s death, his legacy will continue to impact generations of Shelby County residents who will benefit from his generosity.

“He was just a good man,” Ellis said.