CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT Ensuring equal opportunity to athletics in all respects is important to Marie. From 1982 to 1994, she accepted the challenge of being Alabama’s first state coordinator and training director for Alabama Special Olympics in Montgomery which allowed her to be involved with fundraising, program and training development, and public relations. She had the privilege of serving on Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s committee to improve training methods for special children.
THE POWER OF SERVING OTHERS
Getting to know community servant Marie Jordan “If you are going to do something, be sure you finish it and do it well.” This was the advice that Marie Jordan’s father gave her as she was growing up the oldest of three girls in Geneva, Alabama. This mantra has remained with this community-minded woman as she went on to pursue exemplary and extensive professional careers in real estate, public health, politics, music, athletics, business and education.
DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE When speaking with Marie, her eyes sparkle as she talks about the value of being involved in her community. She has always felt strongly about stepping up whenever she saw something that needed done in her community or extending a hand to a person in need. That’s where her passion for volunteering began. “My first job was in 1966, working in a grocery store. Instead of just being content as a cashier, I volunteered for training in the meat department, produce department and stockroom. I wanted to learn every aspect of how it worked and to help out.” Discovering all the moving parts and pieces of a business also served as a launching pad for Marie to take on more
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leadership roles, as well. “After graduating in 1968, I joined the volunteer rescue squad in Geneva while pursuing her education goals. When the State mandated that squads must have an EMT to operate their service, I became the first person to be certified until we could get others qualified.”
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE Athletics is another of Marie's multifaceted passions. She organized her hometown’s first women’s softball recreational league and was the first woman softball officials in her area and continued to expand her officiating into numerous sports. She currently officiates volleyball. “During my teaching tenure and coaching career, I became athletic director for Ozark City school for girls and began the task of developing sports such as volleyball and basketball. I served on the first Alabama High School Athletic Association committee for implementing Title IX (a federal law that makes it illegal to discriminate against a person on the basis of gender in any federally funded activity).” She admitted she wasn’t given much encouragement in this effort at the time, “In fact, we were told it will never get off the ground.” But now, she just smiles and says, “’We've come a long way, baby’.”
ARRIVING IN ALABASTER In 1995, Marie relocated to her now-hometown of Alabaster as the city's first Parks and Recreation director from 1995 to 2005. In this role she developed plans and proposals for Buck Creek Trail and established the Parks and Recreation ordinances. Also, in partnership with generous donors and volunteers, Marie secured grants for the addition of three soccer fields for public use and started the first soccer league which expanded rapidly to be one of the most successful sports programs. Unfortunately, a serious back injury cut her professional career short. She endured more than four surgeries and numerous procedures that thankfully kept her out of a wheelchair. After three joint replacements and three victorious battles against a persistent cancer, she began the long, painful fight back to health in order to resume her volunteering journey. She acknowledges that the effort is difficult some days due to nerve damage, but she still gratefully says, “What a blessing to still be able to say, ‘What can I do next to make things better for my community?’.”
CONTINUING TO SERVE THE CITY Marie currently serves on numerous boards that strive to make this community better. She is the Beautification Board chairman, which recognizes the people
