Major General AC Blalock, Jr.—also known very affectionately as “ABC” to his nieces and other younger relatives—was born on February 2, 1948 in Charlotte, North Carolina to Hazel Irene Blalock and U.S. Army Recruitment Officer Abner Coy Blalock, Sr. They relocated to Panama City, Florida when AC was still a young boy; they soon expanded their family with the addition of AC’s younger sister, Pamela Land, who was born on December 28, 1956. The family of four lived in Panama City for about eight years; there, AC developed a life-long love for the beach, the ocean, and especially the bounty of seafood he first discovered on fishing trips with his dad.
His father’s decorated career as an Army recruitment officer brought the family to Montgomery, Alabama in 1962. AC went on to attend Auburn University (War Eagle!), where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1971. While there, he was a member of the university’s Army ROTC program, and in the Spring of his graduating year he joined the Army’s Active Duty Delay Entry Program. Thus began a highly decorated military career of 40 years that reached its height in 2007 with AC’s ascension to Alabama’s highest National Guard ranking, Adjutant General, appointed by then Governor Bob Riley; in that role, he was honored to serve as the Commanding General of the entire Alabama National Guard, with two stars distinguishing his General ranking.
Professionally, AC began working in the engineering department at Western Electric after relocating to the metro Atlanta area in 1975—where he continued to work throughout the company’s many transitions until he retired from AT&T in 2007 to work full-time in his role as Adjutant General. It was at Western Electric that he met his future wife, Shirley Ann Spivey, originally of Akron, Ohio. Shirley worked as an administrative assistant and caught AC’s attention with her brains, boldness, and beauty. They were married in Atlanta in 1978, and shortly thereafter moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where Shirley, now 72, still resides in the same home they purchased that same year. A few years later, AC earned his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, his highest educational achievement until he earned an esteemed diploma from the U.S. Army War College in 1997.
On January 21, 1986, they welcomed their first and only child, Meghan Cori Blalock, born at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham and currently residing in Los Angeles, California where she shares a home with her longtime partner, Joel Manalo, and their adopted cat, Preen; now 36 years old, she works in LA as a creative copywriter. In raising their daughter, AC and Shirley both valued education above all else, and they instilled this value in Meghan from a very young age. AC, Shirley, and Meghan enjoyed spending time together doing a range of activities, but without a doubt their favorite pastime was sharing incredible meals at restaurants not only in Birmingham but throughout all their travels: to New York, Los Angeles, Florida, Washington D.C., and beyond. They always bonded over trying new cuisines, thoroughly enjoying each other’s love for food, and sharing abundant laughter inspired largely by AC’s status as a certified bon vivant—he simply loved life, and everyone truly loved being around him. Few things in life brought AC more joy than sitting beachside with his family, having a few beers, and slurping down several plates of raw oysters.
Aside from adventures in dining, without a doubt AC derived his main joy in life from the game of golf. With countless hours spent on courses all over the world, AC played golf for decades and, unsurprisingly, became quite good at it. It’s a noteworthy accomplishment for any experienced golfer to achieve a hole-in-one (or two) over the course of their career; AC has 13 on the books! Even above the sport itself, AC enjoyed most the special fellowship he had with the group he affectionately referred to as his “golf buddies,” an unshakably tight crew who shared many memories, laughs, and beers on the course. His golfing home was Bent Brook Golf Course in Bessemer, and the staff there loved him as much as he loved spending time there; upon receiving word of AC’s passing, the Bent Brook team lowered the property’s American flag to half staff.
AC is survived by his wife, Shirley Blalock; their daughter, Meghan Blalock; his sister, Pamela Land; and Pamela’s two daughters, Crystal Land (39) and Ashley Land (38), both of whom reside in North Carolina; and Ashley Land’s two children, Kaden Dean(15) and Chloe Dean(13).
The family will welcome all who loved AC on Monday, December 19, 2022 from 11AM to 1PM at Ridout's Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209; a funeral service in his honor will immediately follow, as well as food, fellowship, and a celebration of AC’s infectious love for life. A burial service with full military honors and regalia will follow on a to-be-determined date at Arlington National Cemetery. An inclusive list of AC’s military awards, decorations, and assignments follow below.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Blalock family.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
The Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Expert Infantryman Badge
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Mar 71 – Apr 71, Active Duty Delay Entry Program
2. Apr 71 – Jul 71, Student, Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Georgia
3. Jul 71 – Feb 76, USAR Control Group, St. Louis, Missouri4. Feb 76 – Oct 76, Weapons Platoon Leader, Company B, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry, Alabama Army National Guard, Bessemer, Alabama
5. Nov 76 – Feb 78, Rifle Platoon Leader, Company B, 1st Battalion 167th Infantry, Bessemer, Alabama
6. Mar 78 – Aug 78, Executive Officer, Company B, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry, Bessemer, Alabama
7. Sep 78 – Dec 81, Company Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry, Bessemer, Alabama
8. Jan 82 – Jan 84, S-2, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry, Talladega, Alabama
9. Jan 84 – Oct 87, S-2, Headquarters Company, 31st Armored Brigade, Northport, Alabama
10. Oct 87 – Apr 88, S-3 Plans, Headquarters Company, 31st Armored Brigade, Northport, Alabama
11. May 88 – Jun 92, Assistant S-3, Headquarters Company, 31st Armored Brigade, Northport, Alabama
12. Jul 92 – Nov 92, S-5, Headquarters Company, 31st Armored Brigade, Northport, Alabama
13. Nov 92 – Aug 94, Executive Officer, Headquarters 31st Armored Brigade, Northport, Alabama
14. Aug 94 – Nov 97, Battalion Commander, 31st Support Battalion (Heavy), Enterprise, Alabama
15. Nov 97 – Apr 98, Assistant, Plans, Operations, Mobilization Support Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Montgomery, Alabama
16. Apr 98 – Feb 00, Commander, 226th Area Support Group, Mobile, Alabama
17. Feb 00 – Sep 00, Commander, 122d Support Group (Corps), Selma, Alabama
18. Sep 00 – May 03, Commander, 31st Chemical Brigade, Northport, Alabama
19. Jun 03 – Oct 04, Deputy Commander, 167th Theater Support Command, Birmingham, Alabama
20 Nov 04 – Jul 05, Commander, 167th Theater Support Command, Birmingham, Alabama
21. Jul 05 – Oct 05, Deputy to the Director, J4/7, United States Central Command, Tampa, Florida
22. Oct 05 – Aug 07, Commander, 167 Theater Sustainment Command, Birmingham, Alabama
23. Aug 07- Jan 11 (retirement), Adjutant General of Alabama, Joint Force Headquarters Alabama National Guard
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