Everett was born in Anniston, AL and throughout his childhood, made many moves across the southeast – prompted by his father’s rise in the Ralston Purina Company. One of those moves took the family to Charlotte, SC where they lived down the street from the owner of WSOC. His father was an advertiser on Charlotte’s WBT, a 50,000 watt CBS station so, young Everett was allowed to visit and there he met local announcer Grady Cole who was also a syndicated radio star of the day.

Everett’s family moved back to Anniston in time for him to attend high school in his hometown. Interested in radio, he listened to WHMA. He met owner JW Buttram in his own backyard one afternoon. Buttram invited Everett to visit the station. At age 15, he did his first station break. He worked at the station through high school and wrote the “radio column” for the Anniston Star.

With every intention of becoming an architect, Everett wound up a University of Alabama broadcasting student, somewhat by accident. While visiting campus with friends, he encountered a faculty member who expounded on the broadcast program and encouraged him to visit the facilities while on campus that day. Everett left Tuscaloosa that afternoon as a University of Alabama student. He met and befriended Julius Talton while in school. The two worked for University Broadcasting Services. They launched the first sports show from the campus with guest Mel Allen who came down from New York to appear on the program. Their shows aired on WAPI and therefore on a statewide network.

Hoping to build on the relationship with WAPI in Birmingham, Everett applied there after graduation. By the end of the summer, he got a call to show up for work. Everett says the station “had a big time outlook.” They aired live soap operas, numerous shows on location and regular programming from the Cathedral Studio atop the Progressive Life building.

Over time, Everett held numerous roles with many responsibilities at the station. He was the face of many local companies as he represented them in live commercials. The list included Jazz Dog Food, Blue Cross Blue Shield, First National Bank and the Alabama Gas Corporation. He shot film, wrote news stories, sold airtime and reported the news on the WAPI radio stations, in addition to the TV station. At age 21, he was running the companies new Red Mountain facility without the Operations Manager title.

Everett left the stations for a two year stint in the Army in the mid 1950s. He was pulled out of basic training and sent to Washington, DC to head the Army’s Radio, TV and Motion Picture department. He was responsible for major productions on a weekly basis. The shows involved the biggest TV and film talent of the day and aired on the ABC network. (Everett continued his service with a number of assignments in the 87th US Army Maneuver Area Command and retired as a Brigadier General in 1985.)

He returned to WAPI after serving his two years at active duty in the military. His contributions mounted and eventually, Everett became the Public Affairs Director and later, Program Director. After more than four decades at the station, which became WVTM during his tenure, Everett retired in 1991.

Over the years, Everett has served on many Boards and was Chairman of a number of them. His many philanthropic interests include the following:

United Way Food Bank
Easter Seals
WBHM Advisory Board
Montevallo Foundation
Anniston Museum of Natural History
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Fellow at La Grange (GA) College
Salvation Army
Canterbury United Methodist Church
Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America

Member of the Executive Board, Heritage Society Member, James E. West Fellow; Awarded the Silver Beaver, Vulcan Merit Award, the Scouter’s Key, Scout Training Key, the Scout Master Award of Merit from NESA , District Award of Merit and he was a 2011 American Values Luncheon Honoree.