Franklin County lost a dedicated citizen and the Franklin County Times lost a former publisher when Stanley Allison passed away last week.

Allison, who died Feb. 5 at Russellville Hospital, was a native of Talladega but lived for the past 20 years in Franklin County, where he made a lasting impact.

“I found him to be a kind-hearted Christian gentleman who was interested in seeing our community move forward in a progressive way,” said local attorney and former senator Roger Bedford. “We went to church together and also worked together when I was in the Senate and he was at the newspaper. I always found him to be a partner for progress and a very positive person.”

“Stanley was a good man, a good publisher and quickly learned to enjoy Russellville and Franklin County. He climbed a ladder from where he began as a grocery stocker to advertising salesman to advertising manager and a newspaper publisher,” said Jim Boone, chairman of the board of Boone Newspapers, which owns the Clanton Advertiser and Franklin County Times. Boone took interest in moving Allison forward, in his career and as Allison coped with a long illness. “Stanley treasured his family, his church and the communities where he lived and worked. I join all of those in appreciating his life.”

Retired Clanton publisher and long-time Boone Newspapers leader Mike Kelley added, “As Franklin County Times publisher, Stanley led the newspaper to new standards of editorial and advertising excellence. Both in Clanton and Russellville, he proved to be an active and respected community leader and was always a Southern gentleman.”

Franklin County Commissioner Wyman Pounders interacted with Allison in many capacities – they went to church together; worked together when Pounders was with the police department and Allison was with the Times; and were both motorcycle hobbyists.

“Stanley was a wonderful person,” Pounders said. “Stanley was a hard worker. I just loved him to death – him and his wife both.”

Peggy Hyde, Franklin County Times retail sales representative, worked with Allison during his time as publisher and remembers him as “honorable, kind and a gentleman at all times.”

“He was always on top of his job and eager to help you when you needed it or give you that extra push,” Hyde said. “It was my privilege to have had the opportunity to work with and be a friend to Mr. Allison.”

While in the newspaper business, Allison was active in the Alabama Press Association, serving as both a member of the advertising committee and on the board of directors for the Alabama Newspaper Advertising Service.

“Stanley was a solid person,” said APA Executive Director Felicia Mason. “He was just so easy to work with and very good at what he did. He was a wonderful salesman. He knew the newspaper business.” Mason particularly remembered Allison’s helpfulness to the APA staff and his talent for both coming up with and executing new ideas. “It’s difficult to lose good people,” Mason said. “He was just a great person, and we have missed him since he stepped down as a publisher.”

Allison left the Franklin County Times in 2005 to undergo kidney transplant surgery.

His funeral was Sunday.