The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), including its President, Dr. Ray Watts, third from left, were honored at the Newcomen Society of Alabama’s recent awards ceremony.

The Newcomen Society of Alabama honored the University of Alabama at Birmingham and its President, Dr. Ray Watts, last week in Birmingham at the Society’s annual awards ceremony. Founded in 1937, the Newcomen Society of Alabama was a chapter of the prestigious Newcomen Society of the United States, which celebrates free enterprise and is modeled after the Newcomen Society of England. Click here to see photos from the event.

Dr. Watts presented “UAB Past, Present and Future: Fueling Innovation and Pushing Frontiers” to a crowd of more than 500 people at The Club in Birmingham. Dr. Watts often referred to UAB President Joseph F. Volker’s address to the Newcomen Society of Alabama in 1971 and walked the crowd through UAB’s rich history in Birmingham, from the creation of the university in 1969 to its prominence as an economic engine for the state of Alabama today.

“UAB and Birmingham have, over five decades, thrived on challenges, with limited resources initially but growth of an abundance of talent to support our tremendous progress and major achievements,” said Dr. Watts. “We have made remarkable strides recognized the world-over because we have made those strides together toward a shared vision.”