Madison Progress 2016

Hometown Heroes Inside

Michael Sedlacek EMT duties provide rewarding opportunities to help people

Lee Marshall

Kids to Love reaches thousands of foster children

Jason Bolden

SRO responsibilities include tackling bullying and abuse

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STAFF MANAGEMENT Alan Brown President & Publisher EDITORIAL Alison James Editor

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Gregg Parker Staff Writer

RALPH COBB DEDICATED TO BETTER SAFETY, UNDERSTANDING

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REV. DR. MICHAEL OLIVER LEADS, COMFORTS TRINITY CONGREGATION

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JASON BOLDEN BEFRIENDS, PROTECTS YOUTH ON CAMPUS

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LEE MARSHALL NO PLACE LIKE HOME

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MICHAEL SEDLACEK ‘IT’S WORTH THE SACRIFICES’

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Hometown Heroes 3

Fire Chief

Ralph Cobb Dedicated to better safety, understanding WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEN FOUTS-DETULLEO AND CONTRIBUTED

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RIGHT: Ralph Cobb has worked as Fire Chief of Madison Fire & Rescue Department since January 2000.

4 Madison Progress 2016

s fire chief of the Madison Fire & Rescue Department, Ralph Cobb manages 67 firefighters, one emergency manager and one administrative assistant.

He accepted this job in January 2000.

Cobb “orchestrates the city’s response to fires, medical emergencies and other hazardous situations. However, I consider my primary job to prevent or mitigate the effect of such emergencies.”

Cobb said he feels frustration knowing people could live safer but seemingly refuse. “Almost all emergencies can be prevented,” he said. “However, prevention is easier said than done.”

He cited texting while driving. “Some people are difficult to reach. Others think they’re invincible,” Cobb said.

Cobb and Madison firefighters are proud of their “’walk-out-of-the-hospital’ survival rate for cardiac arrest.” Their resuscitation successes rank

twice Madison County’s average and six times the national average.

A large percentage of Cobb’s time is devoted to administration and budgeting. “It’s also my job to see that we project a positive image in our community so our citizens feel confident in our ability to protect them,” he said.

Replacing aging fire trucks is the department’s primary need. The “sluggish economy” delayed their plan. “We’re trying to catch up,” Cobb said.

He expects a fourth fire station will be needed on Madison’s western perimeter.

For his firefighters, Cobb tries to bridge the generation gap (four generations ranging in age from 19-63) with better communication and understanding “so we function well, side by side.”

About 25 firefighters are younger than 30 years old, many younger than 25. “I have about 15 employees eligible to retire,” he said.

“My primary goal is to fully prepare these fine

“My primary goal is to fully prepare these fine young people to take the reins of the department in a few years.”

— Ralph Cobb

Hometown Heroes 5

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Peggy and Ralph Cobb prepare for a Veterans Day parade.

Cobb expects a fourth fire station will be needed in western Madison. Cobb plays trombone with Madison Community Band. The Cobbs congratulate son Ben at boot camp graduation.

6 Madison Progress 2016

young people to take the reins of the department in a few years,” Cobb said. “It’s already their department – we just haven’t gotten out of their way yet.” All Madison firefighters are EMTs. Most are paramedics.

From his career, Cobb best remembers a student in one of his paramedic courses. The man had “significant learning disabilities. I never thought he would pass the course (yet he did). I was so impressed with his determination and perseverance.

I hired him.”

Cobb served in the Alabama National Guard

and U.S. Army Reserve and retired as lieutenant colonel.

Cobb holds bachelor and master’s degrees in music education from Auburn University. A few years, he worked as a band director.

“I began volunteering for Lanett Fire Department and transitioned to full time. I promoted through the ranks, becoming fire chief in 1997,” Cobb said.

He earned paramedic certification at Gadsden State Community College and graduated from National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program.

His wife Peggy has retired. They have three sons. Joshua, 28, of Huntsville, works for Modern Technology Solutions Inc. Ben, 25, of El Paso, Texas, works for SES. Adam, 21, is a senior at Samford University, majoring in music composition and organ performance.

“Josh and Ben are both Afghanistan veterans. Adam is applying to grad schools.

I have two grandsons and a granddaughter,” Cobb said.

In his free time, Cobb plays trombone with Madison Community Band and occasionally conducts. He sings in the choir at Trinity Baptist Church.

For many years, his hobbies concentrated on his sons’ interests. Now as “empty-nesters,” the Cobbs have enjoyed their first cruise. “I’m sure we’ll be taking more cruises ... meeting new people and seeing new places along the way,” he said.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE Hometown Heroes 7

Michael Oliver

leads, comforts Trinity congregation WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEN FOUTS-DETULLEO AND CONTRIBUTED

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ABOVE: The Rev. Dr. Michael Oliver has served as senior pastor at Trinity Baptist Church since 2012.

8 Madison Progress 2016

ather of four sons, counselor and comforting friend, the Rev. Dr. Michael Oliver serves as senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.

His sermon style mixes teaching with narrative storytelling. “We have a blended style of worship with choirs and praise teams. Trinity is affiliated with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Southern Baptist Convention,” Oliver said.

Oliver also leads Bible study/prayer meeting on Wednesdays. He is past chairman of Missions Council for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, overseeing Global Missions.

As senior pastor, Oliver not only must be competent in preaching but knowledgeable about counseling, administration, community outreach and finance. “The greatest challenge is keeping up with the many hats I have to wear. I enjoy this challenge very much,” he said.

When thinking about people who have impressed him, “a slideshow of faces appeared,” Oliver said. First, he remembers congregational friends. To narrow it, he identified a former congregation member who led rebuilding efforts after 2011’s tornado outbreak. “With his help, we raised funds and coordinated teams to provide 12

homes to folks who lost theirs and were uninsured or underinsured.”

“Any accomplishment is a work of God,” Oliver said. He is pleased that Trinity now hosts the Madison City Farmers Market and, he is also thankful for his collaboration with pastors in the Dominican Republic.

“This may not mean much to the average person, but I feel my best accomplishments have been in interpersonal work as a pastor to help shepherd a person’s spiritual growth and find ways to live their faith more genuinely in the world,” Oliver said.

In addition, he’s proud of Trinity’s commitment to Christian Women’s Job Corps, Salvation Army, Madison City Schools Backpack Snack and other local, state and global outreach.

Oliver said he hopes Trinity “will retool how we minister to the youngest members.” Personally, he will expand outreach to senior adults.

His rewards are “seeing people take steps that deepen their own walk with Christ. I see, as pastor, what many folks don’t get the opportunity to see.”

He values individuals’ growth in faith for stronger families, more rewarding work and meaningful life.

Oliver said he feels honored to serve a congregation that he truly loves.

Conversely, his most difficult situations are “standing alongside those who suffer ... loss of a loved one, broken relationship, stagnant career or spiritual/physical pain. Pain always wounds and touches everyone around who cares.”

To assist 400-plus members, Trinity’s full-time ministerial staff includes three more people, along

ABOVE: The Olivers have four sons: Andrew, the oldest; Jonathan; Samuel; and the youngest son, Thomas.

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Hometown Heroes 9

Oliver’s major rewards are “in interpersonal work as a pastor to help shepherd a person’s spiritual growth.”

10 Madison Progress 2016

ABOVE: Mary Oliver works as instructional partner at Bob Jones High School.

with the office staff ’s publications secretary and financial manager. Affiliated staffs coordinate Daylife Ministry for adults with special needs and weekday preschool ministry.

Oliver has served at Trinity since 2012 and previously at First Baptist Church of Williams, Jacksonville; First Baptist Church, Hartsville, Tenn.; and Stewart’s Creek Baptist Church, Lebanon, Ky. Michael’s wife, Mary, is his “best friend and a true life partner.” Mary works as instructional partner at Bob Jones High School.

Their oldest son Andrew is a senior secondary education major at Jacksonville State University, serves in National Guard and is engaged. Also at JSU majoring in secondary education, Jonathan is a junior and hopes to coach. A freshman, Samuel is attending the University of Alabama on full scholarship. Thomas, a Bob Jones freshman, plays Patriot football.

Away from work, Oliver enjoys family tailgates at Crimson Tide football games. He coaches basketball with Madison youth leagues. “I like reading, watching old movies and barbecuing with my old smoker. I collect stamps, coins and historical/sports memorabilia.”

Hometown Heroes 11

SRO Jason Bolden befriends, protects youth on campus WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEN FOUTS-DETULLEO AND CONTRIBUTED

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or Jason Bolden, working as Special Resource Officer is most fulfilling when he helps a young person cope with an issue and sees the youth move through it successfully.

Bolden’s work as an SRO began three years ago, first in elementary schools for one semester then Liberty Middle School for two years. He has worked at James Clemens High School for one semester.

Bolden has worked with the Madison Police Department for 11 years. He holds the rank of patrol officer. In patrol, he has worked on all three duty shifts and answered calls for service by residents, enforced traffic laws and built rapport with the community.

For two years, he was a member of the Traffic Safety Division and trained as a Traffic Homicide Investigator and Accident Reconstructionist. “I worked many serious injury wrecks and fatalities that led to criminal and civil litigation,” Bolden said. He briefly worked as a field training officer.

Bolden almost reached celebrity status in one aspect of his job. He handled K9 Gunny, a dual-purpose police dog. Bolden and Gunny amazed youngsters in Madison elementary schools with demonstrations of Gunny’s attack capabilities.

“As a team, Gunny and I supported patrol, investigations and SWAT,” Bolden said. “Gunny was trained to search for narcotics; locate evidence; track missing, lost or fleeing subjects; and apprehend offenders through a bite-and-hold technique.”

Trained to detect narcotic odor, Gunny led officers to discover illegal substances many times and apprehended 12 Madison Progress 2016

“I always wanted to be a police officer. I enjoy serving the community and helping people. As an SRO, I’m responsible for building rapport with staff and students. SROs teach different classes to students about subjects like drug and alcohol abuse, interacting with law enforcement, basic criminal laws and bullying. ” — Jason Bolden suspects who were committing felony offenses, Bolden said.

Before joining the Madison police, Bolden worked as a corrections officer for the Alabama Department of Corrections at Limestone Correctional Facility. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

“I always wanted to be a police officer. I enjoy serving the community and helping people,” Bolden said. “As an SRO, I’m responsible for building rapport with staff and students. SROs teach different classes to students about subjects like drug and alcohol abuse, interacting with law

enforcement, basic criminal laws and bullying.

We take reports at school for things like theft and abuse.”

An SRO also assists the school administration in “formulating emergency response plans and helping inform staff on response techniques,” he said.

In selecting SROs, Madison Police Department “has a process in place for moving personnel from unit to unit. When a position becomes available in a specialized unit, such as SRO, the administration announces the position and inquires about interest from department members,” Bolden said.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Madison Police Officer Jason Bolden works as Special Resource Officer at James Clemens High School.

Bolden chats with Sylvia Lambert, principal of Bob Jones High School.

Students often talk to SROs about bullying, abuse, suicide and law enforcement.

Hometown Heroes 13

As SRO, Jason Bolden works to nurture relationships with students.

14 Madison Progress 2016

ABOVE: Mentoring students is one of Bolden’s most important jobs as an SRO.

When a position opened, Bolden expressed his interest. “Thankfully, I was selected by the command staff for the position,” he said.

Students often talk to SROs about bullying, abuse, suicide and law enforcement. “We’ll often intervene in bullying situations, get help to those thinking of hurting themselves or begin the process of investigating an abuse or neglect case that is brought to our attention,” Bolden said.

Bolden especially remembers one youth, whom he has known several years. “He has faced some serious adversity in his life. Since I’ve been an SRO, I have gotten to influence him, hopefully for the better,” he said.

In mentoring the student, Bolden taught him about controlling his behavior, setting goals, looking to the future and setting himself up for success in life. “I hope that when he’s grown and successful, I was able to help him get there, in some small way.”

Bolden’s wife Miranda teaches fifth-graders at Columbia Elementary School. They have a 16-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son at James Clemens, 13-year-old son at Liberty Middle School and an 11-year-old daughter at Columbia.

Hometown Heroes 15

Lee Marshall

& Kids to Love No place like home WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEN FOUTS-DETULLEO AND CONTRIBUTED

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aving grown from “grassroots to global,” Kids to Love has found its permanent home in Madison.

Former television anchor Lee Marshall founded Kids to Love, a nonprofit organization that meets the needs of foster children with the ultimate goal of finding a “forever family” for the youth.

“I am a former foster child,” Marshall said. “I was born at Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home in Memphis and placed with my foster family at 6 weeks old. I was 2 when they were able to finalize my adoption.”

“I was fortunate to be adopted when I was a baby, but every foster child is not as lucky,” she said. As a journalist, Marshall used the opportunity “to shine the spotlight on foster care and adoption.”

Marshall conceptualized Kids to Love on a return flight to Huntsville from Washington, D.C., where she had been honored as an Angel in Adoption by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “I befriended a local businessman, who told me I should start a nonprofit,” Marshall said.

In 12 years, Kids to Love has served more than 185,000 foster children.

For the Foster Parent Program, the foundation works in conjunction with the Department of Human Resources to find a family who will foster or adopt one of the 6,000 foster children in Alabama.

The See Meth Stop Meth campaign rescues “meth orphans,” or innocent children whose parents are using methamphetamines. Kids to Love sponsors its annual School Supply Drive and Christmas for the Kids for treating a child for the holiday.

“Our college scholarship program is another we’re proud of ... to help foster children continue their education in college,” Marshall said. In January 2016, Kids to Love launched KTech, an initiative for workforce training to put foster children on a career path with a skill set called Mechatronics.

ABOVE: xx

Lee Marshall founded the Kids to Love organization 12 years ago.

Hometown Heroes 17

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Kids to Love has a college scholarship program to help foster children continue their education in post-secondary study. In a ceremony in Washington D.C., U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt presents the Angel in Adoption award to Lee Marshall. Kids to Love offers initiatives for workforce training to put foster children on a solid career path.

Kids to Love receives support from individuals, organizations and churches. The organization does not receive any state or federal funding.

What does Kids to Love need? “We need scholarships to help cover the cost to train our kids. Individuals and groups can provide school supplies, Christmas gifts, volunteer time and financial support,” Marshall said. Professionals can assist in Momentum for Life classes to teach basic skills.

Ironically, while Kids to Love’s goal is to find permanent homes for foster children, “we were actually homeless ourselves,” Marshall said.

Business owners offered operational space, but “we could never put down roots because we were living out of boxes.”

Fortunately, in March 2015, “we dedicated the Kids to Love Center, which was gifted to us by Louis and Patti Breland” at 140 Castle Drive in Madison. “There are no words to express what this has meant for our organization,” Marshall said.

Along with operations now under one roof, Kids

18 Madison Progress 2016

to Love is launching “life-changing programs for ‘our’ kids. We have doubled our staff so we can continue to serve the foster kids who deserve a chance ... not just to succeed, but to thrive,” she said.

Marshall’s television career started in 1995 in Murray, Ky., and then Yakima, Was. In 1998, she joined WAFF-48 News and later WHNT News 19. “In 2015, after 20 years in TV news, I retired to follow my heart and passion with Kids to Love,” Marshall said.

During her broadcast career, Marshall received multiple Emmy awards from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for community service to Kids to Love.

Her husband Jeff works as human resources manager at Parsons Corporation. Their daughters are Ella, 11, and Emma, 8. The family’s Maltese is named Elvis.

For more information, call 256-880-3455, email info@kidstolove.org or visit kidstolove.org or Facebook/Kids to Love.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: In 12 years, Kids to Love has served more than 185,000 foster children. In March 2015, Lee Marshall and staff dedicated the new Kids to Love Center at 140 Castle Drive in Madison, their first permanent home.

Lee Marshall said Kids to Love has grown from “grassroots to global.�

Hometown Heroes 19

Michael Sedlacek works as an emergency medical technician, driver, engineer and paramedic for Madison Fire and Rescue Department.

20 Madison Progress 2016

EMT

Michael Sed lacek ‘It’s worth the sacrifices’ WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEN FOUTS-DETULLEO AND CONTRIBUTED

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n his work, Michael Sedlacek literally sees people at their very worst, but they’re relieved when he arrives, regardless of their appearance.

Sedlacek is an Emergency Medical Technician and also works as driver, engineer and paramedic for Madison Fire and Rescue Department.

“Our duties as first responders in the City of Madison are unique. We have paramedics, advanced EMTs and basics who respond to calls, along with the ambulance service,” Sedlacek said.

“We provide every life-saving intervention that an ambulance would, except we don’t take you to the hospital.”

“We do everything from lifting Granny up when she falls ... to doing CPR in the middle of a crowded restaurant,” Sedlacek said about his job’s demands.

Starting his career in 2005, Sedlacek was a volunteer firefighter with Monrovia Volunteer Fire/Rescue. “They influenced me to attend EMT school, and I did in the spring of 2006. I officially became an EMT and began working for

Huntsville Emergency Medical Services Inc.” After joining Madison Fire and Rescue in 2008, he continued working for HEMSI part time. “I became a paramedic in 2009 and also worked part time at First Response Ambulance Service in Decatur,” Sedlacek said. He also operates his own business.

As a child, he wanted to be a firefighter. “In high school, I did my senior career project at the fire department in Santa Rosa, California. Once I moved here to Alabama, I couldn’t find a career path I liked and just naturally fell into the public safety realm,” Sedlacek said.

Why does he work in such a risky and sometimes gruesome job? “The most cliche answer most people give is, ‘I want to help people.’ Yes, I want to help people, but I’m an adrenaline junky. There are times when we really can make a difference.

Those are the times that really make this job rewarding and worth the sacrifices.”

EMTs never know what they’ll face when they run calls. “Literally anything is possible. We can find someone standing on the curb waiting for Hometown Heroes 21

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Preparing for his next emergency run, Michael Sedlacek checks medical supplies. Maci and Caiden Sedlacek are ready for a road trip with their dad.

As an, Michael Sedlacek never knows what he will face when he runs a call.

us, or someone wedged in-between the toilet and bathtub,” Sedlacek said. “Some calls really leave you scratching your head wondering how in the world it all happened.”

A few years ago, he responded as the second person on scene of a head-on collision with entrapment. “I walked up to the vehicle. I reached through the broken windshield to check the patient’s pulse, and I felt the last two beats,” Sedlacek said.

“There was obviously nothing we could have done. I could see the final look on the patient’s face right before the collision. As we began to wait for the coroner, we found the patient’s driver’s license.

He was four days older than me,” Sedlacek said.

22 Madison Progress 2016

Situations with children are extremely difficult, he said. “We want to be able to do everything humanly possible to save that child’s life.

Sometimes, that’s not enough,” he said.

Sedlacek’s job is rewarding when he can make a difference, when he and co-workers can change an outcome, or they step in and really help someone who wouldn’t have been able to do so themselves.

“It’s truly awesome,” he said.

His wife Courtni “is a domestic engineer and spends her days wrangling our three children,” he said. Makenzi, 11, is a budding artist. Five-yearold Caiden always has energy for 12 people. “Maci is 3, going on 20. She’s the life of the party for sure.” The Sedlaceks live in Hazel Green.

24 Madison Progress 2016

Tim Stone

Service in tanks to tornado aftermath WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEN FOUTS-DETULLEO AND CONTRIBUTED

A

fter a bumpy ride in the Wild West, Tim Stone found a path to demanding yet fulfilling U.S. military service.

At Redstone Arsenal, Stone now serves as a major in Army Reserves in Army Materiel Command Army Reserve Element, working as Plans and Operations Officer in support of U.S. Army Security Assistance Command. His full-time job is senior analyst for LMI (formerly Belzon).

In active Army and National Guard duty, Stone logged 23 years, plus four of inactive reserve.

Born in Gillette, Wyo., Stone then lived in Odessa, Texas, until his family returned to their ranch in Gillette. In 1980 as a fifth-grader, Stone “left a school with 300 kids in grades K-6. My new school in Wyoming had 13 kids in grades K-8. A little culture shock,” he said.

His father’s family worked in oil field construction, his mother’s in ranching. “These are hardworking, salt-of-the-earth, give-it-all-you-have-got ways to make a living,” Stone said.

On the first day of school, Stone fell into a barbed-

LEFT: Tim Stone, a Major in the Army Reserves, works as a senior analyst for LMI (formerly Belzon).

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Hometown Heroes 25

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Tim and Stacy Seiler Stone were married in 1995. Stone worked with Julio Jones during a mission in Tuscaloosa. Stone collects “fines” during a meeting of Rotary Club of Madison. Stone and Military Police staff received wounded warriors on flight line. A founding member of Rotary Club of Madison, Stone volunteers with the club’s numerous service projects.

26 Madison Progress 2016

wire fence and tore an inch gash in his neck. “No stitches, just Band-Aids. Hello, Wild West,” he said.

He entered college in Casper, Wyo., and majored in theatre/ journalism. Writing an article on graduates’ prospective salaries, Stone discovered a journalist’s annual salary equaled one summer in the oilfield – “a little disheartening.”

Leaving college and enlisting, he was sent to Fort Jackson, S.C., in 1989. “I walked from the air-conditioned airport and was met by an unwavering enemy – humidity. It was the first but definitely not last time I found myself questioning my decision to join the Army,” Stone said.

However, he appreciated military food, lodging, medical care and clothes. He had endured “myriad low-paid jobs and had literally gone hungry more than once,” he said. “I joined the Army to see the world, hoping for Europe or South America.

They sent me to Redstone Arsenal.”

In only months, he was named AMC Soldier of the Year and promoted three times. “It showed me the Army had the structure I needed to mature,” Stone said.

Returning to college, he earned a bachelor’s degree in management at Athens State University and later a master’s degree in integrated logistics from Embry-Riddle University.

He served with the Army through Desert Storm, stationed at Redstone. Stone married Stacy Seiler in 1995. Daughter Abigail was born in 1997, then Perry Grace in 2000.

To earn extra money, Stone joined the Alabama National Guard and “was hooked” on M-1 tanks. Soon, he was promoted to sergeant.

Then the date that changed everything – Sept. 11, 2001. Stone was training at Fort Knox, Ky. In 2002, his tankers were ready to roll into Afghanistan, but troops were sent to Redstone and then Anniston, Mobile and Montgomery.

In 2005, he reached the rank of second lieutenant and enrolled in Explosive Ordinance Disposal School. “Stacy was pregnant.

Further evaluation led to the discovery that Stacy had Stage 4 lymphoma,” he said. The guard reassigned him closer to home.

“Stacy was able to make a recovery, but our family would not grow,” he said. Stone instructed Officer Candidate and Warrant Officer schools, eventually moving to Military Police.

In February 2011, “Stacy was diagnosed with Metaplastic Carcinoma breast cancer. She underwent multiple surgeries and chemo, starting April 27, 2011. The prognosis is good. She is doing very well,” Stone said.

On that date, tornadoes wreaked destruction in Alabama. As commander of 217th MP Company in Prattville, Stone led his troops to Tuscaloosa for three weeks. “I saw the very best and very worst of Alabamians and Americans,” he said. “It was one of the most exhausting and rewarding things I’ve ever done.”

A founding member of Rotary Club of Madison, Stone serves as Sergeant at Arms and several committees.

Stacy works as an electrical engineer with Alpha Beta Technologies. Abby and Perry Grace are graduates of St. John the Baptist Catholic School and attend Pope John Paul II Catholic High School.

Hometown Heroes 27

A crossing guard since 2012, Todd Shelton directs traffic on Hughes Road at Bob Jones High School.

28 Madison Progress 2016

Crossing Guard

Todd Shelton Life is a highway

WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEN FOUTS-DETULLEO AND CONTRIBUTED

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ain or shine, hot or cold, crossing guards in Madison improve safety for students in Madison City Schools.

Todd Shelton handles the task at Bob Jones High School.

A crossing guard since 2012, Shelton first directed traffic at James Clemens High School.

Since 2005, Shelton has served as director of the Adult Singles Ministry at Asbury United Methodist Church. For 14 years, he has worked as director of music and youth at churches in Sulligent; Jessup, Ga.; Goldsboro and Durham, N.C.; and Paintsville, Ky. After high school in Morristown, Tenn., Shelton earned a bachelor’s degree in Christian education at Free Will Baptist Bible College (now Welch College) in Nashville, Tenn.

His wife Pam teaches kindergartners at Madison Elementary School and just completed her master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“We have six kids between us,” Todd said.

Katelyn Ward, 25, of Madison, works for

Community Action Partnership. Kyler Shelton, 22, of Montgomery, works at American Klassic Designs. Twins Jonathan and David Ward are 22.

Jonathan is student ministry intern at Church of the Highlands in Auburn. David, a recent University of Alabama graduate, works at Randall-Reilly in Tuscaloosa.

Kaitlin Shelton, 20, works at Lake Forrest Youth Camp in Mississippi. Meredith Ward, 19, is a student at Highlands College in Birmingham.

Todd Shelton soon will launch Next Steps ministry, consulting with individuals, couples and small groups dealing with divorce, stepfamily issues and premarital and couples enrichment. He hopes to add a nonprofit organization to help individuals with legal, temporary housing and professional counseling help.

The Sheltons are members of Church of the Highlands, Huntsville campus, and volunteer as small-group leaders. He facilitates a divorce recovery program, which meets at Asbury UMC. “I really enjoy seeing regular kids and people pass by each day, smiling and waving. I try to be Hometown Heroes 29

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A blended family, Todd and Pam Shelton have six children: Katelyn Ward, 25; Kyler Shelton, 22; twins Jonathan and David Ward, 22; Kaitlin Shelton, 20; and Meredith Ward, 19. The Sheltons are members of Church of the Highlands, Huntsville campus. Pam Shelton teaches kindergartners at Madison Elementary School. A student checks his cell phone as Shelton stops traffic on Hughes Road.

friendly since I’m disrupting people’s commute Shelton said. to work, stopping them to get school traffic onto One afternoon Shelton heard a loud noise behind the campus,” Shelton said. “I also enjoy getting to him. “I turned around and saw a tire rolling by. A speak with the kids who walk.” truck had a wheel fall off!”

The work has its downsides. Bad weather, he Crossing guards are employees of Madison admits, can be frustrating. “Last Police Department, not the schools. winter was pretty rough with some Guards can’t issue traffic tickets, days in single digits,” Shelton said. although Shelton wishes sometimes Some days, “it seems everyone that he could. waits until the last minute to head In stores when he’s in uniform, to school, causing long lines on people sometimes ask legal Hughes Road.” Also, he must questions. “I have to explain that carefully schedule his jobs as a partI’m just a crossing guard,” Shelton Todd and Katelyn Ward time handyman around afternoon said. Conversely, people often have six kids between the guard duty. thank him for his service. “That’s a two of them.

Luckily, he hasn’t faced dangerous welcome gesture.” situations but was under pressure “Please be alert in school zones,” when a traffic light malfunctioned on County Line Shelton said. Crossing guards appreciate “your Road. “I had to direct all (four-lane) traffic. It’s patience with us as we direct traffic to get our kids unsettling when a car passes behind you speeding,” to and from school safely.”

30 Madison Progress 2016

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