Designed
to fill the ever growing need for an appropriate meeting
facility for our community, The AW Todd Center has accomplished
it's objective and then some!
Newly
constructed and opened in May of 2002, the Centre is built
in memory of A.W. Todd, a Franklin County native and former
Alabama Agriculture Commissioner. The Centre is located in downtown Russellville on South Washington.
There
are several parts of the A.W. Todd Centre. The Banquet Hall
is a 450 seat room for almost any occasion. The room can
be divided into two separate rooms available for rent. It
also features a full kitchen. Also, there is a display room
in the Centre that houses memorabilia from A.W. ToddÆs career.
The Senior Centre is in the back half of the facility. This
area features many activities for Russellville
area senior citizens. Outside the Centre is the Farmers
Market. This area is managed by the Extension Service.
The
A.W. Todd Centre Building Authority was formed in 1998 to
plan the creation of the Centre. The members are Marvin
Wilson, Cecil Langcuster, Robbie Todd (widow of A.W. Todd),
Nell Bedford, and Clint Dotson. The board was incorporated
to carry out the construction of the facility. Construction
was funded by $400,000 secured by A.W. Todd in 1994, $200,000
secured by Senator Roger Bedford, $200,000 appropriated
by Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bishop, $134,000
in a no-interest loan from the Farmer's Market Association,
and other funds set aside by the City of Russellville and
the Franklin County Commission. Senator Bedford also secured
funds to furnish the building.