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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

The Chilton Auburn Club is hosting their annual Unsung Hero Banquet on April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at 6th Street Warehouse. This year’s honoree is Tiger defensive lineman T.D. Moultry who played in 59 games for Auburn across his five seasons (2017-2021), which is a program record.

Moultry recorded 57 tackles, seven sacks and forced a fumble in his Auburn career.

“We have several members who follow the program closely and keep up with the players,” coordinator of the banquet Barbara Bates said. “A few of the other players either came back to school or are in the process of trying to make the NFL. T.D. did so well, and we as a club voted on him.”

Moultry will receive a specially crafted trophy to honor is recognition from the club.

The Chilton Auburn Club has held the banquet every year since 1966 up until 2020 when planning for the banquet got cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Auburn University requested the club not hold it in 2021 as well, as a precaution but the banquet is making its return in 2022.

Every year, the banquet highlights a player at Auburn, most of the time a football player, who contributed greatly to the program but may not have received as many accolades or recognition as more well-known players. The club chooses a player who went under the radar as an unsung hero but gave their all for the program and university.

Each year at the banquet, the club gives out three scholarships to Chilton County students who are attending Auburn University in the fall. The students are chosen by the university, and if the names are finalized by the banquet, those students are recognized at it.

There will be a raffle auction at the banquet and a meal to help raise money for the scholarship funds. The Unsung Hero Banquet is the largest fundraiser for the Chilton Auburn Club throughout the year.

One member of the club will receive the John McAfee Award at the banquet for their contributions to the club over the years. New officers will be elected at the meeting as well, but they will be announced at the football season kickoff event in August.

The banquet has a guest speaker each year as well. Current Auburn running backs coach Cadillac Williams is this year’s guest speaker. Williams is a former NFL running back and Auburn All-American.

“We were thrilled last week when we found out he was going to be our speaker,” Bates said. “We felt like he would bring in more interest to the banquet this year.”

It is $45 per person to attend the banquet, and each family will have to pay an activity fee of $25 to cover operation expenses for the club. However, families can save $10 per person if they include their activity fee in their banquet reservation. Reserved tables that seat up to eight people are available for $500.

Those wanting to attend should make a reservation before the banquet date as the club will not take walk ins at the door. Guests are encouraged to come early around 6 p.m. for autographs from Auburn mascot Aubie.

For more information, contact Toni Miller at 205-835-8045 or Barbara Bates at 205-312-1330 or visit the Chilton Auburn Club’s Facebook page.