A Publication of the Daily Mountain Eagle
volume 6 • issue 1 • fall 2017
FREE
CHAMBER CHECKS ARE HERE! 204 19th St. E, Suite 101, Jasper, AL
TOP TEn rEaSOnS TO BUY LOCaLLY 1) Keep Money In The Community 2) Embrace What Makes Us Different 3) Get Better Service
205-384-4571 • www.walkerchamber.us
DID YOU KnOW...
6) Help Out The Environment 7) Invest In The Community 8) Put Your Taxes To Good Use 9) Quality Of Life 10) Believe In Walker County
Here’s How It Works To Give Chamber Checks:
CHaMBEr CHECKS HELP SUPPOrT OUr LOCaL ECOnOMY BY EnCOUraGInG PEOPLE TO BUY LOCaL.
4) Buy What You Want 5) Create More Good Jobs
anYOnE Can GIvE CHaMBEr CHECKS
CHaMBEr CHECKS arE avaILaBLE ExCLUSIvELY aT THE WaLKEr COUnTY CHaMBEr Of COMMErCE. THEY MaKE GrEaT GIfTS
1. Each Chamber Check comes in ten and twenty-dollar increments. Companies or individuals can send or bring a check for the total amount desired, along with a list of recipients’ names to the Chamber office. 2. The Chamber will print the individual checks, which will include the recipient’s name, the dollar amount, and your company/ individual name. 3. The Chamber will also provide an information brochure to give to your recipient, explaining how the program works and where they can redeem their Chamber Checks.
fOr EMPLOYEES, TEaCHErS, COaCHES, BIrTHDaYS, WEDDInGS, annIvErSarIES anD MOrE!
Because Chamber Checks can be used for goods and services provided by Chamber members, your recipients are able to spend the dollars however they want or need.
The Chamber of Commerce of Walker County has a unique program designed to encourage people to shop at home and pump money back into our local economy! Chamber Checks are available for purchase needs, whether it’s Christmas, Mother’s Day, father’s Day, or any other special occasion. Chamber Checks are gift checks that may be used at any business that is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County. This gives recipients around 200 choices of where to spend their chamber checks, and fellow Chamber members will also benefit!
The strength of a team with a single focus – you. Front Row: Leigh Ann Rotter, First Bank of Jasper, Retail Market Manager, NMLS #718264; Libba Elliott, Synovus Securities, Financial Consultant; Lisa Killingsworth, First Bank of Jasper, Commercial Banker Back Row: Kenny Allen, First Bank of Jasper, Retail Market Manager; Bert Hendrix, First Bank of Jasper, President; Toby Banks, Synovus Securities, Financial Consultant; Phillip Lee, Synovus Mortgage, Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS #664139
In today’s busy world, your financial needs can be complex and ever-changing. It takes more than an individual to meet those needs. It takes a team. At First Bank of Jasper, we have a team of professionals with the expertise and resources you need. We work together with a single focus – helping you reach your financial goals.
firstbankofjasper.com | 205.221.3121
Investment products and services provided by Synovus are offered through Synovus Securities, Inc. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. GLOBALT Investments, a separately identifiable division of STC and Creative Financial Group. The registered broker-dealer offering brokerage products for Synovus is Synovus Securities, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Synovus Securities, Inc. is a subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp and an affiliate of Synovus Bank. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. is a subsidiary of Synovus Bank. NOT FDIC INSURED
NO BANK GUARANTEE
MAY LOSE VALUE
volume 6, issue 1 products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Divisions of Synovus Bank operate under multiple trade names across the Southeast. 3 Banking
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 1 • fall 2017
FromTheStaff... ma g a z ine Established October 2012
PUBLISHER James Phillips EDITOR Jennifer Cohron ART DIRECTOR Malarie Brakefield CONTRIBUTORS Scott Day, Brian Hale, Elane Jones, Lea Rizzo, Nicole Smith, Lee Walls Advertising Jake Aaron, Brenda Anthony, Zach Baker, Renee Holly, Liz Steffan, Tammy Wood Business Manager Charlette Caterson Distribution Michael Keeton Walker Magazine is a publication of and distributed seasonally by the Daily Mountain Eagle, a division of Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored for retrieval by any means without written consent from the publisher. Walker Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited materials and the publisher accepts no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of claims in any advertisement in any issue. Walker Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or changes in information. The opinions of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine and its publisher. Our mission is to promote Walker County and to showcase its many attributes as a quality place in which to live, to work and to play. We welcome ideas and suggestions for future editions of the magazine. Just send us a brief note via email. © 2017 Daily Mountain Eagle Walker Magazine P.O. Box 1469 Jasper, AL 35502 (205) 221-2840 email: walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com 4
Walker Magazine
Excitement is brewing in downtown Jasper thanks to four young entrepreneurs who have chosen to invest in Walker County. Twisted Barley Brewing Company and Tallulah Brewing Company — Jasper’s first breweries — opened a month apart this fall. The cover of our fall issue celebrates these two businesses, which have different beers and different atmospheres but complement each other as exciting new gathering places in Jasper’s revitalized downtown. Twisted Barley is owned by husband-and-wife team Mason and Courtney Boren, while Tallulah Brewing Company is a partnership between Cordova Mayor Drew Gilbert, his brother-in-law, Josh Bagwell, and several other family members. Another downtown business, Bernard’s Store for Men, said goodbye to a beloved, longtime employee this fall. We sat down with Gloria Walden, who has been responsible for alterations at Bernard’s since the early 1980s, during her first month of retirement. For this issue, we also reached out to local storyteller Billie Seales, who graciously indulged our request for a spooky story that our readers could enjoy for Halloween. Although Seales is best known for telling other people’s stories, her family’s history is as fascinating as the folk tales they have passed down for generations. Kendall Johnson’s story got a happy ending because of a third grade teacher who recognized that he was a special student in need of direction. One day, she made him a promise that carried him from T.R. Simmons Elementary School to Auburn University. Our latest Food for the Soul recipe, Mava’s Homemade Caramel Cake Icing, would be a hit at any holiday gathering. Mary Virginia Files of Mava’s Country Kitchen in Carbon Hill allowed us to print the recipe, which took her years to perfect. She also shared several tips so that our readers can avoid some of her past mistakes. Of course, what would fall in the South be without football? This issue features a profile of three local students who are keeping fans Alabama Crimson Tide fans energized from the sidelines as well as a comment from Jasper native and AHSAA official Bruce Kimbrell about what he loves most about Friday night football. We welcome feedback on this issue as well as ideas for future issues via email at editor@mountaineagle.com or at Walker Magazine’s Facebook page.
::: Subscribe to Walker Magazine! If you’re an out-of-towner, get a year of great stories right at your doorstep. Call: (205) 221-2840 Email: editor@mountaineagle.com
::: Follow the Daily Mountain Eagle and Walker Magazine on Facebook for the latest community news!
::: submit an idea We are always eager to receive suggestions from our readers. Please email your ideas to walkermagazine@ mountaineagle.com.
::: advertise For any information needed on how to promote your products and services, call (205) 221-2840 or send an email to advertising@ mountaineagle.com.
Jennifer Cohron, Editor
OnTheCover Drew Gilbert and Mason Boren hold glasses of beer from Jasper’s first two breweries. Twisted Barley Brewing Co. and Tallulah Brewing Co. opened a month apart this fall. (Photo by Scott Day.)
GetHooked! For your entertainment we have placed this fishing hook (actual size) within the pages of Walker Magazine. This will be a permanent feature for our readers. We hope you enjoy searching for the fishing hook in each issue.
Happ y hunting! fall 2017
sPin DOCtOrs
m ag n muDDY
JOHn PauL
OLia s
Fo ot hi lls Ja
sp er.c om
n O r tH m
ississiP
WHite
P i a LL s t ars
Thank You To All Of The Sponsors, Vendors, Staff and Attendees For Making This Year’s Foothills Festival A Success! Premier Partners: Jasper Orthodontics • Carl Cannon Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac • City of Jasper Byars-Wright Insurance • Coca-Cola • Desperation Church • Pinnacle Bank • Honda of Jasper • Hyundai of Jasper Birmingham Budweiser • Daily Mountain Eagle sPOnsOrs: Designs On You • First Bank of Jasper • Warehouse 319 • Southern Orthopedic • Charles R. Dillard, Jr. DMD TriGreen of Jasper • Central States Manufacturing • Aaron’s suPPOrting sPOnsOrs: Alabama Power • The Chamber of Commerce of Walker County Downs & Associates • ALFA Insurance • Main Street Alabama • Bank of Walker County The Eye Center of Alabama • Bevill State Community College • HTNA Hayashi Telempu • Saturday Down South frienDs: West Alabama Bank • Jasper Auto Sales • Son’s Smokehouse • Los Reyes Grill
Mayor David O’Mary District 1 Sonny Posey Inc. volume 6, issue 1 1887
District 2 Danny Gambrell
District 3 Gary Cowen
District 4 Jennifer W. Smith
District 5 Willie Moore
(205) 221-2100 | 400 19th St. W, Jasper, AL 35501 | www.jaspercity.com
5
What’sInside 28 | Bernard’s Miracle Worker Gloria Walden retires 08 | From The Vault Fun At The Fair 10 | Secrets of a Storyteller Billie Seales 16 | A Special Promise Teacher pays for student’s college degree 22 | Photo Essay Walker County’s two new locally owned breweries
8
16
28
22
10
38 | The View From The Sidelines Cheering on the Tide 44 | Community Calendar What’s going on in the county 46 | Snapshots Past events in Walker County 50 | We Are Walker County Bruce Kimbrell
32 32 | Practice Makes Perfect Mary Virginia Files
6
Walker Magazine
50 38 fall 2017
The Holladay Agency Readers’
Auto • Home • Business • Life • Annuities • Mutual Funds
Choice Awards 2017
WE’VE GOT WALKER COUNTY COVERED...
Let me help protect you before mayhem strikes. From a tree branch falling on your car during a windstorm to a GPS that send you the wrong way down a one-way, mayhem can strike anytime. So get a Allstate Agent like me who knows how to help you make sure you’r protected. Don’t wait—call me today!
onathanAcross Holladay from Home Depot & Chick-Fil-A in Jasper 205-221-3216
811 Hwy. 78 E., Suite 106
Next to Sumiton Walmart by former David’s Pharmacy
From The fun at the fair Compiled by Jennifer Cohron Photos courtesy of the Daily Mountain Eagle
8
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
9
Secrets
of a
Storyteller Text by Jennifer Cohron | Photos by MALARIE BRAKEFIELD
Having a conversation with Billie Seales is like hearing a good book read aloud. She can conjure a cast of characters and plot from the most ordinary of topics, and in the end she always leaves the listener wanting more. Seales, a retired educator, recently began her 16th year as a storyteller for the Walker County Arts Alliance. Her monthly visits are a treat for local fifth graders and their teachers as well. “One time I went to hear her, and the teacher told me that she had planned to do work during the hour Billie was there, but she got all caught up in the story and didn’t get anything done. Now, she just sits and listens with the students,” said WCAA board member Sharon Hogg. Seales, who exudes cheerfulness, transforms so completely in front of an audience that it’s slightly startling when a smile returns to her face after she has taken a classroom on a journey of heartbreak and intrigue. “Billie has that wonderful Southern accent. She knows how to linger on some words and emphasize others. She raises her voice and lowers it depending on the story. She changes her voice up for the different characters of the story. It’s amazing to hear her,” Hogg said. A proper telling of Seales’ own story begins not in Calumet, the coal mining camp near Parrish where she was raised, but in the mountains of Kentucky before the start of the Civil War. Her great-great-great grandmother was the community storyteller, gathering her neighbors in her log cabin each
volume 6, issue 1
evening for hours of entertainment. John Grisham brought his grandmother’s stories with him when he walked from Kentucky to Walker County in 1870 in search of work in the mines. Grisham, who lived to be 97, spent his final years sitting on his daughter’s front porch regaling family members with folk tales and oral histories that had been passed down for generations. “The best education I ever got was sitting on Nanny Sides’ front porch listening to Pap Grisham tell stories that his grandmother told him when he was a little boy,” Seales, Grisham’s great-granddaughter, told fifth graders at Parrish Elementary School in September. After Grisham died, 14-year-old Seales’ knowledge of family history and flair for the dramatic made her his undisputed heir. “I’ve conned my way through many things in my lifetime. In school, I was not the world’s smartest girl, but I could make them think I was smart because I had the gift of gab,” she said. Seales discovered her life’s other passion, teaching, when she was asked to serve as a substitute teacher in a first grade class at Owen School while she was a freshman. After graduating from Florence State Teacher’s College, Seales took a job in Bessemer, where she spent the first 10 years of her teaching career. Seales and her husband, Bill, a Bessemer native, moved to Jasper shortly before the birth of their second son.
11
Billie Seals, 1958-59, teaching 5th grade at Jonesboro Elementary School in Bessemer.
Seales taught in the Jasper City School System for 32 years, where she was as much beloved for storytelling as teaching. “After lunch every day, I would either read or tell stories, usually to fifth and sixth grades. I’ve just about taught everybody in Jasper. I see those kids, who are grown now, and they’ll say, ‘Mrs. Seales, tell us about old Wicked John one more time.’ They remember those things,” Seales said. “Wicked John and the Devil” is the Southern version of a European fairy tale in which a blacksmith outsmarts the Devil and his sons but in death is forced to roam the earth looking for anyone who lacks kindness and compassion. Seales shared the story with Parrish’s fifth graders on Sept. 5 to illustrate a technique she learned from Pap Grisham. “No story is complete without putting yourself into it. When I do this, I use as much body language as I can, and I try to draw pictures with words,” she told the students. More than 700 fifth grade students in the Walker County and Jasper City school systems will have a visit from Seales this semester. Members of the Walker County Arts Alliance recruited her for their in-school storytelling program 16 years ago. The offer came at an opportune time for Seales, who longed to get back in the classroom after retirement. “Billie, you are the only human being on this planet who would pay them to be able to teach,” her husband once told her. Seales, now 85, is not only still telling stories but also still 12
Walker Magazine
collecting ideas from books and snippets of conversation that she can weave into a tale that is very much her own. “There’s something powerful about telling a story. You might read it until the cows come home, but it doesn’t have the same quality,” she said. Whether set in Alabama or Ireland, the stories in Seales’ repertoire have common characteristics — big characters, high drama, a moral or message for the listener to interpret. Each one also has an intangible quality, something that makes words on a page seem inadequate and almost demands that they be brought to life by someone who is worthy of them — someone like Seales. • fall 2017
“Taking Elizabeth Browning Home” A Halloween Story by Billie Seales It’s a bad night. A man is driving to Birmingham because the machine that he works on is broken. As he crosses the River Bridge, he slips and he slides in the sleet and rain. When he gets to the other side, there standing by the bridge in the dark is a girl in a long, white dress. She’s crying hysterically. He’s a man with a conscience, even though he has got to hurry or he’ll lose his job. He stops and rolls the window down. “Please, you’ve got to take me,” she says. “I promised her. I promised her. You’ve got to take me home.” He says, “Well, where do you live?” She points up the road toward Argo. “Get in and you point the way, but I’ve got to hurry,” he says. Every time he tries to ask her name, she cries and says, “I promised my mother. I promised her. Please hurry. It’s almost 1 o’clock.” He reaches over and turns the heater up in the old car. She felt like death itself, she was so cold. Before he left home, his wife had packed him a thermos of coffee and a blanket. So he reaches in the backseat and gets the blanket and tucks it around her. volume 6, issue 1
They got over to Rocky Hollow just before the hill going to Sumiton. He looks over and sees a house way off the road up on a ridge. Every light in the house is on. She turns and points. He turns down what looks like a pig trail. He thinks, “Lord, I’m gonna get stuck and then I’ll get fired.” He keeps going and they pass a cemetery. As he starts up the road toward the house, there is a gate across the road
and it’s closed. He looks over at the girl and says, “I’m gonna open the gate, and then we’ll go up the hill.” He runs over to the gate, but it’s
locked. He looks over and sees the mailbox. It says, “Browning.” He goes back to the car, and the girl is gone. He says, “Lord of mercy, she was in such a hurry to get home, but I won’t rest unless I know she’s all right.” So he climbs the gate and walks up the hill to the house. He goes up and knocks on the door. An old lady comes to the door. She’s crying. He says, “Mrs. Browning, did she make it all right?” And she shakes her head and says, “No, she never makes it. I know you’re a good man, but every year on this night, somebody comes and tells me that they tried to bring sweet Elizabeth home, but my baby is buried right down there. It was her 18th birthday, and she got an invitation to a grand dance in Cordova. I had to make her a long dress, and she was beautiful. Before she left, I told her, ‘Elizabeth, you know you’ve got to be home by 11 o’clock.’ And she said, ‘Mama, you know I’m always home on time and I will be this time too.’ I told the young man who came to pick her up, ‘You know my daughter has to be home by 11 o’clock.’ 13
“They left, but I just didn’t feel good about it. I walked the floors and fretted. After it got to be 12 o’clock, I really got to worrying. About 15 minutes to 1 a.m., I heard the car coming. There was a knock at the door. I opened it and there stood a policeman. He said, ‘Mrs. Browning, I hate to be the one to tell you. Those kids were over at the dance and the time sneaked up on them. They had to hurry. Just as they pulled out that road from Cordova to go across the bridge, right at the top they hit the railing and the car went over. The boy got out, but the girl’s dress was tangled
14
Walker Magazine
up underneath the seat. He pulled and he tugged until he couldn’t stay down any longer. Mrs. Browning, your daughter didn’t make it out.’ She’s buried down there in that cemetery, but every year on this night, some stranger comes to my door wanting to know if she made it home.” The man gets mad. He thinks, “These folks are making up some Halloween joke.” He says, “Mrs. Browning, I’m sorry,” and he stomps down the hillside and turns the car around. He slips and slides until he gets to the church cemetery. He stops and reaches over in the glove compart-
ment for a flashlight. He goes from tombstone to tombstone. Sure enough in the back of the cemetery under a giant oak tree that has moss hanging down, there is one that says “Elizabeth Browning.” She died exactly 20 years ago that night. But he knew before he read a word because there draped across the tombstone was the blanket that he had wrapped around her. So child, if you don’t want to be the one who takes Elizabeth Browning home, you better be careful driving around on Halloween night. You might be the next car she stops on the River Bridge.
fall 2017
B E C AU S E I T ’ S O N E - O F -A- K I N D
Introducing Our Custom Bridal by YJ an exclusively curated collection featuring engagement rings that can be custom designed for your love story.
401 19th Street West, Jasper, AL 35501 (205) 221-6194 | youngjewelers.com
DOWNS & ASSOCIATES Certified Public Accountants, LLC
Certified Public Accountants JOSEPH R. DOWNS, IV, CPA
email: JRDowns@DandAcpa.com
HUNTER J. ALLEN, CPA email: Hunter@DandAcpa.com
1603 1st Ave. East, Jasper, AL
205.221.5454 volume 6, issue 1
15
A Special Promise Jasper native receives the gift of goodwill Text by nicole smith | Photos contributed by Kendall Johnson
16
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
K
Keeping a promise helped shape the future of a once misguided 10-year-old boy who is now using his college degree to impact the lives of other youth. Kendall Johnson graduated in May from Auburn University. The accomplishment was made possible through dedication and assistance from his former third grade teacher. Johnson is a Jasper native who spent his first years of school in Vernon, his mother’s hometown. By the time he entered Emily Byars’ third grade classroom at T.R. Simmons Elementary School in 2004, he was two grade levels behind. “I believe I got behind because I was bored with school at an early age,” Johnson explained. “When I began to struggle with reading and everything, I lost interest. So then you’re sitting at your desk, and if you don’t have a teacher that’s going to push you or say, ‘Kendall, you need to get this done,’ you just sit there and do nothing.” He recalled Byars spending extra time with him while he waited to catch a bus after school, and she would work oneon-one with him to improve his reading skills. “My first memory of Mrs. Byars is she was very specific in what she did. She cared about her students, and she loved her students,” he said. “She wanted nothing but the best out of us, and I felt like it was really destined for me to come back to the third grade and be in her classroom. That was a blessing, because I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for her.” Every Friday was spirit day at T.R. Simmons, and teachers were permitted to wear their favorite team colors. Johnson took note early on that Byars was an Auburn fan, and he had
volume 6, issue 1
a special love for the university’s football team as well. Johnson even ran into Byars at an Auburn football game when he was still her student. Johnson described himself as a class clown with a short attention span, but Byars gave the young boy — and hopeful Auburn Tiger — a glimmer of hope on a particularly tough school day. “She would call me into the hall a lot, and she would say, ‘Kendall, I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, but you’re special. There’s something about you that stands out,’” he said. “She told me, ‘I know you love Auburn. I’m going to make you a promise. If you finish through elementary, middle school and high school, and get accepted into Auburn, my husband will pay all four years for you to attend Auburn University.’” Johnson remembered her promise, and it changed the course of his life from that point forward. He left T.R. after passing the third grade and spent his fourth grade year at an elementary school in Tupelo, Miss., where his mom was a praise and worship leader at an area church. A year later, they moved back to Jasper, and after meeting with Jasper City Schools’ leaders, Johnson was able to skip the fifth grade and begin sixth grade at Maddox Middle School. Johnson loved to play football, and he later transfered to Cordova High School to play for the Blue Devils. While at Cordova, he was permitted to skip the 11th grade, which allowed him to completely catch up and graduate his senior year on time in 2013. He said he had to take classes at the University
17
18
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
of Alabama, along with summer classes to catch up, but he held strong to God’s plan and the promised opportunity to attend Auburn University. Byars always kept in touch with Johnson during his academic journey, and her husband, Steve Byars, saved enough money to put Johnson through college. Steve passed away a few years ago. Johnson recently graduated from Auburn University with a degree in sports communication, and he said he’ll forever cherish the lifelong friends and opportunities he was blessed to have at Auburn. He said one of his most memorable experiences was visiting New York City to perform at the Lincoln Center with the Auburn Men’s Chorus. During his time at Auburn, Johnson also had the chance to meet former Auburn football head coach Pat Dye, current Auburn football head coach Gus Malzahn, former Auburn basketball player and NBA star Charles Barkley and Alabama football head coach Nick Saban. Johnson said he particularly loved the opportunity to do video coordinating for Auburn athletics during his senior year. “I can’t say I didn’t get weary, because I did at times,” Johnson said. “Classes did get hard, but I always kept my Bible verse Galatians 6:9, ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’” Since graduating Auburn, Johnson has taken an instructional assistant position at Ogletree Elementary School in Auburn, where he teaches special education students in third, fourth and fifth grades. He said he graduated from college with the goal of becoming an athletic director, but he’s thankful for having the opportunity to give back to students who may be struggling as he did at a young age. “As of right now, I feel like my purpose is to touch the youth. God really opened that door for me to teach at Ogletree Elementary School,” Johnson said. He will start taking classes in January to eventually earn his master’s degree in school counseling with the help of his parents and his own savings. Johnson has a deep faith in God and said he will forever be thankful to Byars for helping him achieve his dream and instilling in him the strength to always push forward. He said he would like to one day write a book to tell his story. “By me being behind two grades, it hurt, but it really was a blessing to me, because I was able to catch everything back up and God was able to place Mrs. Byars in my life to be where I am right now,” he said. “It was a lot of hard work. It was dedication. It was really God showing his hand in all of this. He connected the dots. I love the Lord, and I’m just grateful to stand here and tell my story. I want to reach out to the whole world and just let them know that as a youth you can make it, no matter how hard it seems. You can make it.” • Previous page: An assortment of photos of Byars and Johnson throughout the years, as well as Johnson’s graduation from Auburn University and a recent photo with colleagues at Ogletree Elementary School. This page, top photo: Johnson with University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban. This page, bottom photo: Johnson standing with Auburn University and NBA alumnus Charles Barkley.
volume 6, issue 1
19
Readers’
Choice Awards 2017
Changes Are Coming to
Jasper Mall!
Bath & Body Works • Belk • Carol’s • Cato • Cellairis • Deb & Co. • Factory Connection Fisher’s Men’s Shop • Garfield’s Restaurant & Pub • General Nutrition Center Hibbett Sports • Joe’s Shirt Shop • Lin Garden II • MasterCuts • Moon Day Spa • Nail Galaxy Prime Communications • Robin’s Nest • Shoe Dept. • Subway • Susan’s Hallmark The Children’s Place • The Jewelry Doctor • U.S. Military Career Center • Yogurt Street • Zales
Serving Walker And Surrounding Counties For 36 Years! 20
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
“Where the dealer makes the difference!”
Readers’
Choice Awards 2017
Honda oF JaSPER
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 AM TO 7 PM SATURDAY 8 AM TO 6 PM
SERVICE DEPARTMENT: MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7:30 AM TO 6 PM / SATURDAY 7:30 AM TO 2 PM
4102 Hwy 78 East • Jasper, AL • www.hondaofjasper.com (205) 385-0100 or Toll Free 866-395-0100
HYUNDAI OF JASPER MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 AM TO 7 PM | SATURDAY 8 AM – 6 PM SERVICE DEPARTMENT: MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 6 PM WWW.HYUNDAIOFJASPER.COM | 4011 OlD U.S. 78, JASPER, Al 35501 | (205) 282-4601 | (205)282-4427 volume 6, issue 1
21
PhotoEssay
Text by james phillips | Photos by Scott Day
Drew Gilbert, Mason Boren and Josh Bagwell
home
brews 22
Walker Magazine
Downtown Jasper is now firmly entrenched in the craft beer craze with the recent openings of two breweries — Twisted Barley Brewing Company and Tallulah Brewing Company. Twisted Barley Brewing Company was Jasper’s first brewery, opening on Sept. 1. It is located in a 1920-era, former hotel building on 19th Street West in Jasper. Mason and Courtney Boren are the owners of Twisted Barley. Mason Boren has been brewing beer for several years, not realizing when he first started that it was against state law at the time. The Borens have created a fun, family atmosphere in the old building, adding a stage for live music and plenty of games, such as cornhole and Jenga in the back area.
fall 2017
Twisted Barley sells five beers – three flagships and two rotating seasonally. The brewery also features small batch beers with weekly demonstrations on how to make them. Tallulah Brewing, which opened Oct. 13, is owned by Cordova Mayor Drew Gilbert and several family members, including the beer brewer of the family, Gilbert’s brother-in-law, Josh Bagwell. The brewery is located on 4th Avenue, just down the street from Jasper City Hall. The name comes from the Tallulah hotel that once stood in downtown Cordova. Many aspects of the brewery are tributes to the Bankhead family as well as the city of Cordova. Bricks from Bagwell’s Cordova home, which was destroyed
volume 6, issue 1
in the 2011 tornado, were used in the building. There are also bricks and wood used in the building from many locations around Cordova and Walker County. Tallulah Brewing Company offers five different beers with The Gavel Porter and the Curtain Call Kolsch named in honor of the Bankheads. Both businesses are family-friendly, providing an atmosphere for everyone from toddlers to seniors. With the two opening back-to-back, the brewery owners have developed a bond, hoping their existence will be yet another catalyst for growth in downtown Jasper. •
23
tallulah brewing co.
24
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
Owners Drew Gilbert and Josh Bagwell
volume 6, issue 1
25
twisted barley brewing co.
26
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
Owners Courtney and Mason Boren
volume 6, issue 1
27
28
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
Bernard’s
Miracle Worker Text and Photos by ELANE JONES
For over 25 years, Gloria Walden of Thach sat behind a sewing machine nestled inside a back room at Bernard’s Store for Men in downtown Jasper. In July, she turned off the sewing machine for the last time. “I’ve been sewing for a long time. I learned to sew from my grandmother when I was a little girl,” Walden said. “I’ve done thousands of alterations over the years. I was always busy, so it will be nice to just sit back and take things easy for a little while.” Walden’s daughter, Leanne Walden, said her mother made all of her clothing as she grew up. “I didn’t get my first pair of jeans until I turned sixteen,” Leanne said. “Mother made all my pants and tops back then. She even made my prom dress and wedding gown.” Walden, who began doing alterations for Bernard’s in the early 1980s, said she would much rather sew on a sewing machine than sew by hand. “For me, coat sleeves were the hardest thing to alter,” Walden said. “I hated to see them coming.” Walden, who celebrated her 73rd birthday in September, was honored at a special birthday and retirement reception held at Bernard’s on Sept. 21. She has been married to her husband, Ellis Mack Walden, for 51 years, and Leanne is the couple’s only child. Walden said over the years, there were some alterations she would have to stop and think about for a while before doing them. “But there were some alterations I just couldn’t do at all,” she said. But that’s not quite the way the current owner of Bernard’s Store for Men, Rusty Richardson, remembers things. “Gloria is a magician when it came to alterations,” Rich-
volume 6, issue 1
ardson said. “And she, along with all of the other ladies who used to sew for us, played a major role in making our store the successful business it is today. “We could not operate without a good alterations person, and Gloria is one of the best there is,” Richardson said. “She was here every morning when we opened the store, and it is going to be hard getting used to not having her around.” Richardson said Walden could do any type of alternation a garment needed from hemming pants to shortening sleeves on a shirt or jacket. “We have always carried top brand-name merchandise, but sometimes you have to alter a garment to make it fit right,” Richardson said. “You might need to shorten the sleeves on a jacket or hem a pair of pants or take them up in the waist or on the sides. Whatever needed to be done, Gloria could do it.” Richardson said Walden was not only a wonderful seamstress and alteration person but is also a dear friend. “I love her dearly, and I could go on and on and on about her,” Richardson said. “She has been a valuable part of our store, and I can’t thank her enough for her service, good work and love.” Richardson said over the years, people have come into the store and requested all kinds of things they wanted done to an article of clothing. Walden would make it happen. “I would take things into Gloria and she would say, ‘Rusty, you’re expecting me to do a miracle here,’” Richardson chuckled. “And a lot of it would be timely things. But somehow she would make it happen.” Richardson said he has gone back to the sewing room located inside the store on a number of occasions shortly after opening the store and asked Walden if she could shorten
29
Gloria Walden with her daughter, Leanne Walden, husband, Ellis Mack Walden, and Rusty Richardson.
30
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
Walden, middle front, with members of the Bernard’s Store for Men staff in the 1970s.
the sleeves on a shirt by 1 p.m. “And she would just look at me and sigh, ‘Yeah, I guess,’” Richardson said. “There is one story in particular that stands out in my mind regarding Gloria and the magical things she could do with a sewing machine.” Richardson said the particular incident happened three weeks before Christmas, about two years ago. “A gentleman and his wife walked into the store around 1:30 in the afternoon,” Richardson said. “They came to me and frantically said, ‘We need help.’ I said, ‘Okay, tell me what you need.” Richardson said the wife turned around, pointed to her husband and said, “He needs everything.” “They were going to a Christmas party, and the husband needed a suit to wear,” Richardson said. “So I began pulling things together.” Richardson said the couple purchased a sports coat, a pair of pants, a shirt, a tie, a belt and a pair of shoes and socks. “Gloria had to alter the sleeves on the blazer, take in the waist
volume 6, issue 1
on the pants and then hem them as well,” Richardson said. “And she had it all done by the time the couple came back into the store at 4:30 that afternoon. The gentleman changed in my office and they left going to the party.” Richardson said it was a nice sale for the store but only because of Walden. “That suit wouldn’t have looked right if the sleeves had been left too long and the waist on the pants was too big and the length of the pants had been left unfinished,” Richardson said. “We’ve laughed about it over the years, but Gloria made that happen.” Walden said there were times when she would have to put something she was working on to the side for a day or two and work on something else. But somehow she almost always figured a way to make an alteration work. “What Gloria did is a dying form of art because it is getting harder and harder to find a good alterations person these days,” Richardson said. “We wish Gloria all the best in her retirement, but we miss her dearly.” •
31
Perfect Practice Makes
Text by lea rizzo
32
Walker Magazine
(ICING)
Photos by MALARIE BRAKEFIELD
fall 2017
Customers of Mava’s country Kitchen in Carbon Hill love the caramel cake icing that Mary Virginia Files — also known as Miss Mava — serves up. Few would recognize the cake that she placed before her late husband, Joe Frank Files, nearly 60 years ago as the same recipe. Joe “almost broke a tooth trying to eat the cake, but he said it was great, just needed a little tweaking,” she said. Shortly after the couple married, they moved to California, where Joe worked on Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert to help train the Mercury astronauts. While her husband was working, Files wanted to make his favorite dessert to surprise him. It didn’t go nearly as smoothly as she’d hoped. Joe’s mother sent Files the recipe via snail mail and, unfortunately for Files, left out tips that are crucial for the cake to set properly. During her first attempt at making the caramel icing, Files burned the sugar while trying to caramelize it — “it looked like chocolate” — and her buttermilk “immediately turned into a ball” when she poured it into the sugar while the buttermilk was still cold. Even though “it looked like tar and was probably at the hard candy stage,” Files didn’t realize that this wasn’t how the icing was supposed to look. Files spent years trying to figure out the missing directions through trial and error. “I tried every year, especially on his birthday. I just could never do it,” Files said of her attempts, adding, “It seems like I tried once or twice a year and it’d always end up the same way. I said, ‘I quit, I’m not going to do it anymore, you can just forget about having that cake.’” At one point when Files and her husband were living in Florida, he was going to attend a six-week class and brought Files back to Alabama to stay with his mother and grandmother so they could teach her how to make certain dishes their way. During that time, they taught Files a lot, but she says they didn’t show her how to properly make the caramel icing. “They never did show me how to do it,” she
volume 6, issue 1
Joe Frank Files
33
34
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
said. “I don’t know why either because that was one of the most important things. So I never did learn until I just tried to figure it out on my own.” She eventually discovered that the most important things for helping the recipe turn out correctly are warming up the buttermilk before adding it to the sugar and having a good, calibrated thermometer. Files also warns to not try making the icing when it’s cloudy due to the humidity causing the icing to not set properly. When making the icing, Files uses two different pots. She pours half a cup of sugar in one and puts it on low heat so the sugar can be melting; she adds butter, more sugar, baking soda and buttermilk to the second pan so they can be warming up and eventually brought to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, Files pours the buttermilk mixture into the second pan and continues stirring until it reaches 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it hits the desired temperature, Files removes the pan from the heat and lets the icing cool, while still stirring it frequently. She advises those attempting her recipe to quickly ice the cake once the mixture starts to thicken and to add a few drops of hot water if the icing starts to harden before the cake is finished being iced. Although it took her years to perfect, Files promises the extra effort is worth it. Now, Files still serves the icing on cakes at Mava’s Country Kitchen, which she opened in 2010 following her husband’s death that same year. She decided to open her own restaurant after her sons expressed a desire to open a pizza delivery business but couldn’t find an affordable location with a pizza oven. Four of Files’ children work at Mava’s Country Kitchen, and she said it’s brought them all closer together. •
Mava’s family, Becky and Martha Tucker, Margaret Butler, J.T. and Robert Files, in front of the restaurant in Carbon Hill. volume 6, issue 1
35
MAVA’S HOMEMADE CARAMEL CAKE ICING
Ingredients: • 3 CUPS SUGAR • 1 CUP BUTTERMILK • 1 CUP BUTTER • 1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
Directions: • In one 6-8 quart heavy pan, heat half a cup of sugar over medium heat. Do not stir. Tilt the pan to even out the sugar as it melts. • In a second 6-8 quart heavy pan, heat two and a half cups of sugar, one cup of buttermilk, one cup of butter and one teaspoon of baking soda over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the mixture to the first pan. This will quickly foam up. • Stir until it reaches the softball stage at 220 degrees Fahrenheit, or to the string stage when the liquid on the spoon strings when you let it drop back into the pan. • Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool, stirring frequently. • Quickly ice the cake when the mixture starts to thicken. If it gets too hard before you finish icing the cake, you can add a few drops of hot water.
36
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
YOU R S TORY
Students across 7 COUNTIES & 5 LOCATIONS tell their own story every year at Bevill State Community College.
Once you TriGreen…
2905 Hwy. 78 W., Jasper
you’ll know real value.
Reliable, long-lasting equipment, priced to fit your budget and backed by non-stop support. That’s what you get at TriGreen Equipment.
Freedom Homes has partnered with Calva and Gwinna the “Sisters of Savings” to keep providing you with the same great local service you’re accustomed to at Jasper Homes now backed by an industry leader.
Jasper, AL • 3700 Industrial Pkwy • (205) 384-3058 Authorized Dealer
TriGreenEquipment.com
(205) 384-4159
freedomhomesofjasper.com volume 6, issue 1
37
Abby Housley
38
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
View from the Sidelines Text by brian hale | Photos by Lee Walls
Saturdays during the fall is home to college football and a big part of the pageantry and tradition of the sport is the role of the cheerleader. While the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide take care of business on the field in their drive for another national championship trophy, three cheerleaders from the Walker-Winston County area are on the sidelines keeping the fans fired up and excited. Austin Grace, a Meek High School graduate, is in his second season on the sidelines with the Crimson Tide after a previous stint as a member of the Wallace State Lions cheerleading squad. A multi-sport athlete for the Tigers in
volume 6, issue 1
high school, Grace found the transition from prep athletics to college cheerleading challenging but found life on the sidelines to be enjoyable and rewarding. “For me, making the shift from playing sports in high school to cheerleading in college was tough, as you have to balance school, work and cheerleading together. That type of change isn’t easy for many people — it certainly wasn’t for me,” Grace said. “The payoff is being a part of a unique and fun side of college football and at Alabama, you don’t take for granted what a special time it is for our program. It’s an honor to be on the sidelines cheering for the Tide during this historic run — 20 to 30 years from now when I look
39
Bethany Wolfe
back and see what these teams accomplished, I’ll remember and cherish the memories of being there.” Some of Grace’s fondest memories were from last season, where he was on the sidelines for Alabama’s SEC Championship win over Florida and the Tide’s rematch with the Clemson
40
Walker Magazine
Tigers for the national title. “The experiences were incredible. Before the national championship game, our cheerleading squad got to go on USA Today’s broadcast — which was a once in a lifetime experience,” Grace said. “My first season from start to finish was amazing — beginning the year in Dallas against Southern Cal to the championship game in Tampa, there were many wonderful moments. It’s something I’ll have with me for the rest of my life.” Like Grace, Bethany Wolfe’s transition to being a mem-
fall 2017
Austin Grace
ber of the Alabama Cheerleading squad came with its share of trials and tribulations. “Going from high school to college is a big change. You have to juggle school and practices, along with early morning workouts and games on Saturday. There’s not as much time as you either need or want to get everything done,” Wolfe said. “You learn how to manage your time really quick. But at the end of the day, you realize everything you’re doing is so you can cheer for the best team in the nation.” Wolfe, also a graduate of Meek, found the sheer size of the crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium to be awe-aspiring, as well as energizing. “I came from a Class 1A school and on many Friday nights, a big crowd was 200 people. At Bryant-Denny, there’s over a hundred thousand fans in attendance on Saturday
volume 6, issue 1
afternoons, and you can feel the energy and excitement coming from them,” Wolfe said. “When there are big plays that happen, the roar literally washes over you — it’s an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.” Freshman Abby Housley, a Walker High School graduate, made her debut on the sidelines at Alabama’s home opener against Fresno State. The memory of her first game left a great impression, which she is sure will follow her through her time in Tuscaloosa. “To be able to do what I love so much in cheerleading in front of a hundred thousand people is a dream come true,” Housley said. “It’s more than I could have ever asked for. It’s a lot of work each week with practices, workouts and classes, but I love the experiences I’m having and look forward to more every day.” •
41
YOUR HOMETOWN REALTOR
Daily Mountain Eagle Proudly Celebrating 144 Years Of Being Your Trusted News Source.
1301 East Viking Dr., Jasper, AL 35501
(205) 221-2840 www.MountainEagle.com 42
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
Depositing a check is now as simple as taking a selfie. INTRODUCING REMOTE DEPOSIT
Locally Owned & Operated
295-5596 2979 Viking Dr. Jasper, Alabama across from the Hospital and beside Mr. Subs
M-S 8am-8pm | Sun. 9am-8pm
Always Giving Back To Our Community! Watch For Our Specials And Our Fundraisers
(205) 924-4471 www.fnbhamilton.com
460 20th St. West, Downtown Jasper
(205) 512-1199
Corridor X at Industrial Boulevard | Jasper, AL | Toll Free 1-855-216-5659
P Prr ooudly u d l y Ser S e r ving ving Nor N o r thwest t h w e s t Alabama Alabama or o r 52 5 2 year y e a r s! s! ffor C h evROLET • C A DILLA C • BUIC K • GM C volume 6, issue 1
43
october – december
CommunityCalendar To submit major community events for consideration in the next issue, send them to walkermagaine@mountaineagle.com.
october 26 Fall festival The Town of Parrish will host its annual Fall Festival on Thursday, Oct. 26, from 6–8 p.m. at the Parrish Community Center (Old Parrish High School). This event is free to the public. october 28 trunk or treat - thach Thach Neighborhood Watch will host its annual Halloween Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. at the Thach Community Center. october 28 trunk or treat - cordova Cordova Fire and Rescue will host a Trunk or Treat at the Old Park in Cordova on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m. october 31 trunk or treat - jasper Marvin Lee Ferguson VFW Post 4850 and its Auxiliary will host a Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 4-6 p.m. at the VFW Post home located at 3401 Veteran’s Drive in Jasper. november 4 veteran’s day parade Marvin Lee Ferguson Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 4850 and its Auxiliary will host the annual Veteran’s Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 4, in downtown Jasper. The parade will leave the staging area to begin its route through downtown Jasper at 10:40 a.m.
november 9 “steel magnolias” The Walker County Arts Alliance will present Steel Magnolias on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the Jasper Civic Center. Individual tickets for WCAA’s annual Dinner Theatre are $48.47 and are available through Eventbrite. november 13 eldridge day/car show The 35th Annual Eldridge Day/13th Annual Car Show will be held Saturday, Nov. 4, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Eldridge Town Hall. This event will feature arts and crafts, a country store and inflatables. Barbecue and chicken plates will also be available. november 18 community thanksgiving thach Thach Neighborhood Watch will host a Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. at the Thach Community Center. november 23 community thanksgiving parrish The Town of Parrish will host a Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 23, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Parrish Community Center (Old Parrish High School). november 30 christmas parade - parrish The Town of Parrish Annual Christmas Parade will be held Thursday, Nov. 30, from 6:30 until 8 p.m. in downtown Parrish.
december 2 “christmas in nauvoo” The 28th Annual “Christmas in Nauvoo” Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. in downtown Nauvoo. december 4 “Handel’s messiah” The Walker County Christian Chorus will perform Handel’s Messiah on Monday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. at the Jasper First Baptist Church. december 5 christmas parade - jasper The Chamber of Commerce of Walker County Annual Christmas Parade will be held Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. in downtown Jasper. december 8 christmas parade - sumiton The East Walker Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Parade will be held Thursday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. at Dora High School and go through downtown Sumiton. december 16 christmas parade - townley The Townley 3rd Annual Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Townley Community Center. december 16 “The Nutcracker” Athletic Arts Center in Jasper will host its annual performance of the Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at Jasper High School.
Call us for all your plumbing needs.
(205) 282-1918
44
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
C l a s sic . E l e g a n t. St y l e .
Readers’
Choice Awards 2017
2403 Hwy 78 E., Jasper, AL 35501 • 205-384-5990 • www.highpoint-furniture.com
Since 1975!
ServiceS:
accident repair, hail repair, wheel alignments, Glass replacement and towing
We Guarantee All Repairs Done On Your Vehicle! Owners: MOnrOe & Kathy BlacKwell
volume 6, issue 1
45
Snapshots Smokin’ On The Square BBQ Cookoff August 8, 2017 | Downtown Jasper
Dennis Hill, Ethan and Brian Grace
Laura Edwards, Patti Edwards, Ryan Edwards and Lee Irving
Shannon, Dayton, Michelle and Caleb Anderson
Kayley Peters and Chelsea Ray
Terri and Jack Humphries
Dave and Tonya Ayers
SuSan’ S
Hallmark rewards
OPEN ON SUNDAYS
Get points for every purchase, then spend points just like money! Get coupons and special offers.
Hallmark Jasper Mall • 300 Hwy. 78 E. • (205) 384-4699 46
Walker Magazine
Sign Up Today Absolutely FREE
fall 2017
Walker Area Community Foundation lunch August 30, 2017 | Jasper Civic Center
Alan and Joanna Johnson
LaRue Lockhart and Cindy Smith
Saderia Morgan and Paul Kennedy
Anne and Jack Allen, Jennifer Williams Smith and Cristy Moody
Christie Stanely, Kim Hobson and Donna Kilgore
Mike and Pat Putman
PAWN PLUS 3 volume 6, issue 1
2924 Hwy. 195, Jasper
(At the intersection of Hwy. 195/Curry Hwy.)
(205) 221-0807
Owner: David Waldrop
47
Snapshots Bankhead Middle School Grandparents Day September 19, 2017 | Cordova
48
Carol Madison and Ella Grace Madison
Valeria Ingram and Aalaiyah Cooper
Gerrick Toney and Charlesetta Johnson
Joan Waid and Braxton Stanley
Peyton Armstrong, Ronnie Dozier and Terri Dozier
Elizabeth Robbins, Josie Sickles, Teresa and Ray Robbins
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
frog festival October 7, 2017 | Sumiton
Ty, B.J. and Jaeden Smoot
Jaleigha, Brandon, Isaiah and Leiland Williams
Jeff Glover, Wayne Butler, Keith Owens and Nick Isbell
Megan, Chad, Briley and Addy Wells
Rayna Umber, Brynnly Sherer and Asher Adkins
massage • facials • hair removal • spa sauna • lash extensions • body treatments & more!
Offering Day Packages And Couples Massage Located in historic downtown jasper 205.265.2448 volume 6, issue 1
www.theslyfoxjasper.com
/theslyfoxjasper @theslyfoxjasper
49
WeAreWalkerCounty with
Bruce Kimbrell
Jasper native Bruce Kimbrell has been officiating for the Alabama High School Athletic Association for over 20 years. He works football, volleyball and basketball games for AHSAA and is also an official for NCAA women’s basketball. Additionally, Kimbrell works for Cook’s Pest Control. He and his wife, Connie, have been married for 27 years and have one daughter, Taylor.
“The thing I like the most about football in the fall is being out there watching teams playing hard and both teams’ bands battling it out. That’s hard to beat. God has truly blessed me in my officiating career. I have called many championship games at all levels and to Him I give all the glory. Without a very supportive family and fellow officials pushing you to improve on your craft, none of this would be possible. To them I am forever grateful.”
50
Walker Magazine
fall 2017
Voted “Best Marina” in Walker County for 5 years straight!
Readers’
Choice Awards 2017
uskin oint N
marina
W
E
S
Duskin Point Team: Harold, Danny, Brandon, Scott and Michael Beasley
198 Duskin Point Rd., Jasper, AL 35504 • 205.384.6942 (phone) • 205.384.6903 (fax)
nelsonbryancross.com
Jasper, AL 205.387.7777
Pat nelson
Bob Bryan
Gina Cross
We HAnDLe THem ALL Social Security Disability Automobile Accidents
Insurance Disputes Workers’ Compensation
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.