2019 BPL Local Author Lectures: Timothy Alexander, Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal

BPL Local Author Lectures Presents: Timothy Alexander, author of Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal
When: Saturday, July 20, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Central Library East Grand Reading Room
 About the book: Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal is a memoir about Birmingham native Timothy Alexander, who was involved in a life-changing car accident in 2006 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. The book talks of how this faith-driven young man has overcome obstacles and dedicated his life to motivating and inspiring others.

Timothy Alexander was on the path to football greatness, with the Erwin High School student ranked the #8 high school player in the state of Alabama and being recruited by top college football programs across the nation. But the Birmingham native's dreams of playing college and professional football came crashing down when Alexander was involved in a life-changing car accident in 2006 that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, at the Central Library, Alexander will present a BPL Local Author Lecture and talk about his new memoir, Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal. During his talk, Alexander will share how he has overcome obstacles and filled his purpose of helping others.

Read more about Alexander's book at this link.

BPL's 2019 Local Author Lectures began on June 8 with a presentation by Ruby Y. Davis, author of Hearsay. It concludes on Saturday, Aug. 24, 10:00 a.m., at Avondale Regional Branch Library when BPL Archivist Jim Baggett speaks on the topic "Getting in Their Heads; Using Archives to Understand Ordinary People in the Past."

A faith-driven young man, Alexander endured medical and other challenges and graduated from Erwin High in 2007, then attended Wallace State Community College afterwards. After graduating from Wallace State, he enrolled at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he double majored in criminal justice and communication management.

A minister, keynote speaker, and recent graduate of the John Maxwell Certification Program, Alexander lives by the phrase "We don’t need it to be easy, we just need it to be possible." A trailblazer, Alexander became the first paraplegic to receive a football scholarship at UAB and touched lives with his determination. He was runner-up for Mr. UAB, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and the former president of UAB Gang Green who set two school attendance records during UAB’s basketball season.

Alexander received the Student of Excellence Award for academic/athletic performance, and gained a reputation also known for holding prayer gatherings and taking students to church twice a semester.

In recent years, Alexander has been one of UAB football's strongest advocates. He was leader of the 2014 #FreeUAB movement after the UAB Football, Bowling, and Rifle programs were terminated in December 2014. After receiving approximately 56 city and county proclamations supporting the reinstatement of the three teams, Alexander joined with UAB Boosters and Birmingham city leaders/supporters to help raise over $40 million, leading the UAB president to announce the return of UAB football a year later.

While an undergraduate, Alexander received the Colonel Leo Thorsness Courage Award from the Youth Leadership Development Program and was also awarded the Challenge Coin from Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins. Alexander graduated from UAB with a master’s degree in communication management. His proudest moment came on July 18, 2016, when Alexander was able to stand up on his own for the first time since being paralyzed.

The video of him standing went viral, being featured on ABC National News, TMZ Sports, and other news stations worldwide. Alexander was nominated in November 2016 for the Sports Program Feature in the 31st Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards, and was named the winner in January 2017.