Absolutely Andalusia-Spring 2023

Life on Horseback

Kym Keahey finds peace on the back of her horses

Sharing History

Trippy McGuire shares love of local history in first book

Tech Twins

Copeland brothers help community with their tech-savvy skills

Hooked on Fishing

Kevin King takes fishing pastime to next level

about ABSOLUTELY ANDALUSIA

Spring Edition

Absolutely Andalusia is published quarterly by Andalusia Newspapers, Inc., P.O. 430, Andalusia, AL 36420. All contents herein are the sole property of Andalusia Newspapers, Inc (the Publisher). No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Publisher, Absolutely Andalusia, P.O. Box 430, Andalusia, AL 36732. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling 334-2222402.

STAFF

PUBLISHER ROBERT BLANKENSHIP robert.blankenship@andalusiastarnews.com

STAFF WRITER ZACK MAIO zack.maio@andalusiastarnews.com

ADVERTISING STAFF RUCK ASHWORTH ruck.ashworth@andalusiastarnews.com

JAKELYN CARTER jakelyn.carter@andalusiastarnews.com

CIRCULATION CHRIS HALFORD chris.halford@andalusiastarnews.com

OFFICE MANAGER LISA EISENBERGER lisa.eisenberger@andalusiastarnews.com

ON THE COVER

Kym Keahey on her Andalusia farm with two of her horses.

PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP

Sharing History

by RobeRt blankenship

Trippy McGuire shares love of local history in book about Opp ‘flapper’

TTrippy McGuire has a love for researching and learning local history. Now, a fascinating piece of Opp’s history has become the basis of his first book, “A Roaring 20s Flapper Who Broke Glass Ceilings: Winnie Wright in the Early Boomtown Years of Opp, Alabama.”

A History major at Auburn University, McGuire went on to the Cumberland School of Law before practicing in Opp for 13 years. He has served as an Assistant District Attorney and was the Opp Municipal Judge for six years. He went on to serve almost four terms as the Covington County District Judge, retiring from that position in 2014.

Trippy moved to Covington County upon completing law school. His wife, Margaret, was originally from Covington County and said his new fatherin-law, along with attorney Admiral Powell Jr., recruited him to a vacated attorney’s office in Opp. “I came down here and right after our honeymoon moved into this house and opened a law practice.”

Today, McGuire fulfills his passion for history and passes it on to others through a weekly column in the Opp News. While he enjoys researching all aspects of history, one that particularly piqued his interest was the story of Winnie Wright. It was his father-in-law who first introduced him to the subject.

“He told me about a murder that happened in Opp in 1932. It was the “trial of the century” for the town. He told me to talk to Ed Powell whose father had defended the man accused. I did that and he told me his dad got him off. It was cold-blooded murder, no question, but he got him off.”

He learned that the defendant in the trial, Jim Childre, was found innocent based on an unwritten law.

“It was not actually a law, but an understanding among the male jurors of that day that if a man trifled with another man’s

wife it was justifiable homicide. That is how Ed Powell’s dad got the man off.”

As it turned out the lady who may have been “trifled with” was Winnie Wright Childre. She worked at the Micolas Mill owned by three of Opp’s leading business leaders of the day, with surnames of Mizell, Cole and Douglas. The plant’s superintendent, Charles Howard Cole, was the murder victim.

“Winnie was the star witness and her husband’s life depended on her testimony. She said that Mr. Cole came up, grabbed her from behind and groped her. She said at lunch she went home crying. Her husband came home and asked why she was crying. She told him what happened and he went, got his gun and shot Mr. Cole at his house during the noon lunch hour.”

Upon hearing the story, McGuire couldn’t help but wonder if Winnie told the truth on the witness stand or did she lie to save her husband. He began his own research to try and find out more. Along the way, he would write his findings and share to social media.

“We have a Facebook page, “Growing Up in Opp, Alabama.” I would write about a chapter a week and put it up on that Facebook page. I started getting a lot of people reading it and a lot of encouragement. For me, I was simply interested in learning whether she told the truth,” McGuire said.

Upon digging into his research, McGuire found that Winnie actually worked for all three men who owned the Micolas Mill.

“I found that interesting because in the 1920s women simply didn’t work outside of the home,” he said. “I did some research and found out she was a very smart lady; very courteous and determined. She was a flapper, but not the giggles and wiggles type of flapper, but rather a flapper who wanted to be independent and self-supporting. She seemed

to want to make her mark in a man’s world.”

Upon arriving in Opp in 1919, Winnie applied for a job at the bank. While some occupations may have been deemed appropriate for a woman at that time, working in a bank setting wasn’t common among them. “That was very audacious for a woman at that time and I’m sure Mr. Douglas, the president of the bank, was shocked. But, he hired her so he must have been impressed.”

Douglas hired her as a secretary but he passed away a few years later in 1922. Mr. Mizell then became president of the bank and kept her on as his own secretary. By then, the mill was a big success so they moved Winnie to the mill to work for Mr. Cole. “So, she worked for all three men who made up the Micolas name. The more I found out about her the more interesting she became,” McGuire said.

As he continued sharing his findings to the Facebook group, he was often encouraged to write a book. I put a chapter on a week and eventually put it into book form.

McGuire’s book focuses on Winnie Wright’s life in Opp, which was a relatively short amount of time, having arrived in 1919 and staying until after the murder trial in 1932.

“Her husband was acquitted, but they still had to leave town because he was ruined. He had murdered Mr. Cole, a prominent and popular member of the community. There were plenty of people who didn’t believe her,” he said.

As an example of the respect Mr. Cole had achieved in the community was evident in how the trial was covered by local

media. “The Andalusia Star covered it and told what Winnie’s testimony was, that he had put his hand on her breast and the other around her waist. But, the Opp News would not print that stating only that Mr. Cole insulted her. They didn’t tell the whole story, but I believe they did that out of respect for Mrs. Cole and the family.”

Mr. Cole was so popular in Opp, that all possible jurors from the community were struck with only one exception. The only Opp juror would serve as the foreman. “Mr. Cole enjoyed such prominence that, even after the trial, there were people who simply wouldn’t believe that he could do such a thing.”

The book covers a lot more than just the trial, according to McGuire. It also covers the excitement of living in America during the Roaring ‘20s.

“There were so many inventions coming about. The Victrola phonograph brought music into people’s homes and radio came along. Electricity started coming. Not everyone had it but those in the cities did and with that came toasters, vacuums, electric fans and then automobiles became affordable and when then that happened courting and dating could no longer be chaperoned. “You

had these two-seaters and that completely changed dating. At the same time, girls started wearing shorter skirts and the young people were dancing new dances. There were so many changes. Prohibition came around, yet whiskey thrived underground.”

Among the interesting historic facts in the book is that Al Capone himself bought his whiskey from a Covington County farmer. “It’s not documented, I had to speak with some older witnesses on that.”

We had several interesting things happen. J.R. Ward of Opp ordered a Ford automobile. At that time, you had to order it directly from Detroit and they would be shipped by train. There were no dealers. Henry Ford sent Mr. Ward a letter back stating that if he would be two cars he would get a Ford franchise. Mr. Ward ordered two and got his Ford franchise and put dealerships in Opp, Andalusia and Florala. He ran the one in Opp and his two sons managed the others.

Another lady who lived in Opp, was a young lady in her 20s. Jessie Virginia Lee wrote a letter to Cecil D. DeMille asking him if she moved to Hollywood did he think she could find work. He wrote her back and said ‘if you move out here, I’ll see to it that you find work.’ She moved to Hollywood and within two years was the star of two silent films and became an extra in many other movies.

Ruth Smith, who happened to be a friend of Winnie Wright, was in graduate school in California when Warner Brothers discovered her and signed her to a contract and appeared in three movies as an extra. Warner Brothers would loan her out to Paramount and a casting director there proposed and they were married. “The engagement made national news. The Hollywood couple would get divorced after a short marriage and Ruth returned to Opp where she became a school teacher.

The talking pictures came out in 1927. Small towns could not

afford the equipment for these movies. The man who owned the Opp theater, George S. Owen, was also an inventor. He invented his own talking equipment at a much lower price, had it patented and installed into motion picture theaters across the Southeast.

“He became famous in Hollywood because he brought the talking pictures to the small towns. When he moved his theater from its original location across from today’s Wheelhouse restaurant to a new location now home to Young’s Florist, he received all sorts of telegrams from Hollywood stars congratulating him. They appreciated him because he had brought them to the small towns.”

“All of these are things I found fascinating and decided to cover them in the book. It really is a look at American life, in general, during this time in our history,” McGuire said.

Going back to the star of his book, Winnie Wright went on to play a role in the election of U.S. Senator Hugo Black in 1926. Winnie was originally from Coosa County, which was also the home of Hugo Black. “Winnie wasted no time in making sure her friend from Coosa County carried Covington County. She campaigned

for him big-time.”

She wrote a book in 1970, at this point remarried with the surname Childers, and sent it to Hugo Black who was now a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. “He wrote her back in a long letter chuckling about old times and thanking her for the role she played in the large vote he had received in this area,” McGuire said.

Despite her short residency in Covington County, McGuire said Winnie Wright left a lasting impression for those who look back at that time in history.

“She was a ceiling breaker. She got a job at a bank and women didn’t do that. She campaigned and women didn’t do that. She was a star witness in a trial and women didn’t do that either,” he said.

The big question left unanswered is whether Winnie told the truth in Opp’s trial of the century.

“I believe her. Of course, the ‘unwritten law’ wouldn’t apply today, but I think she was telling the truth. When I found the transcript of the trial, I thought to myself ‘I’ll be, she’s telling the truth.’ I also found out that she was a very fine lady. Her two brothers were both doctors in Arkansas. She was a descendant of those who came over on the Mayflower. Her family

was very wealthy in Virginia prior to the Civil War, but after the war they were broke and moved to Coosa County and ultimately she ended up here,” he said.

McGuire said he was not sure how to take the chapters he had posted to Facebook and create a book, but received support from an unexpected source.

“I ran into Rick Wall and some friends were doing a podcast and wanted to interview me. The production manager of the podcast, Jan Murray, who is also an author, asked me, ‘Where is the book?’. I didn’t know how to publish it, but she said she did and asked me to email it to her. Her sister is a graphic artist and she designed the cover. All I did was write it and hand it off. She ran with it and in about two weeks we had it in book form. I’m very grateful to her. If not for her, it would still be on my laptop. It was an answered prayer,” he said.

The podcast that recently streamed the McGuire interview is “Success and Sweet Tea,” hosted by Doug and Vickie Miles.

Whether as a book or not, McGuire said his goal has always been to entertain and share history. “It just continued to grow,” he said.

McGuire said he is already working on his next book that he says will be about the “ghost town” of Poley, just outside of Opp. “It was a sawmill town and there was a very fascinating family that lived there, the Shepard family. They had a mansion out there that was the scene of many balls and parties. There are a lot of legends about that mansion, which burned in 1976. Mrs. Shepard became a famous poet who wrote two books and traveled the Southeast.”

His working title for the new book is “The Shepards of Poley.”

“Research is a lot of fun for me, especially when I’m on the trail of something exciting. To be able to share that with folks and have them find it interesting makes it even better,” McGuire said.

Winnie and Jim Childre in a later photo in front of the Gilbert Hotel in Gainesville, Florida, which Jim managed at one time.

(Photo provided to Trippy McGuire by Mary Driver)

Life on Horseback

Kym Keahey has always found peace on the back of her horse

stoRy and photos by RobeRt blankenship

SSome people enjoy a stroll through the neighborhood while others perhaps a sip of tea on the back porch. For Kym Keahey, serenity from the dayto-day grind comes on the back of a horse.

Kym fell in love with horseback riding as a young girl growing up on her family’s farm in Barbour County. There, she enjoyed a life surrounded by cows, goats, chickens and a couple of horses. She takes pride in her rural upbringing, even though she can’t help but laugh about once being crowned the county’s “Chitlin Queen.”

Kym and her husband, Randy, moved to Andalusia upon purchasing the former Eastwood Chapel Funeral Home in 1991. Today it operates as Keahey Funeral Home.

“We had graduated from Jefferson State Mortuary College in Birmingham and were looking to purchase a funeral home. I remember very well coming to Andalusia and spending the night of April Fool’s Day with the attorney who owned the property, James Prestwood.” Kym said.

Kym and Randy have been married for 41 years and have operated Keahey Funeral Home for 33 of those years. While running a business took precedent over horseback riding for several years, Kym’s love for the activity would be rekindled in the raising of her own children.

“I grew up on a farm with a couple of horses. I had a horse that was a paint pony named Spot that my daddy paid $25 for. I road it around everywhere and it would run me into trees. I was never a great rider, just a pasture rider, and as an adult I stopped riding for a while,” she said.

Kym’s daughter, Lexi, discovered horse-riding at a young age, which led Kym back into the saddle.

“When Lexi was about 7 she wanted to take horse-riding lessons. She had a passion for it and within a few short years was doing junior rodeos and high school rodeos and competing with five or six horses in a day. So, in between, a horse would need warmed up or cooling down and that is what I would do. I’m still no barrel racer or anything like that. I’m just a trail rider; no hot-rodding for me,” she said.

With their daughter competing, the Keaheys began buying competition horses. By the time Lexi graduated high school, Kym said they had a pasture of those horses, some of which had aged. “We rode most of those horses until they passed away and over time it got to where we had only a few in our pasture.”

One day, friends came to ride and they brought Kym’s favorite since childhood, a paint horse.

Kym and her horses enjoy dressing up for all of Andalusia’s parades.

“I bought that horse from them, but she had a few quirks that made her just a little unsafe. My friend found two more horses that we ending up buying.”

Turns out, those two horses had seen some history.

“They are retired re-enactment horses. They’ve been all over the United States for Civil War re-enactments. They’ve been to Gettysburg numerous times,” she said.

One of those horses is a Missouri Fox Trotter named Bo, although Kym likes to call him Gettysburg. “He has some hearing loss from standing so close to the cannons.”

Kym rides a mare Grulla named Stormy.

“They ride a bit different than a quarter horse, but are very smooth with a faster trot,” Kym said.

While Kym enjoys decompressing with casual rides, she always looks forward to getting the horses dressed up and showing them off in Andalusia’s parades.

“As long as I’ve been here, Andalusia has had Christmas parades and the whole family would ride in those. Then, they started having a Fourth of July parade, the Witches Ride and Mardi Gras parade so I started dressing up the horses to fit the theme. People would tell me how much they liked it so I keep trying to do better each time,” she said.

Kym watches the National Horse and Rider Costume com-

petitions on YouTube where she gathers ideas. In one case, she purchased a pageant dress with multiple layers from the Goodwill store. “You can split that a create a train for the horse. People love it. Every parade, it seems it comes down to the last minute and don’t go as elaborate as I wanted to. One of these days I’m going to be better prepared and really shock people,” she said.

One of the horses owned by the Keaheys ended up being a surprise champion for their daughter, Lexi.

“My husband was at a convenience store in New Brockton and there was a guy with a horse trailer with a paint inside. He struck up a conversation with him and ended up buying the horse. It was a trail horse, but a very pretty one and he surprised me with it. At that time, my daughter was about 9 and she started riding it. Most rodeo horses are quarter horses, but this one was a walking horse. She started doing pole-bending on that horse and in a couple of years she actually qualified for the National High School Rodeo finals in pole-bending and we took that horse to New Mexico where she competed. Normally, you don’t pick up a rodeo horse in the parking lot of a gas station. We had that horse for a long time.”

Lexi and her husband, Christopher Fowler, are both residents of Andalusia. Their son, R.J. Keahey, also lives in

Andalusia and is involved with the family’s funeral home.

These days, Kym said she tries to ride at least twice each week. “That is my relaxation. I love to ride. There is a group of us women who take our horses and go camping at state parks. We have a good time doing that. It’s our ‘no boys’ time,” she joked.

Kym estimates her family has owned about 40 horses over the years. Today, the Keaheys own four horses, which Kym said is the lowest number they’ve owned in many years. She said they have never sold horses.

“We get attached to them,” she said. “It’s hard to sell a horse not knowing if they’ll be taking care of the way we can.”

She said the worst thing about owning a horse is getting a specific, dreaded, call.

“People who know me well will call and joke, ‘Kym, your horses are out.” Of course, that’s the worst thing you can hear. There was a time when we had a home on Stanley and somebody brought us some hay and turns out he wasn’t too astute with gates. I had about five horses up on the square in downtown. Now, when horses get out the police will call me and I’ll help round them up. Usually, it’s not my horses anymore,” she laughed.

She said taking care of the horses is just a simple part of everyday life for her.

“They will act like they are hungry, but you have to be careful not to overfeed them. Colic

is one of the most common ailments they get, which primarily comes from overfeeding or lack of water. There is daily attention that has to be given to them,” she said.

Kym enjoys casual rides in town through Green Acres and along Lindsey Bridge Road. She hopes to travel to Daniel Boone State Park in Tennessee for trail riding one day.

Along with their two children, Kym and Randy are grandparents to Ella Lake, Mary Kate, and Reid Tillman Fowler. The Keaheys are members of the First United Baptist Church where, of course, Kym participates with her horses in the annual live nativity each Christmas season.

Kym hopes to one day be involved in therapeutic horse riding. “I’ve read a lot about it and the stories are fascinating. They are very successful and really help children forget about their troubles.”

A few years ago, Kym had back surgery and was advised to stop riding.

“They didn’t say I can’t ride, they told me I shouldn’t ride anymore due to the location of my injury. I stayed off for a year. I started sneaking and riding here and there. Now, I ride as much as I ever did,” she said.

It’s difficult for Kym to imagine life without saddling up her horse. “It’s my relaxation. I’m at peace when I ride. I love it and hope to be riding for a long, long time.” n

The Tech Twins

DDriven by their mother’s love and support, twin brothers Robert and Madison Copeland have turned a childhood love of technology into their own business called Copeland Computer Solutions.

They will celebrate 15 years in business and service to the local community in May.

“Ever since childhood, we have been interested in technology. We loved all things Nintendo and considered calculators to be toys. We were fascinated by the computers our friends owned,” Madison said. “Our dad Robert Madison ‘Bob’ Copeland had a love for electronics such as camcorders, cordless phones, and answering machines. Our mom Betty Sorrells Copeland would spend many afternoons and summers with us at the Andalusia Public Library in their computer lab doing homework and exploring the early World Wide Web. We purchased our first family computer in the year 2000.”

The twins were able to learn about several computer programs while attending school.

“Andalusia City Schools had several com-

puter labs in which we learned everything from Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft FrontPage, thanks to Mrs. Donna Cauley, to the Microsoft Office suite, thanks to Miss Delores Boyd. With Miss Boyd’s permission, we would explore the computers in the computer lab and attempt to fix them. Thankfully, no fires or catastrophes occurred,” Robert stated.

Robert and Madison are 2005 graduates of Andalusia High School and 2007 graduates of LBW Community College. They received bachelor’s degrees in Theology from the University of Mobile in 2009 as well as master’s degrees in Religious Studies in 2011.

“Our first jobs were with AlaWeb Pioneer Services. We spent a searing July summer hanging AlaWeb Pioneer advertisements on every doorknob in Andalusia and also worked in the technical support department for dial-up, wireless, and satellite Internet services. AlaWeb Pioneer was our first professional taste of the information technology industry,” Madison said. “The customer service skills we developed at AlaWeb Pioneer – how to treat

Hometown brothers help community with their tech-savvy skills

customers, how to document calls, and how to walk someone through their technology-related issues ‘virtually’ over the phone – continue to serve us well.”

The brothers then went to work for Dr. Reid and Gina Kerr in the medical records department. “Dr. Kerr was an early adopter of both electronic health record (EHR) software and Apple computer hardware, both of which were cutting edge technology in the early 2000s. He really opened our eyes to how technology could transform any industry,” Robert said.

With technology evolving daily, Madison believes it is important to follow it closely.

“If one does not keep up with the changes in technology, one is quickly left behind in the information technology industry. The fixes and methods of even six months ago may not apply to today’s landscape, and every new version of Windows or macOS brings its own nuances and challenges. Therefore, you must constantly retain old information while absorbing new information. Thankfully, our clients continually bring us the latest and

stoRy and photos by Zack Maio

Madison and Robert Copeland are twin brothers from Andalusia who are the owners and operators of their own business, Copeland Computer Solutions.

greatest in new technology, thereby allowing us to learn something new every day.”

Robert added that they strive to bring both peace of mind and appropriate technology solutions to every client. “‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is at the forefront of our customer service policy, and by using our God-given knowledge and experiences, we aim to treat others as we would want to be treated.”

For their personal technology, the brothers use Windows-based devices for computers and Android-based phones and tablets.

“We appreciate the countless options and customizations that both Windows OS and Android OS devices provide to the end user. However, we perform a great deal of work on iMacs and MacBooks and iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads. There is no right or wrong answer to one’s OS preference, and that preference varies depending on one’s personal tastes and specific needs,” Madison said.

After leaving AlaWeb, they began receiving calls from customers asking for help with computer issues.

“During the time we were in Mobile, we continued receiving calls for computer help. In May 2008, our mom highly encouraged us to transform our computer hobby into a part-time source of income. We secured a $40 business license from the City of Andalusia and made Copeland Computer Solutions an official business. By 2011, that part-time work had grown into a full-time business,” Robert said.

Their business offers several options for residential and business clients.

“We offer desktop repair, laptop repair, smartphone repair, cell phone repair, printer repair, wireless and wired networking solutions, and website consultation and design. We also order and install new computers, printers, and networking equipment. We provide these services via phone

support, remote support, drop-off support, and on-site support,” Madison said.

Robert shared that they enjoy their clients the most. “We also enjoy learning new things. Every day presents new technology-related puzzles to solve, and with the Lord’s help, we love solving those puzzles.”

The twins have a tried and true method for troubleshooting any equipment they receive.

“First, we make sure we understand each client’s dilemma and expectations because we cannot assume anything. Second, we determine whether we can best assist the client via phone/remote support or if we will need to physically inspect the equipment. Once a determination is made, we provide the client with an explanation of the issues and work with them to form a plan of action. We are always candid with our clients regarding the feasibility of repairing a device versus the prudence of replacing it,” Madison stated.

They rely on a number of resources to aid their work in the technology field.

“With the Lord’s guidance, we utilize search engines, technical support forums, user reviews,

a network of industry partners, and our prior experiences to dictate each job. Listening to the still, small voice of God is and will always be the best resource,” Robert said.

Both possess several skills, which allow them to work efficiently with all types of devices.

“We absolutely will not quit until we have a solution to a problem. Once again, ‘treating others as we would want to be treated’ allows us to both sympathize with our clients and desire their issues be resolved in a God-glorifying manner,” Robert said. “Robert handles the majority of our website clients, and I handle the majority of our smartphone and tablet clients. However, we both work on computers, printers, and network equipment of all makes and models,” Madison added.

Regarding the future of their business, the Copeland twins take it one day at the time.

“We must treat each day as though it could be our last day both in life and in business. The Lord always provides us with the perfect amount of work, and we are grateful for His guidance. Every extra day we’re given is a blessing in and of itself. However,

we would love to have more space for our ever-burgeoning computer warehouse,” Robert said.

Madison said having this opportunity has provided him with a career in the last place he expected to find one. “I am so incredibly thankful to the Lord, to my mom and brother, and to our clients for their constant support and encouragement. Without any of them, it would not be possible.”

Robert believes that every occupation can be a ministry. “We don’t work on computers. We work on people, and Lord willing, we can repair their technology along the way, too.”

According to Madison, a computer technician can be successful with certain qualities.

“You must stay hungry, and you must never become complacent. You must be humble and never assume you know everything. You must always be attentive to each client’s needs and be compassionate to all clients, especially those that are frustrated or hurting. You must be a great listener, measure your words, and never give up, even on the toughest of days.”

Their mother, Betty, previously served as the executive secretary for the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce. She was also the personal secretary for both Riley R. Taylor Sr. and Riley R. Taylor Jr., who were consecutive presidents of T P S, Inc.

“Our mom is the God-given glue that holds us and the business together. She is an excellent prayer warrior, communicator, advisor, encourager, and foundation,” Robert said. “We have always said this is not our business; it is the Lord’s business, and He just allows us to work in it. We thank everyone for the support these past 15 years, and if the Lord allows it, we look forward to serving you for many years to come,” Madison added.

For more information call Copeland Computer Solutions at 334-222-3953. “As our jingle says, ‘For all of your computer needs, call 222-3953,” the brothers said. n

Madison and Robert inspect a customer’s desktop for hardware issues.

Hooked on Fishing

Kevin King takes fishing pastime to next level

stoRy by Zack Maio

FFishing is a way of life for Kevin King as he embraces the sport and the challenges it offers while facing competition in statewide tournaments using hooks he sponsors.

His love for fishing came at the age of six when he spent quality time with his father.

“When my family lived in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, my dad took me to this place called The Blue Hole. That was the first time I went fishing and actually hooked a big bass, too. Over the years, it has blossomed into a life for me and one I really enjoy very much,” King said.

He played football and baseball as a teenager but felt fishing was more of a science.

“It’s more of a challenge. You know what a play is in football, but in fishing, you go out and don’t know if this bait is going to work or that one’s going to. Fishing deals with several factors like the color of the water, barometric pressure, outside temperature, and climate change. Those are what really drew me to it.”

Although he enjoys fishing in general, his favorite species to catch are the largemouth and smallmouth bass. “I like the fight of them because they’re a little more timid in my opinion. So many people who fish for that species alone, which explains why there are bass tournaments. These are also a little bit harder to catch,” he said.

According to King, several types of bait attract fish. He did not disclose the particular bait he uses but said it is successful for him.

“Your bait can be colors/color combinations, and it also deals with the depth of

the bait whether you’re using a smaller or larger bait. That’s what makes for the science aspect of fishing. If you’re doing a jerk bait, sometimes you might want to twitch it three times before you let it float up. If you’re not getting anything, you might have to twitch it five times. It’s all about figuring out combinations. I do have a go-to bait that works very well for me.”

His favorite fishing spots in Covington County are Lake Frank Jackson in Opp, Point A in Gantt, and Lake Armstrong behind Saehaesung near the city’s industrial park.

“There are a lot of woods at Lake Frank Jackson with tree stumps in the water. It’s

a good place to practice your rattletraps because a lot of bass like to cut up against stumps. Point A is challenging for its darker, muddier water. I call it Yoo-Hoo water, and it became even more of a challenge when the lake was drained and then filled back up. It’s a really hard place to fish, but I like that challenge. Armstrong is a weeded lake with a lot of grass in the bottom of it and not very many stumps. The water is clear, and it helps me practice for tournaments I go to.”

Although it seems fishing in clear water would be easier, King stated it could be harder because the fish can see you. “The jerseys I like to wear are grayish and a light blue. I try to blend into the color of the sky. I make longer casts and adapt to the environment. That’s why I like going to Armstrong most of the time.”

The sport gives him an opportunity to temporarily put his everyday life and work behind him.

“Fishing is nature and something that God gave us. It’s a good thing to go out and clear your mind if you’re having a bad day at work, or something tragic has happened in your family. It’s a good place to go where you can go and talk to the man upstairs. You have no worries about anything, and your stress is gone,” King said.

Although he focuses on catching bass, his dream is to catch an alligator gar one day.

“Bass are beautiful fish with greenish-brownish backs and a stripe running down the middle of them. The gar have big teeth, so I wouldn’t mind changing it up some and turning my focus toward them.”

King was emotional when he talked about bonding with his father during childhood.

King enjoys the challenge of fishing with his favorite species to catch being largemouth and smallmouth bass.

King has a customized fishing shed near his home where he sells fishing hooks and other fishing essentials.

“You only get one dad, and the time we spent together was great. When we went to the Blue Hole, the bank is about a 65-degree angle. Just imagine Talladega, which is the hardest bank. We drive around that bank, and I can lay in the backseat, put my feet up, and look out to see the water. Daddy would get me ready to fish with a hook, worm, and bait, and I caught a bucket mouth, which was a big fish to a six-year-old. He sucked my worm, and I thought it was an alligator coming in. I dropped my pole off and took up this hill screaming, and my dad told me he was a big bass. I’m the youngest of four siblings, and it was fun bonding with my dad.”

Those times with his father motivated him to compete in tournaments across the state.

“I fish because of the passion my dad had. That gave me the fuel to take what he taught me and take it further. I want to show that the time he spent with me is not banished.”

King is also an elite staff member and dealer for Vector Hooks.

“I want to keep the sport alive and don’t keep any fish. I put them all back because I want the next generation to have something. Even though they lay thousands of eggs, I believe in the health of the fish. I don’t keep it out of the water for very long. Vector Hooks started almost five years ago in Quincy, Florida. There are so many different

hooks, but Vector’s hooks are made with quality. We ended up adding an extra metal out of the Japanese carbon steel we use. You can buy a freshwater hook and take it out into the salt water,” he said.

He added that Vector’s hooks have a barb that does not tear the inside of the fish’s mouth. “We don’t want to hurt the fish. Our barbs are so sharp that when they go in, it’s literally a puncture. You don’t have to set the hook because the fish sets it when they bite it. One of our favorite hooks is called the ‘Tornado Trouble’ and does not hurt the fish. You don’t want to throw the fish back in the water with a ripped mouth, and I want to use something that takes care of them.”

One of King’s first tournaments was a second-place finish in Quincy, where he caught 33 pounds and 6 ounces of fish.

“I like to challenge myself. There is always somebody better, and you can learn from that person. It’s a little bit stressful, but I tell myself that I’m here to do what I love. I was able to fish with a pro, and I went with a clean slate of mind. I wanted to have fun but also challenge myself at the same time.”

He believes it is important to have efficient food and energy sources while fishing.

“You’re not just going out there for a few hours at the time but more like eight hours a day. Your tournament starts at daylight and then you have your weigh-ins toward the

end of the day. I love to take Clif bars and beef jerky with me. I also eat peanut butter and foods with a lot of protein. I drink water and a lot of Gatorade. You’re out there in the environment, where the humidity can be higher on the water. You need to make sure you stay hydrated and have plenty of electrolytes.”

When he is not fishing, King is a maintenance worker for the City of Andalusia.

“I plan to enter some big tournaments to have fun but also carry my family’s love and support with me. My family is the one who keeps pushing me to fish and do what I am passionate about. I can take my knowledge and share it rather than take it and run with it. I don’t want to make fishing my lifestyle but more so pass it onto the younger generation. If anyone wants to make this sport a full-time commitment, it’s going to take a lot of work.”

He is the son of Robert and Jean King. He and his wife Angela live in the Loango community with five children: Austin, Robert, Angel, Courtney, and Jeffrey. For more information visit Kevin Angela Nator King on Facebook or Nator Fishing on Instagram.

“Fishing is my life, and I dream about it every day. It’s a sport I’m really invested in, and it has changed my life dramatically. None of this would be possible without the support of my family,” he said. n

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