John Finley Porter Jr.

Dr. John F. "Bunny" Porter, Jr. passed away Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Born in Birmingham, AL, Dr. Porter served as a captain in the US Army during the Korean War and graduated from the University of Alabama with a master’s degree in physics. He then matriculated to Johns Hopkins University where he earned a Ph.D. in physics.

In 1966, he was recruited to join the physics faculty at the University of Alabama Huntsville where he worked to develop laser technology. He became the dean of the graduate school after briefly serving as acting president.

The governor of Alabama chose Dr. Porter to serve on the first Alabama Commission on Higher Education in 1972. He became the executive director and served at this post in Montgomery until 1981. Dr. Porter completed his career of academic service as the director of research at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He served in this position until retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1993. Shortly before his retirement, the Alabama Ornithological Society embarked on a collaborative effort to publish A Birder’s Guide to Alabama through The University Press and asked Dr. Porter to edit the edition. The book was published in 2001.

Dr. Porter and his first wife Jacqueline Harbin Porter (deceased 2001) of Scottsboro, AL, retired to Dauphin Island, AL and worked together tirelessly to raise funds for land purchases to preserve acres of island habitat as a rest and recuperation site for migratory birds. As an avid birder, Dr. Porter worked to help establish the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail, served as president of the Alabama Ornithological Society, and as president of the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries (DIBS) for many years. Through this effort, he met another bird enthusiast – Mary Flint Porter – and they married in 2006. In 2015, a plaque was erected at the Goat Tree Preserve on Dauphin Island honoring Dr. Porter’s conservation work.

Dr. Porter was predeceased by his parents, John Finley Porter and Janice Nowell Porter of Mountain Brook, AL, his wife of 52 years, Jacqueline Harbin Porter of Scottsboro, AL, and one son, David Wade Porter of Navarre Beach, FL. He is survived by his wife, Mary Flint Porter of Dauphin Island, AL, a daughter, Angela Gayle Porter Barnett (Frank) of Gurley, AL, and three sons, John Finley Porter, III (Jan) of Scottsboro, AL, Paul William Porter (Dianna) of Alexander City, AL, Adam Michael Porter (Mary Ponder) of Mountain Brook, AL, and by marriage Greg Waldrip (Patricia) of Birmingham, AL, Lisa Heerten (Glenn) of Birmingham, AL, and Jon Waldrip (Beth) of Portland, OR. His grandchildren include John Finley Porter, IV of Miami Beach, FL, Andrew Nowell Porter of Honolulu, HI, Christina Claire Porter of Scottsboro, AL, Josh Kight (Casey) of Versailles, KY, Kevin Hamby (Amber), Haley Ruth Porter of Auburn, AL, Adam Michael Porter Jr., Mary Harbin Porter of Mountain Brook, AL, and Beth and Anna Waldrip of Birmingham, AL.

A memorial service is planned for Friday August 19 at 2:00 PM at St Francis Episcopal Church on Dauphin Island. The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. (DIBS), St Francis Episcopal Church on Dauphin Island or the charitable organization of your choice. DIBS is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the continuing protection of important migratory bird habitat on the island. Donations there may be submitted by mail to P.O. Box 1295, Dauphin Island, AL 36528.