CLASS NOTES
1941
Marian Bahr of Providence, Utah, celebrated her 100th birthday on May 26 surrounded by friends in her assisted living facility in Providence.
1942
Sara Harris, a resident of the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City, reached a major milestone by celebrating her 100th birthday in August. Harris served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1968. She retired as a lieutenant colonel and fought in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War as part of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Air Force. Her accolades are extensive and include a Bronze Star, a National Defense Service medal, an Air Force Reserve Service medal, a Vietnam Service medal, an Air Force Commendation and an Air Force Standing Unit award.
1958
Barbara Bonfield of Mountain Brook authored a book titled Knesseth Israel: Over 123 Years of Orthodoxy.
1962
Don Armstrong of Fourmile was featured in the Shelby County Reporter for his many decades of service to Shelby County including the past 15 years as the county’s property tax commissioner. Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield of Augusta, Georgia, received the Alumna Loyalty Award from the UMNAA at the University’s 2020 Founders’ Day in October.
1971 24 | Montevallo Today
Tom Lovell Jr. was honored
by the Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Parks and Recreation Department as it renamed its community center in his honor. The J. Thomas Lovell Jr. Community Center commemorates Tom’s many years as the city’s parks and recreation administrator.
1974
Earl Lewis M.Ed. of Sylacauga was honored with the Heart of an Eagle Award by the Cheaha District of the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America during its 2020 American Values Breakfast in March. Earl is the director of the Care House of Sylacauga, which is a non-profit organization providing food and clothing to low-income families.
1979
Anne Gray Hartline M.Ed. of Vestavia Hills is serving as chair of the Surviving Spouse Advisory Council to the president of the Military Officers Association of America. Anne has taken the lead during the past year to develop workshops for surviving spouse chapter and state liaisons for MOAA regional leadership training conferences. She has presented in Greenville, South Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Portland, Oregon; and Hershey, Pennsylvania. She facilitated a trainer of trainers on the model for the regional leadership workshops for SSAC members during the MOAA national board meeting in Washington, D.C., in November 2019.
1982
Rick Grammer M.Ed. of Hoover became the first high
school soccer coach to be selected for induction into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in June. Rick has been coaching soccer at Vestavia Hills High School for more than 30 years and has an overall record of 633-158-50, making him the all-time winningest soccer coach in AHSAA history.
1983
Birmingham photographer Jeffrey Rease was featured in The Birmingham News for his work to take studio portraits of surviving World War II veterans in Alabama before the COVID-19 pandemic halted his work. Dr. Sandra Sims of Childersburg was recognized by the Society of Health and Physical Educators Southern District. The group awarded Sandra the Donna L. Dunaway Medal, the highest award bestowed on a member that honors the professional and career-long contributions to the Southern District states. Sandra is an associate professor of education at UAB.
1987
Glendora Stephens became the chief school financial officer for Tuscaloosa County Schools. She previously worked as the comptroller for Birmingham City Schools.
1988
Tracey Morant Adams of Hoover was named to Savoy magazine’s 2020 list of the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America. Tracey leads economic, community and small business development for Rena-
sant Bank. As a divisional leader and member of the Senior Leaders Roundtable, she helps guide the company’s diversity and inclusion strategy and programs for minority and disadvantaged businesses. She founded The Nest, a business initiative for women entrepreneurs. Cynthia Todd of Hoover was named to the Birmingham Business Journal’s 2020 Top Birmingham Women list which honors women who have a long and tangible track record of results and impact in the community and their industries. Cynthia is an operations manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama and president of the UMNAA board.
1990
Toby Greene M.Ed. ’93 of Dothan has been named the head football coach at Headland High School in Headland, Alabama. Toby previously spent 18 years as head football coach at Geneva County, Rehobeth, Cottonwood and Florala high schools. Jalete Nelms was elected to the Homewood City Council Ward 4, Place 2.
1996
Dewayne Peevy has been named athletics director at DePaul University in Chicago. Dewayne previously worked at the University of Kentucky for 12 years where he served as director of the school’s media relations department, sports information director for the UK men’s basketball team and deputy athletic director.
