March 2021 | Volume 8 | Issue 11
VESTAVIAVOICE.COM
VESTAVIA HILLS’ COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE
Lasting Legacy
FULL SPEED AHEAD
From leading UAB to leading the city of Vestavia Hills as a two-term mayor, Dr. Charles “Scotty” McCallum seldom made the work about him.
See page A12
Strong Bonds
Sean Calhoun, the Vestavia Hills High School head football coach, stands at the 50-yard-line at Buddy Anderson Field. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Rebels leaning on big senior class as they enter into 2021 softball season.
See page B7
INSIDE Sponsors .......... A4 News ..................A6 Business .......... A16 Chamber ......... A21 Community..... A22
Events ............. A22 Schoolhouse......B4 Sports.................B6 Real Estate Guide..............B11
Sean Calhoun feels like he’s a ‘good fit’ to take over Rebels football program By KYLE PARMLEY
S
cattered across Sean Calhoun’s desk in a makeshift office are somewhere around a dozen sticky notes. On those sticky notes are reminders of all the different things Calhoun needs to do that day: send an email to parents, call an interior designer,
talk to last year’s team mom, figure out how to transport the ninth grade football players to the main campus … the list goes on and on. There is plenty to do for Calhoun, the new head coach of the Vestavia Hills High School football program. Calhoun is the first new head man for the Rebels in 44 years and just the seventh head coach in program history. Buddy Anderson retired last fall after 43 extremely
successful years leading the Rebels, amassing 346 wins along the way. Calhoun began his tenure Jan. 19 and has been full speed ahead ever since. “The only way I know how to do stuff is jump in the deep end and jump right in,” he said. “It’s been an awesome journey so far, and I know it’s
See CALHOUN | page A27
2 longtime Vestavia Hills pastors announce retirement
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By NEAL EMBRY
Danny Wood, the longtime pastor at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, sits in the front pew of the worship center. Photo by Erin Nelson.
After more than 20 years serving their respective churches, Gary Furr and Danny Wood are stepping away this year, with the former retiring from Vestavia Hills Baptist Church and the latter from Shades Mountain Baptist Church. Furr retired Feb. 28, while Wood will retire in August.
DANNY WOOD
When Wood and his wife, Janice, moved to Mobile in 1983, they built their dream house, Wood said. “This is where we’ll be forever,” Wood recalled saying at the time. Six months later, Wood resigned his position with the former South Central
See PASTORS | page A26