The University of Alabama National Alumni Association Chilton County Chapter hosted a benefit for tornado relief Thursday, with former Crimson Tide quarterback Scott Hunter guest speaking.

The benefit took the place of the group’s annual banquet, held yearly in May. Emcee for the event, Kendall Williams, said the group knew scheduling between the Peach Festival and the July Fourth holiday would be an issue.

“We made plans for May, but then the tornados came through and took care of that,” Williams said. “We expected a slimmer crowd; we knew that the timing wasn’t best.”

The chapter partnered with Temporary Emergency Services to help collect donations. More than 60 attended the event, held at Helen Parrish Activity Center at Clanton First United Methodist Church.

“There’s still a tremendous need,” said Williams. “It’s why we went ahead with the program.”

After dinner, Williams acknowledged several people who helped get the program together, as well as Ken Wilder and Alvin Samples, two locals who were teammates of Hunter’s at Alabama.

Williams then turned it over to Troy Mims, who recognized Gage Hutchinson, a recently graduated senior at Jemison High School, as this year’s recipient of the Judy Melton Mims Memorial Endowed Scholarship.

After Hutchinson gave a small speech, Hunter’s high school coach, Glen Yancey, introduced him. Hunter spoke about his time at Alabama under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, and how both Yancey and Bryant preached poise, mental toughness and class.

“They taught me to always show class,” he said. “Coach Bryant always said if you have poise and confidence, good things will happen.”

The evening concluded with the chapter presenting Hunter with a basket of Chilton County peaches.

“My wife was a cheerleader at Alabama,” he said to the crowd. “She said to make sure I got some peaches before I came home.”