Dr. Reginald Swanson, the longtime Birmingham dentist, entrepreneur, and civic fixture, has died.

Swanson died Sunday following an extended illness. He was 67.

Swanson opened his dental clinic in 1981 in Birmingham’s Pratt City neighborhood where was raised. He remained in business for nearly 44 years.

He began the practice in a vacant house that he and his brothers refurbished to convert into a dental office.

Swanson remained committed to his home community and demonstrated his affection by reinvesting there, said longtime friend Gary Richardson.

“Most of his work and investment has been in the Pratt City area,” said Richarson, who is mayor of Midfield and owner of WJLD radio. “He was genuine. He was about uplifting his people and he cared about his community.”

Swanson over the years was a regular caller to Richardson’s morning talk show to discuss politics and community issues. His absence in recent weeks was noticeable as other callers inquired about his health.

A 1974 graduate of Jackson-Olin High School, Swanson completed studies at UAB as a Merit Scholar with honors, then graduated from the UAB School of Dentistry.

Richardson and Swanson became friends in high school.

“We got a chance to talk a lot because he was a trainer on the football team and I was on the bench,” he said. “We had a mutual love of the sport.”

Even then, Richardson said Swanson remained committed to a strong academic track.

“Reginald was always a serious guy. He was mature beyond his age. He was goal oriented, and he was sincere,” Richardson said.

As an entrepreneur, Swanson diversified his business interests to include Magnolia Terrace, a senior living community in Pratt City. The 40-unit development is named in honor of his mother Magnolia Swanson.

He was guided by a set of business and life principles.

‘”Start where you are, use what you’ve got and do what you can.’” Richarson said, recalling Swanson’s credo.

He also believed that every family needed an independent economic engine beyond a daily job, and everyone should have savings in the bank.

Swanson battled various illnesses throughout his life, including having his leg amputated as a child. Still, he pushed beyond his physical limitations to achieve his goals.

Swanson ran for Birmingham City Council in 2017. He previously served as a chair of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority and volunteered in a prison ministry where he provided free dental services to inmates at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer.

“He is the standard by which I measure my friends,” Richardson said.

Dr. Swanson’s funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Pratt City with burial in Oakland Cemetery. Public viewing is today from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Arrington Funeral Home in Birmingham.