Bringing Madison forward.
A
More for you – in Madison In just six years, Madison Hospital grew another floor. Today, with the fifth floor completion, 30 new patient rooms expand the hospital to 90 rooms to serve the growing number of Madison residents. More for you and your family – when you need us most.
madisonALhospital.org
We focus on the bigger picture... Investing in Madison IBERIABANK is proud to support charitable, educational and cultural organizations in Madison. Together, with local community leaders, we focus on the bigger picture‌investing in making Madison a better place to live, work and play.
Mary Lynne Wright President Madison Hospital
Daniel Kasambira Executive Director Hogan Family YMCA Paul Finley Mayor City of Madison
Robby Parker Superintendent Madison City Schools
Pam Honeycutt Executive Director Madison Chamber of Commerce
53 Hughes Road, Madison | (256) 519-4360 | 400 Meridian Street, Suite 108 | (256) 519-4340 4700 Whitesburg Drive SW, Suite 150 | (256) 519-4300 www.iberiabank.com
MANAGEMENT GEOFF REIS General Manager EDITORIAL REBEKAH MARTIN Managing Editor
Progress Bringing Madison forward.
A Special Publication of The Madison Record
ALISON JAMES Copy Editor GREGG PARKER
Staff Writer STEPHANIE ROBERTSON Staff Writer MARKETING ASHLEY DAVIS
8
BRIAN CLAYTON
14
CHIP LINDSEY
18
LOUIS BRELAND
22
PAM HONEYCUTT
28
THE PATEL FAMILY
34
PÉTER VERES
38
ROBERT BLACK
42
TOM MCKINNEY
Marketing Consultant JAN BROMLEY Marketing Consultant PHOTOGRAPHER JOSHUA BERRY CUSTOMER SERVICE KAYLA TAYLOR HARRISON Madison Publications, LLC P.O. Box 859 Madison, AL 35758 Advertising Inquiries 256-772-6677 Progress Magazine is published annually by Madison Publications, LLC. PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 5
PUT MORE IN. GET MORE OUT OF LIFE. We all want more. More energy. More strength. More results. Orangetheory is designed to give you that, and more. Our workout changes you at the cellular level, and is scientifically proven to give you a longer, more vibrant life.
60-MINUTE, HEART RATE-BASED GROUP WORKOUT WALK/JOG/RUN CATEGORIES SO YOU CAN SET YOUR OWN PACE SCIENTIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR MORE ENERGY, STRENGTH AND VITALITY
Book your ďŹ rst class at ORANGETHEORYFITNESS.COM
0SBOHFUIFPSZ 'JUOFTT )XZ 8FTU .BEJTPO "- OrangetheoryÂŽ, OTFÂŽ and other OrangetheoryÂŽ marks are registered trademarks of Ultimate Fitness Group LLC. ŠCopyright 2018 Ultimate Fitness Group LLC and/or its afďŹ liates.
You love this town, this neighborhood, this house!
Then you’ll love this bank.
MEMBER FDIC
For a great foundation to your new start, come to Progress Bank for your mortgage. You’ll find competitive rates with quick-turn, in-house decisions and closing. But our true value is in welcoming you to our community, our banking family. New beginnings to last a lifetime. Experience Progress.
Sharon Andrews Mortgage Officer NMLS# 243731 256.319.4915 o 256.509.5626 c 8337 Highway 72 Madison
Birmingham • Decatur • Destin • Florence • Huntsville • Inlet Beach • Jones Valley • Madison • Vestavia
myprogressbank.com
BRIAN
CLAYTON 8
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
Clayton ranks as Alabama
PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER
Clayton is a native of Eutaw, and his wife Karen grew up in Phil Campbell. She works as a counselor at Liberty. Their sons are Battle, a junior at James Clemens, and Landers, who is a freshman.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY
Dr.
Brian Clayton has gained yet another honor for the James Clemens High School community by his distinction as Alabama Principal of the Year. “I was nominated at the district level of the Alabama Association of School Principals in the fall of 2017. There are eight districts in the state who each had a nominee,” Clayton explained. “The eight of us went through an extensive interview at AASSP’s Fall Conference. I was fortunate enough to be selected from that group as the 2018 AASSP Principal of the Year.” Clayton said his selection as Principal of the Year holds great meaning to him, especially because fellow educators chose him and realize the demands of the job. “I’ve always said that being selected by your peers is a very nice award,” Clayton said. “Your peers know what it is like to be secondary principal and the daily challenges you face.”
In summer 2018, the Council for Leaders of Alabama Schools will recognize Clayton at a meeting in Mobile. In fall 2018, he will attend a conference by the National Association of Secondary School Principals to compete for National Principal of the Year. On campus at James Clemens, Clayton and his staff do not accept the status quo for students. “Our curriculum is ever-evolving to meet the needs of the 21st-century learner,” he said. “We will have new courses that will be offered this year. We are also always trying to improve the programs and curriculum offerings we have.”
Enrollment in Madison City Schools is expanding continuously, and many families are moving to new neighborhoods in proximity to James Clemens campus. “I always believe that our school system and city leaders do a great job of planning for growth. Superintendent Robby Parker is working very hard to establish and communicate a strategic plan,” Clayton said. Ten years in the future, how will James Clemens change? “That’s a very difficult question to answer due to the ever-changing world that we live in,” Clayton said. “I want us to have the wisdom to take the data we have and PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 9
cater our offerings to the needs of our students to compete at a high level in a global society.” Clayton has served as principal of James Clemens since June 2012. As a new high school’s first principal, Clayton faced a professional and personal challenge of “developing the culture of the school that was based on leadership and learning. We had to make sure that all stakeholders were on the same page.” During his career, Clayton has taught and coached at Greensboro West and Hale County high schools. His first experience as an administrator was at Hale County as an assistant principal. He has also worked as principal at Thomasville High School, Tuscaloosa and Rock Quarry middle schools and Liberty Middle School. In James Clemens’ history, Clayton has prioritized 10 career academies, 26 advanced-placement courses, 14 sports, a theatre program and band options. At the University of Alabama, Clayton earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in secondary math, along with education specialist and doctorate degrees in administration. He received the Walter Kimbrough Scholarship from AASSP. Clayton is a native of Eutaw, and his wife Karen grew up in Phil Campbell. She works as a counselor at Liberty. Their sons are Battle, a junior at James Clemens, and Landers, who is a freshman.
10
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
CHIP
LINDSEY 14
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
CHIP LINDSEY
makes mark in Auburn football
WRITTEN BY BOB LABBE PHOTOGRAPH CONTRIBUTED
C
hip Lindsey declared the 2017 Auburn University football season a fun year. “I had a lot of fun being a part of something special within our program,” he said. Lindsey, the offensive coordinator for the Tigers and a 1992 graduate of Bob Jones High, said the season featured what could be called an up-and-down year. The Tigers lost four games on the season, including the final two to Georgia and Central Florida. They also lost early season games to Clemson and LSU. Wrapped around those losses, however, was an incredible run that featured big-game victories over Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama.
With the 26-14 domination of Alabama came the banner of SEC West champions, a spot in the SEC Championship Game and a repeat game against Georgia. “To be a part of a team that did those incredible feats and made it to the SEC title game was special,” said Lindsey, who now lives not far from the Auburn campus and Jordan-Hare Stadium. “We played well toward the tail end of the season, and beating Alabama was a good win for our program.” Now the 2017 campaign is in the records books. The Tigers posted more than 6,000 yards of offense behind the play of quarterback Jarrett Stidham and SEC Offensive Player of the Year running back Kerryon Johnson. Lindsey is busy on the recruiting trail, gathering as much high
school talent as possible. He either drives or flies to his annual visits to numerous elite athletes and their families and high school coaches. Though his treks across much of the Southeast – and as far away as California – take him away from his wife, Cecily, and their four children, recruiting is still one of the highlights for Lindsey. “I love the chance to meet new players and their families. We have a good cycle of recruiting during different times of the year,” he said. “My father was a pilot, and I love to fly when I can. We evaluate the players we are looking at and get with the coordinators of each part of our coaching divisions, with the ultimate final decision made by head coach (Gus) Malzahn.”
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 15
Looking back on the just-completed season, in which the Tigers were undefeated at home, Lindsey said he loves returning to his home after a victory. He and his family relax by sitting on the back porch, and he sometimes will watch other games on TV. “We have this 12hour period when we celebrate a victory and relax before getting back into the work schedule,” he said. “There’s nothing like getting a win at home. I usually order a Pizza Hut meat lovers pizza and drink a Mountain Dew on ice.” Although the Tigers will be losing several key offensive players in 2018 – including Johnson, the
“TO BE A PART OF A TEAM THAT DID THOSE INCREDIBLE FEATS AND MADE IT TO THE SEC TITLE GAME WAS SPECIAL."
— CHIP LINDSEY former Madison Academy High superstar who has chosen to enter the NFL Draft – Lindsey said he is extremely comfortable with the nucleus of the team expected back this spring. Spring practice is what the 42-year-old Lindsey said he enjoys most about his position as offensive coordinator. “I like all of our practice sessions, especial-
A good neighbor has your back. Tim Barron, Agent 151 Hughes Road Madison, AL 35758 Bus: 256-772-0136 tim.barron.lzjv@statefarm.com
1606040
16
PROGRESS
Life’s a combination of good days and bad. I have your back for both. And who has my back? The company more people have trusted for 90 years. CALL ME TODAY.
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
ly in the spring, as it gives us a chance to slow down a bit and enables the coaches to teach certain fundamentals of the sport, said Lindsey. “That gives us opportunities to learn our players in a different way than other facets of the football program.” When it comes to the future of Auburn football, Lindsay added, “I feel the best days are still ahead.”
F
IV
EA
RS
$Q 2IÀFLDO 1$6$ 9LVLWRU &HQWHU
Y EC E ONSECUTIV
More than 1,500 artifacts from America’s achievements in space exploration! Huntsville, Alabama • (800) 637-7223 • www.rocketcenter.com
LOUIS
BRELAND 18
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
MASTER PLAN FOR CLIFT FARM calls for development and preservation WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE L. ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPH CONTRIBUTED
W
hen traveling Highway 72 through Madison, drivers can’t miss the expanse of farmland directly across the street from the Target Shopping Center and Madison Hospital. This is the Clift land, which has been in the Clift family since
the 1830s when John Henry Clift bought parts of the property. From Highway 72, the 500-acre farm – the farmhouse, silos, outbuildings, ponds and Knox Creek – hides behind a lush barrier of cedar trees. When shopping at CVS Pharmacy at the corner of Wall-Triana and Balch, it is common to see Black Angus cattle grazing inside a wire fence directly across the road. The cattle lie beneath an-
cient oak trees and gaze out toward the highway. It’s one thing that makes Madison so unique – the juxtaposition of old Madison farmland with busy shopping centers. In December 2017, the Clift patriarch – 99-year-old Jack Clift – sold the property to Louis Breland of the Breland Companies after reviewing development proposals for the property with his family.
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 19
The Buyer Louis Breland, originally of Mobile, is the owner and president of Breland Companies, which he established in 1976. After high school, Breland immediately went to real estate school. “I think I was 18 years old when I built my first house. I’ve done nothing else but real estate,” said Breland. Prior to moving to Madison County, Breland Companies was one of the top builders and developers in the Mobile and Baldwin County area. “We have been one of the leading – and in most cases, the leading – residential developer throughout Alabama, Mississippi and the panhandle of Florida,” said Breland, who has made Madison County his home for more than 30 years. “It’s a great place to do business.” Breland is the father of Jody Breland Donald and Karl Breland. He has two grandchildren, with a third on the way. Karl handles all land development activities for the company, and Breland’s wife, Patty, is a broker for the company. “She’s my rock who keeps everything together,” said Breland. The Brelands are committed to the community of Madison. “We try to give back because
20
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
we care about Madison, and we care about the future of Madison,” he said. The Seller “The Clift property sale really came about by coincidence. Through a mutual friend, we met Mr. Clift, who had held onto the property for many generations,” said Breland. Breland said Clift and his late wife, Lillian, “were incredible stewards of the property.” When talking to Breland about Clift, one cannot help but note the great admiration and respect Breland has for the nonagenarian. “If you spend much time with Mr. Clift, he will make you a better person,” said Breland. “Mr. Clift truly cares about other people. He is a very, very unselfish man. He’s a World War II veteran and can tell you the exact time he jumped out of an airplane behind enemy lines.” The Potential Breland said he is committed to preserving the 500-plus acres of Clift land. “Some people may never want it developed, and I can understand that,” he said. “But we plan on making it an exceptional community. I have given Mr. Clift and his family my word.”
After a nationwide search, Smith Gee Studio was selected to develop the property. Smith Gee Studio is an innovative land planning and architecture firm in Nashville that is charged with taking the Clifts’ land from a blank slate to a nationally-recognized mixed-use community. The Clift Legacy Breland said he respects the unique and special history of the farm he is now developing. For now, ancient oaks that have been here longer than any Madison resident stand sentinel on the Clift land, waiting for the big changes that are coming. Breland said Breland Companies will be good curators of the property and mindful of its greenspace designed with walking trails and parks. “It’s 500 acres of well-preserved farm land that’s been lovingly cared for by the Clift family,” said Breland. “It’s got a natural stream at the back of the property that’s absolutely beautiful. We plan to carry on that tradition of preservation with lots of green space, walking trails and parks, along with retail and residential developments that will be sustainable over time.”
Are you turning 65 or older soon? It’s time to get a great Medicare Supplement.
FirstCommunity has great benefits at a low cost. Seniors know that Medicare only covers about 80% of your eligible expenses. That means seniors need a Medicare supplement to help fill that gap. FirstCommunity Medicare Supplement is the preferred choice for thousands of North Alabama seniors. Call us today.
rs . a n s we e l p m i S s s u re . No p re t i o n ! ig a No o bl
Excellent Coverage U Choose Your Own Doctor U Local Office - talk to a real person U Lower premiums than BCBS C+ U NO Copays (unlike Advantage Plans) U First&Fit program just for members U SM
MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT 256-532-2783 or 1-800-734-7826 699-A Gallatin Street Huntsville, AL 35801
www.firstcomm.org
Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation of insurance.
PAM
HONEYCUTT 22
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
PAM HONEYCUTT:
‘We work to make Madison better’ WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE L. ROBERTSON
Pam Honeycutt, executive director for the Madison Chamber of Commerce, has always been a leader. While she was growing up outside the Philadelphia area, if anyone asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, Honeycutt would invariably answer, “In charge.” Her first step in reaching this goal was to attend Georgia Tech, her family’s alma mater, where she earned a degree in business management. “I love management. I love leadership,” Honeycutt said. “I’m very driven to develop people and work as a team to make something better. Here, at the Madison Chamber of Commerce, we work to make Madison better.” Honeycutt worked for Avocent for 23 years, and her last position there was director of internal communications. “I made sure our employees had the resources, tools and information they needed to do their jobs,” she explained. She does similar work at the Chamber. “Instead of employees, I have member businesses,” she said. “We’re trying to make sure
they have all the tools, resources and information they need to grow their businesses.” Honeycutt accepted the position at Madison Chamber of Commerce almost two years ago. “I moved to Madison when I joined the Chamber,” she said. “I had been living in Huntsville for about 25 years, and when this opportunity came open, I knew I needed to be a part of Madison to best serve.” Honeycutt has three grown step-children and one son, a freshman at Auburn who is studying architecture.
businesses so they can thrive and grow,” Honeycutt said. “We partner with local media to provide lower cost advertising and marketing options than many members would be able to afford on their own. Plus, members can advertise to our 3,000-plus member e-distribution list very affordably. “We hold monthly networking events that are free to attend and sponsor four major events a year that members can participate in to gain exposure for their businesses,” she added. “It’s really all about providing affordable opportunities to allow our businesses to shine.”
Benefits of Chamber Membership The Madison Chamber of Commerce partners with its members to provide programs, events and networking opportunities to facilitate economic success. Honeycutt said the Chamber understands what it takes to help businesses succeed in Madison. Honeycutt acknowledged that many Chamber members are small business owners who operate within budget restraints. “The Chamber provides affordable networking, advertising and marketing opportunities for local
Clift’s Land Sale Honeycutt said the Madison Chamber of Commerce greatly anticipates the development of the Clifts’ 500-acre property by Louis Breland’s team. “We’re very excited, because that’s going to bring in more businesses to Madison.” Honeycutt explained that the new development will provide many new choices for Madison residents, such as dining, shopping, housing and medical services. Rather than venturing outside of Madison, residents will be able to get their needs met without leaving town. PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 23
“The more options we have here in Madison, the stronger our community will be,” she said. “Madison really needs that. The more options people have for servicing all their needs here in their local community, the better it is for Madison.” Toyota/Mazda Plant The Chamber is also highly anticipating the new Toyota/Mazda automotive manufacturing plant, Honeycutt added. “I think that’s a win-win, too,” she said. “The plant will have access to our highly-skilled workforce and our amazing quality of life – and, again, it’s going to help Madison grow. It will provide our adult workforce great employment
opportunities and our graduating high school seniors, as well.” Honeycutt said this new development will offer graduates “more career choices after high school, including an excellent opportunity to pursue a manufacturing career.” Town Madison and the Stadium Town Madison will be a new mixed-use community built around Madison’s new stadium/ multi-use facility. It will offer dining, shopping, entertaining and working environments. “We’re very pleased to see construction beginning for Town Madison,” Honeycutt said. “When complete, it will be a true desti-
nation spot, enabling families to spend the day enjoying entertainment, shopping and dining.” The Chamber recently held a groundbreaking for the first building going up at Town Madison, Home2 Suites by Hilton. Honeycutt said she anticipates the hotel being built in a year or so, with the stadium scheduled for completion at the close of 2019 and baseball park beginning in 2020. Contact For more information about the Madison Chamber of Commerce, visit www.madisonalchamber.com. The Chamber is located inside the YMCA building at 130 Park Square Lane in Madison.
AS POWERFUL AND AS YOU ARE.
E w p i r y o
Every Alfa is a union of technology with an exceptional power-to-weight ratio, providing class-leading Performance n terms of speed, acceleration and roadholding. As poweful and unique as you are, experience the sheer pleasure of driving an Alfa today.
Stelvio
Guilia
4C
65 23 UNIVERSIT Y DR NW, SUITE A | HUNTSVILLE, AL 35 806 8 5 5 -2 7 5 -2 616 | A L FA R O M EO U S AO F H U N T S V I L L E .CO M
Kieran, Sandy, Connery and Amy attend one of Kieran's baseball games this past summer.
THE
PATEL FAMILY 28
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
The Patels:
FAMILY OF THE YEAR 2018 The Patel family participates in the Out of the Darkness Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE L. ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED
S
andy and Amy Patel, along with their sons Kieran and Connery, are the 2018 Madison Family of the Year. Kieran, 13, is a seventh-grader at Liberty Middle, and 11-yearold Connery is a sixth-grader at Columbia Elementary. The family’s rescue cat is named Eliza Hamilton, from the theatrical production of “Hamilton.” Theater is a big deal in the Patel family. Amy has been a theater teacher at James Clemens High School since its opening. Prior to that, she taught theater for 14 years at Butler High School, her alma mater. She earned an English/language arts degree at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a master’s degree in directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
According to the JCHS website, Amy has “directed and/or served as technical director for over 50 productions at James Clemens, Butler and in the Huntsville/Madison community.” Some of these productions have “earned recognition at local and statewide festivals.” Amy was selected Alabama State Secondary Theatre Teacher of the Year in 2013 and James
Clemens Teacher of the Year in 2016. Amy was born in Tennessee but began attending school in Huntsville in first grade. Sandy grew up in Rockville, Md., and earned a bachelor’s degree from Towson State University. While working as an astrophysicist at NASA, he earned his doctorate in physics from UAH. PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 29
He established Patel Technologies Corporation four years ago. He said he enjoys the work because it’s a “dynamic, fast-paced environment, and the problems are challenging.” Kieran enjoys archery and is a first baseman at Liberty Middle School. Connery is into theater and lacrosse and takes private drum lessons at Musicology. Kieran said the school system makes the City of Madison special. “They’re good at teaching, and it’s enjoyable,” he explained. “One of the great things about Madison schools is the diversity,” Amy added. “No matter where you’re living in Madison, you’re going to be able to go to a good school.” The Patels give back to the community through Sandy’s work with the Rotary Club and by volunteering at organizations such Huntsville Animal Services, Mana House, Salvation Army, The Cotton Candies and fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In other community involvement, Amy tries to get onstage in a theater production every couple of years. Sandy said, “I like the community as a whole. The citizens get involved. They care. There are lots of good choices for places to live. It’s a safe place for the kids to play and do sports. “In the end, I think it’s the people that make the biggest difference. We’re well-educated and interesting in Madison. I think that makes it special.” Amy added, “Some people come here for work, and some people come for school. We have friends and family who thought, ‘I’m going to go and do the job, and I’m going to get out.’ But they fall in love with it, make connections and decide this really is a great place to live.” The Family of the Year award is in its 22nd year. Rebecca Ramsey has served as the committee chairperson for two years, and her family has been recognized as a past Family of the Year. A committee of resident volunteers receives 30-40 30
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
(Left to right) The Patel family includes Connery, Sandy, Amy and Kieran.
nominations, and about a third of the nominees complete the five-page application. Ramsey said, “I tell the families who are nominated, ‘Hey, do this for your family. It’s kind of a record of everything you’ve done. Twenty years from now, you’ll go back and read that application and say, Wow, that was fun!’” Each application undergoes a two-stage, blind judging process. First, a panel of judges from the community selects the top three families. From there, local judges interview the families and score them based on their interview. “It’s hard to pick just one, but we do want to recognize what we think a Madison family stands for, which is family values and civic and community involvement – people who have made a difference in helping Madison become what it has become,” said Ramsey. The winning family receives a plaque and family photo mounted in City Hall during the year they serve, and they represent Madison in special community events. “I always encourage families to apply, but it’s a little daunting, and these families are already busy as it is. I’m hoping the more we get the program name out there, the more people will be interested in it,” said Ramsey. Applications for Family of the Year are open yearround, and winners are announced in late January.
22 12.1
Nationally Accredited Degree Programs With nearly
10,000 students,
Calhoun is the largest community college in Alabama
Return on $1 investment (ROI), the highest among Alabama’s two-year colleges
More than
1,000
High School Students Enrolled in our Dual Enrollment Program
Our Huntsville/Cummings Research Park two-year college campus is the located campus in a
only in the nation major research park
Our
numbers speak for themselves.
Yo u r C o m m u n i t y. Yo u r C o l l e g e . Yo u r Fu t u r e . Learn more about us
calhoun.edu
4,131
Students enrolled in at least one online course in Spring, 2017
1
st
Public Higher-Ed Institution in Alabama to be designated “Smoke Free”
5
Degrees or GIVXM½GEXIW offered completely online
Calhoun is the region’s community college:
“Calhoun demonstrates that economic development needs to be a regional affair – Calhoun gives us a tremendous advantage.” Fmr. Congressman Bud Cramer
7929 HIGHWAY 72 W | MADISON, AL | 256.325.5907 | RICKSBBQ.COM MENTION THIS AD WHEN PLACING YOUR NEXT CATERING ORDER & RECEIVE 10% OFF
Loraine M Cordule Broker (256) 655-2813
John Evans Associate Broker (256) 426-5466
PÉTER
VERES 34
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
BURST ADVOCATE
Madison man aids in UAH discovery WRITTEN BY REBEKAH MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED
A
ug. 17, 2017, began as just another Thursday morning for Madison’s Péter Veres. What the day held, though, was what Veres calls the highlight of his career. The Romanian-born postdoctoral fellow at The University of Alabama at Huntsville has made a career out of studying gamma ray bursts – short-lived bursts of gamma rays millions of light years away. Veres was preparing breakfast for his daughter when he was alerted to the cosmic event that, according to Veres and the UAH team, ushered in a new era of multi-messenger astronomy. Launched in 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected a GRB in the early morning hours of Aug. 17. It then sent an alert to Veres and the entire team – some in Huntsville, others around the world. The National Science Foundation’s Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory then sent another alert after it captured gravitational waves detected a mere two seconds before. The near-simultaneous detections of the
event, Veres explained, confirmed that gamma ray bursts can originate from the merging of neutron stars – something that had been speculated about for years. Veres said the two-second delay and subsequent confirmation was an exciting game changer for his team, as they were preparing for such an event for a long time. “That morning, the LIGO folks couldn’t pinpoint the location. We could; we had a fairly good idea of where it was,” Veres said. “Within about five hours, the LIGO people figured out the location of their signal and that it coincided with ours, and that’s when we knew it was the real deal. We were happy about that. “We were kind of expecting to see a neutron star merger but were not 100 percent sure it would happen by
Rachel Hamburg, a master’s student in UAH’s Department of Space Science, and Dr. Péter Veres, a postdoctoral fellow at UAH’s CSPAR, both serve as burst advocates for the GBM Team. As a result, they were two of the first to know of the near-simultaneous detection of gamma rays and gravitational waves from a distant pair of merging neutron stars.
time LIGO ended its observation period,” Veres explained. “It was just a matter of when the universe was going to hit us with one of these events, now that the LIGO instrument is sensitive enough to detect them. “It was about a 20- or 30-yearold problem that was solved. We knew about short gamma ray bursts … and it was hypothesized even before I was born that these things are made by merging neutron stars. Now it’s really securely confirmed, so there’s really no doubt about it.” PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 35
Calling it a highlight of his career, Veres said Aug. 17 was a day those on the team will not soon forget. “That day – everybody’s walking around with a smile, saying, ‘We hit the jackpot,’ ‘This is great,’ ‘This is unbelievable,’” Veres said. “It was a very exciting day.” Veres said the implications of the confirmation last year are innumerable. “There are a lot of directions our research can go into now that we’ve seen one of these events. Since then, we’ve been either writing papers or writing out ways we can apply this observation to previous observations and how to plan for the future,” Veres said. “There are some specific things we saw on this event that we want to check to see if we’ve seen before – even
www.lawlersbarbecue.com
without the gravitational wave signals and how to optimize our detectors to see more of this in the future.” The event is suspected to have left a black hole in its wake – something Veres said cannot yet be confirmed but is highly likely. “We are fairly certain it created a black hole – we are not 100 percent,” Veres said. “Based on all we know, a black hole must be there, unless there is some quirk in our knowledge. With this event, we don’t have any additional ways of testing that … only what we saw back in August.” The entire GRB team – including Veres, Colleen Wilson-Hodge, the team’s principal investigator and numerous others – as well as those with LIGO received a great honor for their
discovery. The team was awarded the 2018 Rossi Prize for contributions made to high-energy astrophysics. Veres has participated in two previous postdoctoral programs across the country: the first at Penn State and the second at George Washington University. While he said he is not sure what the next year holds for him and his family, Veres said he would like to find a permanent position in either research or teaching, and he would love to put down roots in Madison, the family’s home since 2016. “We like living in Madison,” Veres said. “It’s very family-friendly – that’s what we like about it.” Veres and his wife of nearly 10 years, Timi, have two children, Aron and Eszter.
Members of Madison and Huntsville Chamber
ROBERT
BLACK 38
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
ROBERT BLACK
nurtures plants at Madison Hospital
WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY
I
n his work with diverse plants, Robert Black nurtures the personalities and well-being of employees, patients and their families at Madison Hospital. Black accepted the job of groundskeeper/gardener at Madison Hospital soon after it opening. With the original landscape complete, he changed some plantings as traffic patterns formed. He now adds flowers for seasonal color, while planning for low maintenance. “I like to plant in masses of color and make changes. I’m fond of snapdragons for cool seasons and because they usually come back,” Black said. “I plant a mix of bulbs and herbs, both for color and culinary use.” He also cares for the “healing garden” by the cafe patio. Madison Hospital President Mary
Lynne Wright and landscape architect Mathis Sneed created this spot with a labyrinth, prayer or meditation garden, walkways and benches. Black added some plantings and incorporated a zoysia-grass walking path along the tree line. Girl Scouts planted a culinary herb garden for hospital chefs and patients. “Patients and visitors walk through the Healing Garden and enjoy smells of floral beauty,” Black said.
To improve Alabama’s rockhard red clay, he incorporates sphagnum peat moss, composting pine mulch and river-bottom sand. In other work, Black maintains the Japanese Garden in Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville. “This is my passion. You cannot see it until you’ve walked about 200 yards down a gravel path lined with Japanese maples, hosta and azaleas,” he said. PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 39
Past a red bridge, the four-acre garden features a Japanese Tea Ceremony House and stage. The Japanese Culture Club at University of Alabama in Huntsville built a “bamboo tunnel,” copied from a temple in Kyoto, Japan. Japanese Maj. Gen. Mikio Kimata named the tea house “Wa-Raku-Tei,” (Peaceful, Amiable, Friendship). Kimata also donated the red bridge in Big Spring Park. The Japanese community, Japanese Business Community of North Alabama and Consul General of Japan are restoring and improving the tea house property. They host festivals and fine arts shows there, Black said. Since the late 1970s, Black has studied Bonsai, “an art of trimming and pruning roots of any plant to dwarf its growth. I select plants that will show age but look natural, maybe weathered or peaceful,” he said. Small-leaf plants, cedars and conifers look realistic as scale 40
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
“I LIKE TO PLANT IN MASSES OF COLOR AND MAKE CHANGES. I’M FOND OF SNAPDRAGONS FOR COOL SEASONS AND BECAUSE THEY USUALLY COME BACK. I PLANT A MIX OF BULBS AND HERBS, BOTH FOR COLOR AND CULINARY USE.”
— ROBERT BLACK models, but patient gardeners can “bonsai” big-leaf plants, too, Black explained. Black owns 15 bonsai plants. “(For more protection), many are ‘heeled into’ my yard’s flower beds, because they have to go dormant,” he said. “For the winter, some tropicals are in my house and the hospital administration office.” His collection includes Japanese maples in Bonsai dishes, ficus, native cedar trees, ponytail palms, Chinese money tree – even a privet. “I always keep my real special
ones but give some away. Some go to ‘Bonsai Heaven.’ I plant some in the wild,” Black said. During his career, Black has managed J.C. Penney and Azalealand garden centers. He worked as horticulturist for Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Canebreak Club, Valley Hill Country Club and Huntsville Hospital. His wife Anna Black formerly owned Nikko Japanese Restaurant and now works at Edo in Madison and as sous chef at Nick’s Ristorante in Huntsville. Their daughters are Laura and Lorelee.
HEALTHY STARTS HERE
ymcahuntsville.org/HOGAN Cardio & Weights 96 group exercise classes every week included Indoor and Outdoor Pools Basketball Gym Hogan Family YMCA 130 Park Square Lane Madison, AL 35758 256.705.9622
Free Child Watch while you work out Day Camp & Youth Sports Nationwide Membership
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 41
TOM
MCKINNEY 42
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
MCKINNEY
serves in Vietnam as war starts to ‘heat up’ Sandra and Tom McKinney married in 1968 and lived in North Carolina before moving to Madison.
WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY
F
ormer U.S. Marine Sgt. Paul T. “Tom” McKinney persevered during service in the Vietnam War and through the less-than-welcoming homecoming he faced in the United States. McKinney was deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam, in fall 1965, early in the conflict. “In early 1965, President Johnson had ordered a buildup of Marines, including a Marine Brigade, to protect the air base at Da Nang from communist attack,” McKinney said. “Although the United States had been involved in Vietnam, it became more newsworthy during the 1965 buildup. It was starting to ‘heat up.’” Marines supported each other, but “the war itself was very unclear and confusing to me and other Marines,” McKinney said.
“I did not see a clear military mission. The war seemed to be run more by politicians rather than the military.” Disillusionment grew for McKinney and his fellow Marines, who became skeptical about their involvement. “We felt we had the military power to defeat communist North Vietnam, but it did not seem as if we were allowed to use it,” he said. During this time, U.S. protests had started. A man set himself on fire in front of the Pentagon in
November 1965. Protests grew proportionally to the increase in troop numbers and casualties. The Da Nang Air Base saw attacks and attempted attacks occasionally, yet McKinney said he felt relatively secure. “The most tense time came in the spring of 1966 when there was a near total breakdown in the South Vietnamese government,” he said. “Pro-Buddhists and anti-government South Vietnamese forces threatened the northern part of South Vietnam, including Da Nang.” PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD 43
44
Tom McKinney stands by the heroes’ monument in Madison City Veteran Park on Front Street in downtown Madison.
Before graduating from high school, McKinney enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and later advanced his education in the USMC Air Wing. He completed Basic Training at Parris Island, S.C. in 1963.
McKinney wears his U.S. Marine Corps vest that shows his deployment to Vietnam.
During the “Struggle Movement,” South Vietnamese forces were near civil war. Normal activities in McKinney’s squadron ceased. “All of us were on high alert and unsure of the outcome,” he said. “The crisis passed after a short time, but a prevailing feeling of danger was in the air. In Vietnam, we were never really sure who or where the enemy was.” McKinney was not injured in Vietnam but developed issues from Agent Orange exposure. “In 1967 I returned to the United States, knowing of the Vietnam War’s unpopularity. When I landed in El Toro, California, there was no ‘Welcome Home’ committee. The only person who greeted us with a kind word was a Navy chaplain, who expressed his sincere appreciation of our service,” McKinney said. When McKinney returned, workers for all major airlines were
on strike. To reach North Carolina from California, he took a train from Los Angeles to Kansas City. “I was in uniform. The negative sentiment I was hearing and feeling caused me to change into civilian clothes as soon as I could,” he said. Anti-war protests seemed to be on every corner, McKinney said. “I just didn’t need the hassle. Of course, my family was glad to have me home, but I can’t say they were very supportive of the war either. “I just didn’t speak of the war and went on with my life. The war raged on with increased intensity for several more years,” McKinney said. “I felt for the troops and was saddened over the increasing casualties. The disillusionment that I felt when I was ‘in country’ continued as I watched the war conclude without celebration, fanfare or victory.”
During his service, McKinney also deployed to Atsugi and Iwakuni, Japan. He married longtime girlfriend, Sandra, in 1968. Tom and Sandra had two sons, Paul and Jason. Tom earned a bachelor’s degree in business management at Guilford College in 1971. Establishing a career in public safety, he worked with Greensboro Police Department, Planning Research Corporation and Intergraph Corporation. In 1981, the McKinneys founded their own business, McKinney and Associates Inc. Before retirement, the McKinneys worked with Northrop Grumman to transition their ongoing activities to other entities. “We dissolved McKinney & Associates Inc.,” he said. “I stay in touch with many public safety professionals. Working with so many public safety agencies and great people made for a gratifying professional career.”
PROGRESS
| BRINGING MADISON FORWARD
Only hospital in North Alabama* to achieve Healthgrades® America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery™ for 2 years in a row (2017-2018)
*”Region” includes Colbert, Cullman, Dekalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston counties
PROUD TO PRINT PROGRESS 2018! Bringing Madison forward.
A
@thesoukimports