I lost my dad in 2002. He was a humble man in many regards. At his funeral, it was said by many that he was ahead of his time in fathering. What they meant was that he was an involved dad. My mother did not love the “baby stage” my brother, sister and I went through. She preferred more developed human beings. My dad knew this and stepped up to the plate. … [Read more...]
A Legacy of Nature: Bill Ireland Named Antiques at the Gardens Honoree, Says He’s Continuing Family Philanthropic Legacy
By Wendy Wallace JohnsonBill Ireland jokingly calls himself a “reluctant gardener,” but as he scrolls through photos of flowers in bloom and freshly cut boxwoods in the English-style gardens at his recently purchased Redmont Park home, it’s clear that an appreciation for gardens was passed down from his mother, Fay, a prodigious gardener with deep roots in Birmingham … [Read more...]
To Dream the Impossible Dream: Moondance Adventures is About the Destination and the Journey
By Lee HurleyMay is a busy time for Moondance Adventures founder Hayes Hitchens and his 180 leaders. They are in staff training at Camp Wayfarer, in North Carolina, preparing themselves mentally, physically and philosophically for the nearly 2,000 students they will lead on a cornucopia of travel adventures this summer from Alaska to Zanzibar. This may … [Read more...]
‘Team Effort’: Mountain Brook Girls Repeat Triple Crown Feat With Outdoor Track Title
By Rubin E. GrantThe Mountain Brook girls track team didn’t rack up a bunch of individual gold medals, but it still won the Class 6A state championship for the third consecutive year.The Spartans amassed 114 points to claim the title comfortably in the 100th AHSAA State Track and Field Championships May 2-4 at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. Fort Payne was a distant second … [Read more...]
‘Everybody Contributed’: Hoover Sweeps Outdoor Track State Championships
By Rubin E. GrantHoover track coach Chris Schmidt believes it wasn’t just the way his athletes performed but also how they cheered that enabled the Bucs to sweep the Class 7A boys and girls state titles in the 100th AHSAA State Track and Field Championships May 2-4 at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.Hoover dominated the boys competition, scoring 156.5 points, easily … [Read more...]