By Lee DavisJim Lawrence’s professorial looks and soft-spoken manner give him the appearance of a college dean or a teacher. In fact, Lawrence has been both. But he is much more than that. The Vestavia Hills resident is a war hero – even though he disputes that description. Lawrence, a Troy native, had just graduated from The Citadel in South Carolina when he decided … [Read more...]
A Life in Politics: OTM Legislator Looks Back on 50 Years but Isn’t Done Yet
By Sarah KuperSen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, has served the Over the Mountain area in an elected capacity for 50 years, but his political aspirations began before he ever ran for office. “My father served on the city commission in the 1950s, so we would all sit around the dinner table and talk politics and government,” Waggoner said. At the recent Jubilee for … [Read more...]
WWII Vet Running Coast-to-Coast to Raise Money for Ship Restoration
By Sarah KuperAt 93 years old, WWII veteran Ernie Andrus is on the verge of breaking the record for the oldest person to run from one coast of the United States to the other. Andrus isn't running to break a record, but rather to restore a piece of WWII history. His run is an effort to raise money to help repair the USS LST 325 so it can make the trip back across the … [Read more...]
More Than Insurance: Cahaba Heights Agency Helped Put the Community Back Together After Tornadoes
By Sarah KuperIt was five years ago that Russell Greenhalgh realized the significance of his family's business. As an insurance agency, Greenhalgh Insurance dealt firsthand with the destruction of the April 27, 2011, tornadoes that touched down in Cahaba Heights. "People often say they can't stand insurance, but this was a time we were able to think, ‘This is why we … [Read more...]
Of Coaches and Logos: Times of Change Come to Vestavia
By Lee Davis The news at Vestavia Hills last week was all about two coaches and one new logo. First, the good news. Rebel athletic director Jeff Segars moved swiftly and decisively with the recommendation to the Board of Education to hire two new coaches to direct Vestavia’s boys basketball and wrestling programs. In both cases Segars was replacing veteran coaches with … [Read more...]