James Stanley Mackin Sr.

Stan Mackin met his wife, then Mary Jo Williams, at Auburn University, and the two were together for a total of 71 years. Their 67-year marriage was built on love, respect and adoration, and their love for each other radiated to everyone around them.

Mackin was born on July 30, 1932 to Louis and Aileen Tanner Mackin in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up on the city’s Southside. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management. Mackin continued his studies at the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University and Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma. After his graduation from Auburn, Mackin served in the United States Navy on active duty from 1954 to 1958 and served in the Naval Reserve from 1950 until 1961, when he retired as a commander in the United States Naval Reserve. Following active duty service, Mackin returned to Alabama and worked in the construction and real estate business. In 1966, Mackin transitioned from building houses to building a bank.

Mackin started his banking career in the Commercial Loan Department with Birmingham’s Exchange Security Bank. By 1971, he was serving as the head of his division in what had become First Alabama Bank. Mackin quickly rose to the top of the banking industry thanks in large part to his vision and an uncanny sense of what was right for his company, and his customers.

In 1986, he was elected Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the bank as well as Central Region President of Regions Financial Corporation. He held that office until January of 1990. At that point, Mackin was named President and Chief Operating Officer of the corporation. He received yet another promotion in August of the same year when he was elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Regions Financial Corporation. Mackin retired as Regions’ CEO in 1998 and retired from the board in 2001.

Mackin’s thoughtfulness and attention to detail were unparalleled. When it was time to name the banking institution they were building, Mackin wanted it to be meaningful. After months of pouring through dictionaries with his team, he decided on “Regions Bank” because it described who they were: their markets, their regions. Even as they were building a national bank, his focus was on the customer and the community.

Mackin lead the effort to build and expand the bank across the Southeast—his drive and enthusiasm turned the Birmingham-based company into the 25th largest banking institution in the nation.

In 1996, the J. Stanley Mackin Eminent Scholar Chair in the College of Business at Auburn University was established in his name by the board of directors of Regions Bank. Mackin was honored as a “Builder of Birmingham” by Re-Entry Ministries and was a recipient of the Auburn College of Business’ “Distinguished Alumnus of the Year” award, the highest alumnus honor given by the college. Mackin was also inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 1998, Birmingham Business Hall of Fame in 2001 by the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, and the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2005.

In addition to his work in banking, Mackin was passionate about serving his community. He was an active member at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. He served as a board member of the SETON Health Corporation, Alabama Public Television Foundation, Birmingham Operaworks, and the John Carroll Catholic Educational Foundation. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham and Leadership Birmingham Class of 1984. He served as President of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, on Auburn University’s Business School Board, as President of the Better Business Bureau for North Central Alabama as well as on the board of directors for both the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama and the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of The Country Club of Birmingham, Shoal Creek Country Club, The Club, Inc., and Willow Point Golf and Country Club. He served on the Shoal Creek Country Club Board and as President of The Club Board of Governors.

James Stanley Mackin, Sr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on June 11, 2021. He was predeceased by his parents, Louis B. Mackin and Aileen T. Mackin. He is survived by his brother Louis B. Mackin, Jr. and his sisters, Carol O’Neill and Eileen Mackin; by his wife Mary Jo Mackin; by his children: James S. Mackin, Jr. (Koko); Brian W. Mackin; and Leah M. Taylor (Bo); by his grandchildren, Lewis C. McKinney III (Jessica); James S. Mackin III (Melanie); Mackin M. Thompson (George); Charles B. Mackin; K. Ragland Mackin; Margaret M. Ratliff (Philip); Brian W. Mackin, Jr. (Mallory); Will G. Mackin; and Mary Alieen Mackin; and eight great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2 Xavier Circle, Birmingham, Alabama 35213. A service will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 AM.