Comeback Town: The George Barber I knew - a visionary who brought the world to Birmingham

Comeback Town is an opinion column exploring all things Birmingham. It is coordinated by David Sher. This week’s guest columnist is Don Erwin.

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By Don Erwin

Much has been written about the legacy of George Barber, but those public records only scratch the surface of the man I had the privilege to work with. My professional journey with George began after years of witnessing his vision take shape, starting in 1997 when I first stepped into the original Barber Museum in downtown Birmingham. What appeared to be a modest warehouse from the street was, in reality, 40,000 square feet of pure motorsports magic—a place so impressive that a German business prospect once canceled his remaining Atlanta appointments just ten minutes into our tour.

Building a Vision

As an economic developer who helped steer the Barber Museum & Park project, I eventually went to work for George directly. Financing the massive nonprofit venture—which cost tens of millions of dollars—was no small feat. George often remarked on the difficulty of his own mission, noting, “I’ve never worked so hard to give away so much money.” We navigated hurdles ranging from complex zoning negotiations with the City of Birmingham to vocal opposition from environmentalists. Yet, George remained a deeply committed environmentalist at heart, playing an instrumental role in the formation of the Alabama Nature Conservancy and leveraging millions of Barber’s Dairy milk cartons to support the creation of Forever Wild.

Innovation Over Competition

George didn't just want to build a track; he wanted to craft a masterpiece where technology and nature existed in harmony. While Birmingham debated the merits of a domed stadium, George looked toward a unique horizon. He prioritized projects where the city could stand alone rather than compete with dozens of others. This foresight allowed us to secure Porsche’s largest driving school in the world before the park even opened in January 2003. Later, the Indycar organization was so captivated by the facility that they began hosting an annual race, and in 2014, the Guinness World Records organization officially certified the Barber Museum as the world’s largest motorcycle museum.

A Lasting Impact

George’s influence extended deep into Birmingham’s fabric, particularly through his support for UAB, where he frequently observed the construction cranes from his home on Red Mountain as signs of local progress. He led with an uncompromising standard of excellence and a quirky, humble personality—from his refusal to buy overpriced iced tea to his daily habit of picking up litter to keep the park grounds pristine. He even famously drove a Honda minivan, telling curious schoolchildren that he didn't need anyone else to define what was cool.

George never married and had no children, but the team he assembled to manage his companies and the museum shares his spirit and vision. Even after my retirement in 2020, our bond remained strong. When I struggled with my second novel, he offered the simple, powerful advice: “Just keep working.” He even surprised me with a photo of himself reading my book, Buffalo Hunting in Alabama, while standing in the park he built. That was the George Barber I knew—a visionary who brought the world to Birmingham and a friend who pushed those around him to be their best.

Don Erwin was an economic developer for twelve years and worked for Barber Companies for almost eighteen years. He is the author of Buffalo Hunting in Alabama, a novel about the competition among cities and states to attract economic development projects. He lives in the Birmingham metro.