CCHS Gridiron Club officers are (left to right): Chris Speaks, president; Daryl Cummings, vice-president/tailgating; Michelle Knight, secretary; Jimmy Tompkins, team chaplain; Brian Carter, athletic director/head football coach; David McKinney, treasurer; Adrianne Dennis, vice-president/programs; Tony Hughes, assistant to the president; Tim Minor, vice-president/parking; and Jimmy Hardee, vice-president/ninth grade and JV teams/meals. Not pictured are Greg DeJarnett, president; Jeff Harris, merchandising and fundraising; and Wayne Looney, vice-president/tailgating.

By Scott Mims

A group has formed at Chilton County High School to build a bigger bridge between the school’s football program and the community.
The Gridiron Club, as it has been dubbed, is an organization of coaches, school officials, parents and other volunteers with the primary goal of supporting the football program through numerous means.
The group started with about 30 members, but club officers are encouraging others to join.
“We’re going to try to do really good things for this program and do it together,” said Tony Hughes, the club’s assistant to the president.
Club president Chris Speaks, who graduated from CCHS in 1983, and whose son, Taylor, is a freshman on the team, said community involvement is essential for any program.
“A 5A program requires a lot of support,” he said. “You can’t have four or five people doing everything if you’re going to compete with other schools.”
Speaks said the Tiger Club pre-game tailgating tent will continue to be a tradition. Tiger Club membership applications can be obtained through coach Brian Carter or at the merchandising tent set up during games.
To explain how the organization is structured, the Gridiron Club is simply a football booster club under the umbrella of the Tiger Club, which covers all of the school’s athletic programs.
The Gridiron Club will also coordinate parking at games, meals for players and other supportive endeavors.
“We’re excited to have this group of officers to help be the backbone of our program in reaching out to the community,” Carter said.
If you are interested in joining, or for more information, call Carter at 280-2710 or Speaks at 755-3440.
“Anyone is welcome to join,” Speaks said.