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Bedsole papers given to Mobile library
A Clarke County native, J.L. Bedsole came to Mobile in 1919 when he purchased Van Antwerp's wholesale drug operation. By 1926 he was president of Mobile's Chamber of Commerce, had been named to the board of the First National Bank and elected president of the Mobile Rotary Club. In 1927, he founded Mobile Fixture and Equipment Company, which supplies equipment for hotels and restaurants. It is still in operation. He created Mobile's Community Chest, now known as the United Way of Southwest Alabama, to simplify local charitable donations among qualified agencies. When the city of Mobile faced possible bankruptcy during the Depression, Bedsole served as head of a committee which was formed to deal with the problem. By 1937, Mobile had an improved credit rating. Bedsole's only son was killed while serving in Europe during World War II. In 1946, Bedsole purchased Admiral Semmes' former home, had it restored, and donated it to First Baptist Church as a memorial to his son. Bedsole's wife died in 1949 after a long illness. In 1972, he donated $500,000 to save the former City Hospital at St. Anthony and Broad streets. The hospital's history dated back to 1836. It was converted to become the home of the county's welfare department. Bedsole died in 1975 at the age of 94. His name appears on the IMAX theater in the Exploreum in downtown Mobile and on the library at the University of Mobile. Bedsole college scholarships are provided for 40 students from southwest Alabama each year.
His foundation continues to further his interests in the areas of education, healthcare and preservation for southwest Alabama.
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