William Alexander Pogue

William Alexander Pogue, age 93, passed away, Thursday, May 27, 2021. He was born July 27, 1927, in Birmingham to Constance Clementine Hagood Pogue & James Vincent Pogue. Bill grew up in Norwood, attended Norwood Methodist Church, graduated from Norwood Grammar School, and Phillips High School. During WWII he was in Naval Air Corps training and after the War went to USMA (West Point), graduating in 1950.

Bill & his high school sweetheart, Mary Sue Miller, married on June 17, 1950. He left for Korea July 1950 where he was in combat with the Third Infantry Division, awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, and retired a captain.

After military service, he was with Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI) for 35 years, retiring as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. During his career he was on the corporate boards of CBI, Bethlehem Steel, Nalco Chemical, Hess Oil (Amerada Hess), and Northern Trust Bank. Bill also served as trustee of Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago and trustee of Marion Military Institute in Alabama. His favorite motto to his company was “Just do what you say you will do”.

Bill is survived by daughter, Susan Pogue McNamara (Bham), grandchildren Keith Alexander McNamara (CO) and Claire Lorraine McNamara (KY), and numerous nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 66 years, Mary Sue Miller Pogue; son, Reverend Dean James Pogue (Tricia), and four older sisters: Julia Margaret Penton, Jimmie DeWitt Hale, Minnie Estelle Franklin & Shannon Pearl (Tootsie) Smith.

Bill loved Norwood and Birmingham…the sense of place, of being home. He loved family, dancing with Sue, dogs, Packard Automobiles, Camp Winnetaska, being Santa Claus, the “no-name” golfers, Monday Lunch Group, a good martini, and West Point. Bill wasn’t concerned with “leaving a legacy”: his words to live by were “be kind”, “act right”, “keep your word”. Even so, his values and traditions live on.

A memorial service will be at Independent Presbyterian Church, 3100 Highland Ave., Birmingham AL,35205: at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 12, 2021. Visitation with family will follow in the parlor.

In lieu of flowers help a friend, dance, eat chocolate, read a good book. Donations can be made to:

Greater Birmingham Humane Society at https://gbhs.org/donate; Camp Winnetaska at https://winnataska.org/support; Emmet O’Neal Library at https://oneallibrary.org/support-mblf-2210

Special thanks from Bill's family to Mildred Bryant, Jimmy Davis, Affinity Hospice, Homewatch Care Givers, and many friends and neighbors for their care & concern.