About A.G. Gaston
Birmingham entrepreneur and businessman A.G. Gaston (1892-1996) was one of the most successful African American businessmen in Alabama. Gaston overcame humble beginnings to build a far-reaching, multimillion-dollar business empire which included banking, construction, real estate, hospitality, burial insurance, cemeteries and radio stations.
He was famous for saying his business dealings were based on “finding a need and filling it.” His philanthropic efforts were as well. And in 1966, Dr. Gaston founded A.G. Gaston Boys Club after seeing a need for a place where boys could gather, learn life lessons and receive academic help. Girls were eventually allowed to join as well.
Dr. Gaston died in 1996 at the age of 103, but his legacy lives on throughout Birmingham as well as at the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club.