A representative of the buyer seeking to redevelop the former Judson College campus appeared at Tuesday’s council meeting and was introduced as “Ms. Dew” or “Ms. Duke.” The council’s resolution described the counterparty as “Judson College Properties, LLC, a Texas corporation.”
As of Wednesday morning, no entity by that exact or closely similar name appears in online searches of Alabama’s or Texas’s business registries, nor in Delaware’s database, where many special-purpose entities are formed. City officials said parties had signed non-disclosure agreements. They did not provide a use description for the campus.
Tuesday’s vote intersects with the Times-Standard-Herald’s earlier reporting. In November, based on reliable but limited information, this newspaper reported three key facts:
- The campus was under contract.
- The buyer was headquartered in Texas.
- The buyer was involved in the medical, pharmaceutical, or biotech sector.
Two of those points now appear borne out. The council action confirms that a contract is in place, and the entity described at the meeting was identified as Texas-based. The industry affiliation, however, has not yet been confirmed in any public document known to the newspaper as of press time.
In the wake of the vote, the Times-Standard-Herald contacted a list of companies and institutions associated with medical technology and supplies, pharmaceutical distribution, manufacturing, and/or training operations that match the broad rumors circulating locally about the project’s profile, and which have operations or investments in either Alabama, Texas, or both.
Eli Lilly, Evonik, PCCA, and Ancora Education each responded on the record to say they are not involved in the Marion project. As of press time, three major national distributors—McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Cencora—had not provided responses to our requests. Of those three, only McKesson is headquartered in Texas.
McKesson is one of three national giants that distribute prescription medicines and medical supplies to pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and health systems across the United States. The company is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and operates additional businesses in:
- Medical-surgical distribution
- Health-IT and prior-authorization technology (CoverMyMeds)
- A retail pharmacy franchise network (Health Mart)
The business already has operations in Alabama, with a pharmaceutical distribution facility in the Bessemer/McCalla area. Companies in McKesson’s sector typically use industrial parks for distribution and cold-chain logistics, while campus settings like Judson could conceivably be attractive for:
- Training and compliance
- Administrative operations
- IT and support services
- Specialized education partnerships
The business’s Texas headquarters, taken together with McKesson’s existing Alabama footprint in Jefferson County, is why the company has been considered a plausible candidate in our ongoing research. However, none of these indicators, standing alone, is proof of involvement, and companies frequently transact through affiliates or special-purpose entities formed in other states.
The Times-Standard-Herald has submitted open-records requests to:
- City of Marion
- Perry County Commission
- Perry County Airport & Industrial Authority
- Alabama Department of Commerce
- Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs
- Alabama Department of Revenue
None had produced records as of press time. By state law, a copy of the executed abatement agreement must be filed with the Department of Revenue within ninety days of approval, and we have asked the department to provide that filing when it is received.
