The Andalusia High School Scholarship Foundation presented Paul Armstrong, Warren Culpepper, Tami Glover McGhee, Bill Rue, and Tom Rue with the W. Robert Brown Outstanding Graduate Award during a ceremony at City Hall.

PAUL ARMSTRONG

Paul Armstrong is a former Andalusia mayor who is believed to be responsible with helping to lay the foundations to help the city’s current transformation. He was also the leader in the campaign to secure funding to build the brand new and modern Andalusia elementary school. He was a part of the U.S. Army, including an entire time during his time in Vietnam in the role of a pilot, before going back home to Andalusia.

WARREN CULPEPPER

Warren Culpepper is the founder and former Culpepper is the CEO and founder Culpepper and Associates, Inc. Warren is the founder of Culpepper and Associates, Inc. A leading supplier of data from compensation surveys as well as consulting services that are used to create innovative and efficient compensation plans. He was the valedictorian of his AHS class of 1960 and graduated from the University of the South, where he graduated with an associate’s degree in economics and math.

TAMIMO GOVER McGHEE

Tami Glover McGhee is a veteran of working with software of NASA. She currently is the lead of organizational configuration management for the ground and flight software division of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. She provides technical support and direction to managers and project leaders on all division-related projects including the NASA’s space launch software. She is also very involved in the community outreach programs of her church, which includes Habitat for Humanity. She was class president as well as valedictorian for AHS Class of 1987. AHS class of 1987 and graduated with an B.S. in computer science at Alabama A&M University.

THOMAS S. RUE

Thomas S. Rue is acknowledged as a specialist in the area of maritime law. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree at the University of the South and an juris doctorate in the University of Alabama School of Law. He also spent three months with the U.S. Army as a special agent in the field of military intelligence. He is currently Director of the Admiralty and Maritime Practice Group Director at Maynard, Cooper and Gale, P.C. He was an John W. Sims Distinguished Admiralty Practitioner in Residence at Tulane Law School in 2002 and has also taught on Tulane Law School, the University of Alabama School of Law and the Cumberland School of law.

WILLIAM H. RUE JR.

William H. (Bill) Rue Jr. has spent his business career growing the firm established by the father of his son, Fastening Solutions Inc. (FSI). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree at the University of the South and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School before spending more than three years working for the Air Force Systems Command. After returning to Alabama in the year 1970, he started a 50-year association at Fastening Solutions Inc., in which he succeeded his father Bill Rue Sr., as CEO. He continued the company’s rapid growth. Currently, the business is home to offices and clients across 11 Sunbelt states. The torch of leadership has been handed down to the third generation.


The Andalusia High School Outstanding Graduate Award was established in 2007 by the Class of 1948 Foundation which is now known as it is now the Andalusia High School Scholarship Foundation. The award was created to recognize students of Andalusia High School, Woodson High School and Ralph Bunche High School whose professional lives, personal achievements and service to the community exemplify what is expected of Andalusia High School.


The nomination process is open to all students each year and awards are given by the Outstanding Graduate Committee, currently led by Andalusia Mayor Earl V. Johnson (Class 1965). For more information, call Michele Gerlach at 334-428-1143.

The article Scholarship Foundation recognizes AHS Outstanding Graduates of 2023 was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.