HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - They have changed the way we spend our evenings, the way our children are taught, the way our city is perceived globally. They have improved the lives of the less-fortunate, moved figurative mountains and been voices for the unheard.

They also assured that The Huntsville Times/AL.com staff would have one ginormous task and monumental debate.

Our project: "Eleven Influential Individuals In Huntsville."

To that, we attached a few asterisks. We decided it could not be an absolute, as "The Most." Some things are impossible -- and some things are even more difficult than that. The list would not include elected officials. It should be broad-based influence, on how we have been shaped as a community politically and socially and economically. Our list should be diverse, from the business to arts, education to religion, military to medicine.

Members of our staff were asked to submit nominees. We huddled and soon smothered a whiteboard with more than 70 names. As the week grew, so did the list. And so did the debates.

A simple dictionary definition of influence is "the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something."

Not long ago, Mayor Tommy Battle was talking about one of the nominees: "He is one of those people when they move through this community, they make a difference."

That sentence impeccably defines every name on the cluttered whiteboard in our conference room.

This list is more an argument-starter than anything conclusive. It is subjective. (If you like the list, well, keep in mind the guy whose photo runs with this story. If you disagree, remember, it was a staff project.) Like a great football team, heck, our second 11 might be good enough to beat our first 11.

They might be someone almost constantly in the headlines - hello, again, Dr. Wardynski - or someone you've barely met. These are people who have wielded their influence more with action and passion than a checkbook.

Our Eleven Influential list includes:

Dorothy Davidson, CEO, Davidson Technologies

Brig. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy chief of staff, Army Materiel Command

Chad Emerson, CEO, Downtown Huntsville Inc.

Pastor Troy Garner, Fellowship of Faith Church

Jim Hudson, co-founder, Hudson Alpha Institute of Biotechnology

Debra Jenkins, executive director, Merrimack Hall

David Person, radio host and USA Today columnist

Joe Ritch, attorney and chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority board

David Spillers, CEO, Huntsville Hospital

Casey Wardynski, Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools

If you only count 10, you're correct. There was one last thing about our office vote. Since it was our project, we could make up our own rules. Thus, for our last entry, we have a troika of brewers - Ethan Couch of Yellowhammer, Michael Spratley of Blue Pants and Dan Perry of Straight to Ale -- lumped together as "Brew Crew." The business of boutique beers is booming here.

So, that in mind, to the 11 on our list and the 70-plus on the "also receiving votes" list, we'd offer up a "Cheers!"

And, for how you've made this a better place to live, a collective thanks.

Here's our list of the 75 most influential:

Dr. Robert Altenkirch, President, University of Alabama in Huntsville

Nancy Archuleta, President Pope John Paul II Catholic High, civic leader

Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO, Space & Rocket Center

Dr. Marilyn Beck, President, Calhoun Community College

Bill Billions, President, Hollywood Huntsville

John Blue, real estate developer and designer

Jim Bolte, President, Toyota Motors Manufacturing, Alabama

Jim Boyce, famed chef, founder of Boyce Restaurant Concepts

Bobby Bradley, CEO, The Village of Promise and partner in Genesis II

Louis Breland, real estate developer

Joey Ceci, Commerce, Transportation and Legislative Director for Madison County

Chip Cherry, CEO, Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce

Ethan Couch, general manager, Yellowhammer Brewery

Bud Cramer, Washington lobbyist, retired U.S. Representative

Brig. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy chief of staff, Army Materiel Command

Dorothy Davidson, CEO, Davidson Technologies

Shane Davis, Director of Urban Development, City of Huntsville

Allison Dillon-Jauken, executive director, The Arts Council

David Driscoll, President, The Driscoll Group, public relations

Chad Emerson, CEO, Downtown Huntsville Inc.

Jeff Enfinger, real estate developer, political leader

Joe Fitzgerald, Civilian Aide to Secretary of the Army

Marcia Freeland, Executive Director, Lowe Mill

Pastor Troy Garner, Fellowship of Faith Church

Gene Goldman, Aerojet executive director for Southeast Space Operations

Margaret Ann Goldsmith, philanthropist and president, I. Schiffman Company

Parker Griffith, political figure

Jim Hudson, cofounder, HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology

Jimmy Hudson, CityScapes

Dr. Pam Hudson, CEO, Crestwood Medical Center

Dr. Andrew Hugine, President, Alabama A&M University

Alan Jenkins, real estate developer and founder, InterSouth Properties

Debra Jenkins, executive director, Merrimack Hall

Pastor T.C. Johnson, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church

Ray Jones, CEO, G.W. Jones & Sons Consulting Engineers

Michelle Jordan, Director of Planning, City of Huntsville

Wally Kirkpatrick, founder DESE Research

Peter Lowe, President, G.W. Jones & Sons Real Estate

Bob Ludwig, President and Interim CEO, BizTech

Dennis Madsen, Manager of Urban and Long-Range Planning, City of Huntsville

David Martin, restaurateur

Todd May, program manager, NASA Space Launch Systems

Mark McDaniel, attorney, member of President's Council at UAH, congressional adviser on space issues.

Hugh McInnish, Republican leader

Joy McKee, director, Landscape Management, City of Huntsville

Scott McLain, real estate developer, heads Constellation Project

Gen. Patricia McQuistion, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command

Jerry Mitchell, executive director, North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Oscar Montgomery, pastor, Union Hill Primitive Baptist Church

Roy Nichols, chairman, Torch Technologies, Inc.

Dan Perry, co-founder, Straight to Ale Brewery

David Person, journalist and director of communications, Phoenix Inc.

Elbert Peters, Republican leader

Bill Propst Sr., founder, Vintage Pharmaceuticals

Steve Raby, owner, Direct Communications, and political operative

Joe Ritch, attorney and Chairman of the Board, TVA

Ashley Ryals, owner, Homegrown Huntsville

Judy Ryals, CEO, Huntsville Convention & Visitors Bureau

Alice Sams, president, NAACP local chapter

Sarah Savage, president, CEO, Leadership Huntsville-Madison County

Patrick Scheuermann, director, Marshall Space Flight Center

Rev. Julius Scruggs, pastor, First Missionary Baptist Church

Charlie Sealy, vice president, Sealy Management

Todd and David Slyman, developers of Providence

David Spillers, CEO, Huntsville Hospital

Michael Spratley, Blue Pants Brewery co-owner

John Stallworth, co-founder Genesis II, part-owner Pittsburgh Steelers

Tom Stanton, CEO, AdTran

Jay Stowe, President and CEO, Huntsville Utilities

Steve Tate, agricultural leader and insuror

Tim Troutman, Senior Meteorologist, National Weather Service

Rick Tucker, executive director, Huntsville International Airport

Gen. Dennis Via, Commander, U.S. Army Materiel Command

Mike Ward, Senior Vice President, Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Casey Wardynski, Superintendent, Huntsville City Schools