A veteran Alabama journalist who covered the state’s biggest business news for decades is being remembered by friends and colleagues for his far-reaching influence in the media industry and economic development.

Jerry Underwood, who was 65 when he died on Nov. 2, was a former reporter and business editor at The Birmingham News, where he helped chronicle significant milestones in the state’s modern economic history, including the emergence of the automotive industry and the reshaping of banking and retail landscapes.

For the last 13 years, he worked for Birmingham-based public relations and advertising agency Big Communications, as part of the team that designed and developed the Made In Alabama brand and website in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Commerce.

In that role, Und

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