Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Chilton County has lost a pillar of the community with the passing of Wayne McKinnon.

McKinnon was influential in Jefferson State Community College and St. Vincent’s coming to the county.

He loved this county and was always looking for ways to make it a better place to live.

He did this through conversations with elected officials, such as the late Billy Joe Driver, serving on the Medical Center Board and on the industrial board.

His impact on the county will be long lasting. To this day, the contributions he and his fellow board members made through their work continue to help county residents. Chilton County residents would be wise to look to McKinnon for inspiration as they consider what they can do for their community.

As a businessman, he also found success in establishing McKinnon Toyota and McKinnon Nissan and had a positive impact on the industry through leadership with the Automotive Dealers Association of Alabama.

He will be missed for his dedication to bettering his community, his business and civic leadership and for the example he set for others.

May every resident of this county have the love for this place that he did.