Savannah, GA – The Citadel Alumni Association has chosen Al Kennickell as the 2016 Citadel Alumni of the year.  Al attended The Citadel on a football scholarship after graduating from Jenkins High School in Savannah, GA in 1973.  After graduating from The Citadel in 1977, he returned to Savannah to enter his family’s printing business.  In 1981 he purchased Kennickell Printing Company from his family and built the business, now called The Kennickell Group, into an internationally recognized company doing business worldwide.

Using leadership skills learned at The Citadel, Al has been very active in the business community in Savannah.  Al has been chairman of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Savannah Sports Council, the Savannah Executives Association, the Savannah Foundation, and the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.   He has also been the president of the Chatham Club, the Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club and Senior Warden of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.  For twelve years he was the chairman of the PGA Tour’s Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf and is currently a trustee for the Heritage Classic Foundation, the organization that runs the RBC Heritage Classic on Hilton Head Island.

Al is currently in the middle of a two year term as president of the Brigadier Foundation of The Citadel, where he was instrumental in hiring current executive director Rob Hoak, a former banker in Savannah.  Working with Rob and his staff, they have made many positive changes in the organization that have led to unprecedented success at the Brigadier Foundation with records set in money raised and membership levels.

Al is a lifetime member of The Citadel Alumni Association, and also a member of The Citadel Football Association, The Diamond Dogs, and the Brigadier Foundation.  He has opened his home for many Citadel events over the last 30 years, and has donated his beach house to the coaching staff to enjoy vacations on Tybee Island, Georgia.  

 “Al Kennickell’s history of service to The Citadel and other organizations has been truly remarkable,” said Willis Tisdale, Vice President of The Citadel Alumni Association. “His willingness to donate his time to so many causes, while running an internationally known company brings great honor and positive recognition to our alma mater and our alumni. His hard work and determination shows his dedication to the core values of The Citadel. This has not gone unnoticed.”