The Chilton Auburn Club’s 43rd Unsung Hero will be former football coach Tommy Tuberville, marking the first time the club has given its annual award to a head coach.

Tuberville was fired at the end of the 2008 season, but incoming club president Charles Bates said Tuberville was chosen because of the 10 years worth of contributions he made to the program.

“This year it just seemed appropriate to give it to coach Tuberville because of all he’s done,” Bates said. “I was afraid that he wouldn’t accept it because he’s not involved with Auburn anymore. Once he accepted, that was a unanimous choice.”

That award will be presented at the club’s annual banquet, which will also feature the Rev. Chette Williams as a guest speaker. Williams is Auburn’s team chaplain.

The banquet is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on April 14 at the Clanton First United Methodist Church gymnasium.

Admission to the banquet costs $35 per person, and that price includes a steak meal. Seating capacity is limited, and orders will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Checks should be made payable to the Chilton Auburn Club and mailed to the club at P.O. Box 2184, Clanton, AL 35046. For more information, e-mail the club at info@chiltonauburnclub.com.

Money raised by banquet ticket sales will go toward the club’s scholarship fund. Bates said the club hopes to establish a $25,000 endowment.

At the banquet, contributors will be recognized by sitting on one of three stages—gold, silver and bronze—depending on the amount of money they have donated.