Councilman Gary M. Speers was elected to Scottsboro’s Place 2 seat on the Scottsboro City Council in October 2008.

Mr. Speers was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Birmingham City Public Schools and graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1974. He earned an athletic scholarship to Alabama A&M University where he played football and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1978.

He married the former Kimball McQueen of Scottsboro in 1980. They have three daughters; Kristin, Rebecca and Stephanie.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree holds a Bachelor of Theology from Birmingham Baptist Bible College, A Masters in School Counseling from Alabama A&M University, AA Certification in Administration Education Leadership/Innovative Leadership program from the University of Alabama at Gadsden, and an Ed. S., Educational Specialist from the University of Alabama at Gadsden.

He has worked in the nuclear power industry as a senior radiation protection technician and he also worked in the Birmingham Public School system as an aid comparability instructor. He was recommended to serve in the school’s system’s At-Risk Dropout Prevention Program.

Mr. Speers and his family moved to Scottsboro in 1993. He was subsequently hired as a magistrate and juvenile probation officer for the Jackson County Juvenile Court System. He is currently employed with the Scottsboro City Schools, assigned to Collins Elementary as an assistant principal. Prior to that position he served both the elementary and high school level as a guidance counselor.

While in Birmingham, Mr. Speers was the associate minister at New Community Baptist Church and served on several church boards and as interim pastor during the senior pastor’s illness. In Scottsboro he founded New Harvest Ministries and was pastor of St. Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church for over 10 years.

He continues to stay involved in community affairs and events by working with such organizations as the Scottsboro Multicultural Heritage Foundation for which he is a co-founder, the Weatherly Carver Foundation where he serves as chaplain. He serves as a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of American and the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board. He is past-president of the Scottsboro Citizens Police Academy and the former coordinator for the distribution of Angel Food Ministries.