Dora High School Alumni Website

Today is 10/5/08. There have been 4176 American deaths in Iraq since the beginning of hostilities in March 2003. I want to keep this site updated with the total so that we can keep all our soldiers in our thoughts and prayers.
Click here for the names.
For the cost of the war in dollars, Click Here

Dora Loses to Curry In Homecoming Game
The Dawgs played well the first half and it looked as if the game was evenly matched but several turnovers made the difference as the Curry Yellow Jackets capitalized on the misqueues.
The final was 27 to 12. Next week Dora travels to Fayette County.
At left, the Homecoming Queen is crowned by last year's queen.
Click here for Pictures of the game

Click here for pictures of the parade

Click here to check Out Photos From the Sumiton Frog Festival

Chris Edwards - A Busy Man Since Graduating from Dora High
Chris Edwards' first connection with Dora High School was as an eighth grader attending Sumiton Jr. High. "Coach Morgan came in the locker room during Jr. high football practice and said he wanted us to give wrestling a try after football season," Chris explains "The school needed a few lightweights to fill the lower classes." "A couple of us decided to give it a shot," he

says. After enduring a season of football, Edwards thought the wrestling team would be a piece of cake. He quickly learned that this was not the case! "I wrestled on the varsity in the 98 pound class and got my tail whupped most of the time," he muses "But I did manage to win nine matches which, as an eighth grader, felt pretty good."
Chris played football with the Dawgs until a pinched nerve caused severe back and leg pain "cutting my promising career as a bench warmer short," he says with a smile.
He did continue on the wrestling team and
placed in the State Finals - in the 152 pound class A - 5A division. His record that year was 38 and 8.
"Dora High will always be a pleasant memory for me," says Edwards” I really enjoyed school, being around my friends and the teachers. The Pep Rallies before the ball games were always a lot of fun because it gave us a chance to cut loose." Chris related one story when he, Jimi Westbrook, and Steven Manasco assumed the role of cheerleaders in a skit that brought the house down at one of the rallies. This skit is always on the "hi-light film" at class reunions. "Just thinking about that brought a smile to my face," Chris says.
Chris graduated from Dora High in 1989 and later married Stacy Street (Dora Class of 1990). He is the proud father of Trevor (The Bulldog) Edwards, a sophomore at Dora; and Hollie Edwards, an 8th grader at Sumiton Jr. High.
After High School, Edwards attended Wallace State Community College from 1989 to 1991 and also Bevill State in 2002 where he completed a certificate course for Emergency Medical Technician. In 1991, he married Stacy and began his career at Edwards Insurance Agency, a family business started by his parents Aaron C. Edwards and Brenda C. Edwards.
In 1995, he joined the Dora Volunteer Fire Department. "They told me when I joined the department that I would either love it or hate it!" He must have loved it because he has been there ever since and now serves as Fire Chief (since 1999).
Chris’s tenure as chief has seen a lot of progress for the department. Dora has added Emergency Medical Response, built a new fire station, received three separate FEMA grants for fire equipment and a grant for a new pumper truck. "We lowered our ISO rating, which is a good thing, from class 6 to class 5," Edwards explains. A Lower ISO rating normally means lower insurance premiums for homeowners.
Edwards got involved with the East Walker Chamber of Commerce in 1995 and has served on the Board of Directors for the past several years and held the office of President in 2006 and 2007. "I had the privilege of being part of the restructuring and development of our chamber office," Chris says "and I am proud to say that today the chamber is going strong and will help this side of Walker County to grow, making the future bright for the people who live and work here."
Edwards had been thinking about running for the Mayor of Dora for several years. As the election date loomed, he discussed the idea with his wife Stacy and a number of prominent citizens of Dora. The outcome of those talks was encouraging. One factor that weighed heavily on his decision was that if elected mayor, he couldn't continue as the Fire Chief. He felt that both the fire and police departments are strong and would be fine.
Edwards feels his has the knowledge, skills, abilities and experience to help revive the business climate of Dora. "I have a vision of where our town should be in ten to twenty years and it's a long way from where we are now. We have fewer businesses now than when I graduated in 89," he laments "we are missing out on opportunities for growth and we may one day be absorbed by surrounding communities and lose our identity all together." He says surrounding communities are growing and Dora should be growing too.
If elected mayor, he plans to utilize his business experience and contacts in Montgomery and throughout the State to help revitalize the city.
"I feel I am the right person, and this is the right time to turn Dora around securing commercial and residential development for our future," he says. Four more years may be too late for Dora. I-22 (Corridor X ) is scheduled to be completed by 2011 and this will open Birmingham to Memphis. This should bring an economic boom for the Western Corridor of Alabama. We have to establish a plan for Dora and set goals to take full advantage of that growth."
When asked how he will know he has been a success, Chris says, "Personally, I already feel successful. I have a great family and a lot of friends. I enjoy my job at Edwards Insurance and helping others through my work with the fire department. If I become mayor, success can be measured by a successful park and recreation division, a community that works together and an increase of job and shopping opportunities in Dora with a balanced budget.
NOTE: Chris Edwards and The Edwards Agency have been sponsors of DoraHighSchool.com from the very start of the web site

2008 Dora High School Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time	Score
Aug. 28	Cordova (Away)	7 p.m.	L-43-6 Cordova
Sept. 5	West Point (Away)	7 p.m.	L-24-7 West Point
Sept. 12	Midfield (Home)	7 p.m.	L-46-0 Midfield
Sept. 19	Corner (Home)	7 p.m.	W-41-28 Dora
Sept. 26	Curry (Homecoming)	7 p.m.	L-27-12 Curry
Oct. 3	Fayette Co (Away)	7 p.m.
Oct. 10	Oak Grove (Home)	7 p.m.
Oct. 17	Hayleville (Away)	7 p.m.
Oct. 24	Fairfield (Away)	7 p.m.
Oct. 30	Walker (Home)	7 p.m.
Nov. 7	Playoffs Begin	7 p.m.

Class of 1989 Planning Their 20 Reunion
by Class of 89 Planning Committee
The Class of 1989 is starting to plan our 20th class reunion for the Summer of 2009. We are in the beginning stages and need addresses, phone numbers and even email addresses. We need ideas and classmates to help with the planning and organizing of the reunion. Everyone should contact the following people:

Leesa Taylor Cordell 648-7217

Ami Reaid DeFore 648-7870 or 616-5315

Shannon Mahaffey Sides 648-6046

Traci LeVan Weldon 648-6314

Sincerely,

Ami Reaid DeFore

Class of 1989

Below is a sampling of the pictures that have been used in stories for the website.

Cookbook Fundraiser
Hey All, Sandy Combs Amerson, our new Dora High School Alumni president is working on a cookbook. She needs for all alumni to send her recopies to get this project off the ground so please take a moment now and send her a few of your favorites.
The money from the sales of this cookbook will be for the Dora High School scholarship fund. Thanks.

New Sign ups for Dora High School Alumni Website
Linda Jones : lindajonesjames@bellsouth.net
Douglas Argo Bamaboy4887@yahoo.com (89)
Shelley Ricker Short shellyshort@bellsouth.net(91)
Wayne Short lumpygrumpz@bellsouth.net (89)
Alicia Morris Smallwood aa8184@charter.net (2003)
Krystal Bell Davis billbell912@yahoo.com (97)
Melissa (freeman) Kallaher Melissakallaher@charter.net (96)
Susan (Russell) Bennet nanasbizness@netzero.com (76)
Chris Wilbert cmwilbert7105@charter.net (95)
Robert Upton uptonr@knology.net (88)
Sandy Smith (Waddle) swaddle@uabmc.edu (79)

My Favorite Quotes
He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.-- Sir Winston Churchill

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results. -Anon.

Alumni Pets

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