Donald Hughes Spencer

Donald Hughes Spencer, Sr. of Madison, Alabama died January 13, 2023.  Donald was born January 27, 1944, in Huntsville, Al. He was a 1962 graduate of Butler High School, a 1967 graduate from the University of Alabama and in 1972 received his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law. Before becoming an attorney, he farmed with his father and grandfather in southwest Madison County and southeast Limestone County, AL.  Donald began his career as an attorney in private practice in Huntsville, AL and ended with retirement from Teledyne/ Brown Engineering as Vice President of Legal Counsel.   During his career he also taught business law courses at JC Calhoun Community College in Decatur, AL.  Donald was a devoted and civic minded person. He believed in the value of the community and spent a great deal of his life in service to his hometown. His vision and leadership helped shape the future of the City of Madison.  Donald began his life of community service as a member of the Madison Volunteer Fire Department serving 28 years as a fire fighter and as the VFD Assistant Chief. He also served on various City boards and committees throughout much of his adult life. In 1985 he helped successfully organize and lead a citizens committee to change the City of Madison’s form of government. He was elected as Madison’s first City Councilman for District 1, then elected to serve as the first City Council President. During his term on the City Council, he also served as the interim Mayor of Madison for 28 days. During and after his term as City Councilman, he helped to organize and lead another special civic group tasked with studying the feasibility of the City of Madison’s own school system. This movement ultimately led to the formation of the Madison City Board of Education and the Madison City School system as it exists today. He was appointed by the Madison City Council to serve on the very first Madison City Board Education and served as its first Board President. Donald was a lifelong member of the Madison Methodist Church. He was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting, fishing, and horses. Especially English style foxhunting.

Donald was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Ann Hughes Spencer, and his father Donald Spencer. He is survived by his sister Patricia Spencer Ryan (Mike), his four children- Melissa Spencer Owen (Robert), Carol Spencer Swanson (Bruce), Donald H. Spencer, Jr. (Loree), and Matthew G. Spencer (Alicia), seven grandchildren- Jessica Myers, Taylor Owen, Emily Pendlum, Carly Swanson, Nick Spencer, Maddie Spencer, Meighan Winton, one niece- Rachel Ryan, and 5 great-grandchildren.

In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.