Charles "Scotty" Alexander McCallum

November 1, 1925 – January 16, 2021

The full and beautiful life of Charles Alexander “Scotty” McCallum, Jr., M.D., DMD, came to a close on this earth and has been renewed with our Lord, where his beloved wife Alice has been anxiously waiting. “Late as usual” we can hear her saying.

He was a man of many names. “Chuck” to his parents, “Scotty” to his friends, “Professor” to his students, “Chief” to his residents, “Dr. McCallum” to his patients, “President” to his University, “Mayor” to his City, “Coach” to his little league teams, “Hon” to his wife, “Dad” to his boys, and most specially “Big Daddy” to the grandchildren he adored.

His remarkable journey began on All Saints Day, 1925 in North Adams, Massachusetts where he was born to Mabel and Charlie McCallum. Always gifted academically, he developed a passion in all sports. A star hockey player, he also played college baseball against George H. W. Bush (#41), and while in Naval pre-flight school was coached in football by Paul “Bear” Bryant, who later became his patient. At the end of World War II, his parents convinced him to forgo Naval aircraft carrier flight training to pursue his academic interests.

Scotty arrived in Birmingham in 1951 as an oral surgery intern and was told by the Chief Resident he would be paid $25 a month. “Don’t worry” the Chief Resident accurately predicted, “you won’t have time to spend it.” In addition to the DMD he previously earned, Scotty obtained a M.D. while also instructing in the Dental School, became a full professor of dentistry, was named Dean of the Dental School at the age of 37, and later served as Chair of the Oral Surgery Department. He didn’t stop there and ultimately became President of UAB in 1987. Scotty always attributed his popularity among the UAB students to his first act as President. He declared a “snow day.”

In his early years at UAB he met a cute RN, Miss Alice Rebecca Lasseter from Albertville, Alabama. He instantly fell in love with Sweet Alice and her famous biscuits. They married in 1955, started a family and had 4 boys, almost perfectly spaced 2 years apart. When asked if this was family planning, Scotty joked, “Nope, I only get home every other year.” It was not really much of a jest. When a young McCallum boy was once asked “What kind of doctor is your dad?” the response was an “airport doctor.”

Scotty’s “family” was not determined by bloodlines, and his table always had an extra chair. He recruited students and professionals from around the nation and world to come to UAB. He understood that exposing people to Birmingham would ultimately enhance the national and international image and relevance of UAB and Birmingham. Every holiday these “recruits” were invited into the McCallum home to partake in a feast prepared by Alice. He often insisted that an international student live in his own home and became so fond of one, “A” from Thailand, he called her his “adopted” daughter.

In addition to being an educator, Scotty was an accomplished oral and maxillofacial surgeon who was referred patients with the most complex and difficult medical conditions. He operated on many thousands of Alabamians and treated every patient with skill, tenderness, and compassion. He held every leadership position of distinction in the field of dentistry and oral surgery. Scotty was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 1975 and into the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame in 1999.

An avid supporter of all things athletic, a prized achievement in Scotty’s presidency was formally establishing UAB football. After helping to recruit the late, great Gene Bartow from UCLA to UAB they became dear friends. Coach Bartow once wrote Scotty was “the best college President any athletic director could ever have.” He loved the student-athletes and coaches on all the teams at UAB and frequently attended their games, as he believed athletics was integral to school spirit and the culture of the campus. For his efforts and support, he was inducted into UAB’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. Ever Faithful. Ever Loyal.

Scotty’s civic, social and charitable contributions in Birmingham are legendary and too innumerable to recite here. It is enough to know that upon receipt of awards and recognitions for his efforts, Scotty always gracefully demurred and thanked those people who “really” made it happen.

After retiring from UAB, a group of Vestavia Hills city residents encouraged him to run for mayor. His campaign sign was simple – “Go Scotty.” And go he did for 8 years: building sidewalks, acquiring property for recreational use, recruiting businesses, bringing fiscal responsibility, and leading the effort to annex the jewel of Cahaba Heights into Vestavia Hills. In 2010 the City honored his leadership by renaming Little Shades Creek Park to “McCallum Park.”

Scotty’s place of replenishment and respite was Navarre Beach. It was there he taught his sons and grandchildren how to swim, fish and play with reckless abandon. After hard-fought horseshoe matches or hours of spirited card games, you could always find Scotty on the deck overlooking the Gulf with a “full pour” of chardonnay, marveling at the beauty of the world and the blessings that had been bestowed.

A reflection upon Scotty’s life would not be complete without mentioning Kitty Robinson. A jaw surgery patient of Scotty’s at age 19, Kitty’s mother cajoled Scotty into giving Kitty a job. It is a job Kitty never left. Everybody who knows the McCallums know Kitty. Thank you Kitty for a lifetime of faithful support and friendship. The family would also gratefully acknowledge the loving caretakers who brought him peace and comfort in his final days.

His often-stated mission in life was to “make the world a better place” and that he did. Well done Scotty!

Scotty was preceded in death by his wife Alice, his parents Mabel and Charlie, his sister Edith, and his brother Bob. He is survived by his 4 “boys,” Scott (Donna), Chip (LaBella), Phillip (Kelley), and Chris (Suzy). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Alex, David (Sakia), Courtney (Jake Epperson), Caitlin, Indy, Parker, Savannah, and Murphy. He also leaves behind great-grandsons Brody, Miller, and Hayes.

Due to COVID concerns, on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., a family-only limited service with LIVESTREAM (beginning at 10:50 a.m. https://player.streammonkey.com/ 5dbc3190472cf) will be held at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, followed by a private committal service. A public celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be sent to UAB Gift Records, AB1230, 1720 Second Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0112 and directed to either the Charles A. McCallum Endowed Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or to the UAB School of Nursing.