Mabel Amos Scholarship Fund Draws Scrutiny Over Regions Fees and Awards to Trustee’s Children

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A relative of former Alabama Secretary of State Mabel Amos has hired an attorney to look into the handling of a scholarship trust that bears Amos’ name and that, according to records, has paid Regions Bank more than $1 million in management fees.

What the records show

Between 2002 and 2018, Regions Bank received more than $1 million for managing the Mabel Amos Memorial Fund, according to IRS Form 990 filings from the fund. The filings show Regions averaged five hours of work per week on the fund and that the fund paid the bank close to half as much as it distributed in scholarships during that period.

The trust’s trustees are Regions Bank; Tom Albritton, executive director of the Alabama Ethics Commission; and Rick Clifton. According to the records, Albritton’s children received $105,000 in scholarships from the trust, which he helps manage.

Oil discovered on trust land

Leigh Manning, Amos’ grandniece, said oil was struck on trust property in Conecuh County in 2010.

“This is the deal. Obviously, oil was struck in 2010. The only person I ever talked to was John Bell. I talked to John Bell from 1999 on forward all the time about getting these kids through school,” Manning said, referring to a trustee who worked in Regions Bank’s trust division.

Manning has hired Montgomery attorney Thomas Gallion to look into the matter. Gallion has represented Manning’s mother before and said Amos was close to his parents.

Complaints filed

An ethics complaint, a petition for a writ of mandamus and a bar complaint have been filed regarding the trust, and copies were sent to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. No response from the agencies had been reported.

The complaints contain allegations that have not been ruled on by any agency or court, and no finding of wrongdoing has been made.