Preston Hugh Boutwell, Sr. has been a devoted businessman and community leader in Opp for 58 years. He has invested his entire life into establishing a reputable business that would not only provide a full-service gas and wrecker service but would also provide employment opportunities and job security for the citizens of Opp. Preston was born April 16, 1941, to Clemmie Rosco and Ethel Stinson Boutwell of Coffee County. The Boutwell Family transitioned to Covington County and settled in Opp in 1946. Preston has remained in Opp since that time, choosing to make Opp his “home.” He truly loves his city and his community.
As a young man, Preston worked his way through high school and college. He was Senior Class President of the 1960 graduating class of Opp High School. After graduation, he attended Troy State College where he studied business.
He married Shirley Alford in 1963. Preston and Shirley are blessed to have three wonderful children, eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. The three children, Leigh Hall; Carol Blair (Mitch); and Preston H. Boutwell, Jr. (Jan), currently reside in Opp and serve the community as teachers and business owners. The Opp Exxon and Wrecker Service began in 1963 as the Opp Esso Station. Adding one wrecker to the service in 1971, Preston expanded his total fleet of wreckers to five, both large and small with the capacity to assist the local trucking company.
Preston is not only an established businessman but has also served the community in similar appointments. He served for 25 years as a member of the Opp City School Board. He is a deacon and member of Southside Baptist Church. Additionally, Preston has coached and still supports Opp Parks and Recreation Services and has served as a member of the Emergency Service in Opp having been nominated as the Rescue Person of the Year.
It is a well-known fact that Preston loves ‘Bama’ football and on any given Saturday, he can be heard yelling, “Roll Tide!” You might say Preston and Alabama football are the “Real Thing.”
Preston Hugh Boutwell, Sr., has a generous nature and a true concern for human welfare. He is a local hero who does not ask for recognition, but who should be applauded for his contributions to the City of Opp, the church he serves, and the family he loves. Preston is a man who has spent his life working in Opp, working for the betterment of his city and community. If you should ask him today how he is doing, he will tell you, “I’ve never had a bad day in my life.” He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.
