Welcome to the Dora High School Alumni Web CommunityKeeping the Alumni in Touch
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Remembering Mr. Gant
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| In sorting through some old photographs, I came across this one of Mr. Gant, the principal at Dora High from 1951, to 1973. I've heard a lot of stories about him and I have a few myself, but I'd like to hear from any of you who might have a story to share. Have you ever met anyone from Pineapple, AL? Any time
that the band would board the buses for a trip to a game or band contest,
Mr. Gant would come to each bus to give us the usual lecture about how
to behave, how not to embarrass the school, etc. He never raised his voice,
but everyone (well, almost everyone) would listen. He ended every |
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| The school year of 1952 was fast coming to a close. Mr.
Gant was playing "employer" and we seniors were practicing our
skills of being interviewed for employment. During my conversation, Mr.
Gant asked me if I were going to college. I replied that I would like to
but didn't see it in my future. He asked me what kind of kind of career
did I want to pursue. I told him I wasn't too sure, but would probably join the military. Then he made the most profound statement I believe I have ever heard. He said "Charles, even if you decide to be a ditch digger, be a ditch digger with a college education." I have never forgotten those words. --Charles Beersdorf |
| A Short Note about Mr. Gant: One hot summer day when I was about sixteen, I was about to go in Allbritton's store in my usual hot-weather attire -- bermuda shorts, sleeveless shirt, and, of course, I was barefoot. (I was almost always barefoot.) Sitting on "The Bench" right beside the door was Mr. Gant. He said, "Asa Faith, ladies don't go out in public without their shoes on." I went home tearfully and when I told Mother that he hurt my feelings, she replied in her typical "Fay" manner, "So, your feelings are hurt. Get over it! Mr. Gant was teaching you a lesson in respectability." As I sit here now at my computer, I am, of course, barefoot. But, Mr. Gant, if you can hear me in that section of Heaven named Respectability, I want you to know that I wear shoes when I go out in public. And --- I hope that God has an Allbritton bench for you to sit on. Asa Randolph, DHS class of '61 |
| Seeing the picture of Mr. Gant started me
to thinking about some of the talks we had sitting in the hallway next to
the office. We had quite a few discussions about life in general but one
day out of the blue he said something that struck me as funny and true at
the same time. He said, "Kenneth, if you want a good night's sleep,
just eat a bowl of rice and read the Mountain Eagle and you can got to bed
with nothing on your stomach and nothing on your mind." For some reason,
those words stuck with me all these years and I admit to having a little
guilt because I love reading the Mt Buzzard on the internet. One other thing he said to me impacted my entire time at DHS. It was at one of the first basketball practices after a fine group of athletes arrived at Dora from Sumiton including Ray Jenkins, Ronnie James, Sammy Black and myself to lead DHS to great victories during the next three years. Oh well, we could dream. Anyway, I was running up and down the the court as Mr Gant watched intently from a chair at the end of the court (which, by the way had to be the longest sucker anywhere!) Finally, I got close enough for him to speak and he said, "Son, that hair has got to go." Spent the rest of my time at DHS with some variation of a flattop! The man remains right next to my dad as the most respected men in my life. Rick, I hope you put this where Asa Faith can see it because she has been bugging me to contribute some memories. Your new friend Hugh was a '61 classmate of mine and maybe I'll get up enough nerve to tell about breaking his glasses with a pebble I threw during a class on the front lawn. By Ken Morrow- |