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By Javacia Harris Bowser | The Birmingham Times
Birmingham entrepreneur, artist and philanthropist Larry D. Thornton, Sr., was inducted into the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame on Tuesday by the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.
Thornton, founder of Thornton Enterprises, is also a past Kiwanis president.
Also inducted into the 2026 Class of the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame were the late George W. Barber Jr., of Barber Companies, The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, and Barber Marina; and Michael A. Mouron of Capstone Development Corporation.
“I can speak for all three of us — our accomplishments, our achievements, our fancy titles mean nothing if we can’t make life better for somebody else,” Thornton said as he accepted his honor on Tuesday afternoon at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham.
Thornton’s career demonstrates that he lives by this sentiment. Through the years, Thornton has been the first African American to do several things. He was the first to own a McDonald’s franchise in Birmingham and went on to grow a portfolio of local restaurants. He was the first African American to serve on the board of directors for Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. — where he once made $5 an hour painting signs for the company. He was also the first to be named board president for The Club, the private establishment that sits atop Red Mountain. But as Thornton found himself in spaces where he was the first African American, he was always determined not to be the last.
This, in part, inspired him to write his book Why Not Win?: Reflections on a 50-Year Journey from America’s Segregated South to America’s Boardrooms — and What It Can Teach Us All. But this was just the beginning. Thornton also launched the Why Not Win? Institute, which partners with corporations, universities, and organizations across the country to help them close leadership gaps, cultivate talent pipelines, and create environments where everyone has the chance to win.
Thornton has also given back by serving on the board for the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
Along the way, Thornton has held on to his passion for art. A former art teacher, Thornton has done portraits for icons like Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey. In his acceptance speech, Thornton shared that when he was younger, he only dreamt of being “a Black Rembrandt.”
But his art was only the first act of a storied career that’s touched countless lives. Just as Thornton is dedicated to helping others, he shared that he has been helped through the years, too.
“I’ve always been something of a go-er. Never did a whole lot of ‘get set, get ready.’ I just go,” Thornton said on Tuesday, drawing laughter from the crowd. “And when you do that, you’re going to fall in a lot of ditches. But if you know good people, [they will] get you out of those ditches, and I can tell you, it’s almost embarrassing to be standing here because so many other people made the difference.”
Since 1997, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, the world’s largest Kiwanis Club, has annually selected local business leaders for induction into the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame. These are individuals who have exemplified strong leadership in the Birmingham business community and made extraordinary contributions to Greater Birmingham. To date, the Club has inducted 161 prominent Birmingham business leaders. Inductees can be living or deceased.
“It is a tremendous honor for the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham to recognize and celebrate this exceptional group of business leaders,” Birmingham Business Hall of Fame Chair and Past Kiwanis Club of Birmingham President Nelson Bean said of the 2026 inductees. “Their leadership, vision and commitment have helped shape Birmingham’s business community and strengthen our city in lasting ways. We are proud to honor their remarkable contributions and the legacy they continue to build.”
John Saxon, President of the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, said the longstanding Birmingham Business Hall of Fame event is an important part of the 109-year-old club’s legacy.
“For nearly three decades, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham has been proud to recognize business leaders whose impact extends far beyond their industries,” said Saxon.
Previous inductees include Birmingham Times founder Dr. Jesse Lewis, educator and civil rights activist Odessa Woolfolk, and renowned civil rights attorney J. Mason Davis, who died earlier this year and was also honored at this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony.
“These individuals have helped drive Birmingham’s economic growth while making meaningful contributions to the broader community,” Saxon said. “The Birmingham Business Hall of Fame allows us to preserve and celebrate those stories, ensuring that the leaders who helped shape our city’s past continue to inspire its future.”
For more information about the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame or to learn about past honorees, visit https://kcob.org/events/bbhof.
