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Dirk Walker Fine Art

Life through the eyes of an artist

Story by Scottie Vickery
Photos by Mackenzie Free

Dirk Walker’s artwork has found homes all over the world. His paintings hang in houses, churches, businesses, corporate headquarters and sports stadiums. They grace walls all over the country and faraway places like Germany, Denmark, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

It all started with his own bare walls.

“I wanted to buy art for our home,” said Walker, who lived in Birmingham at the time. His search took him to the Loretta Goodwin Gallery, and by the time he left, Walker, who worked in banking at the time, couldn’t shake the feeling that he was meant to be an artist.

“I don’t know why I thought I could do it, but something appealed to me about trying to learn how to paint,” said Walker, who has had a studio in downtown Pell City for 11 years.

Fans of his work are awfully glad he did. Walker’s paintings, both oils and watercolors, are known for their bold colors, rich texture and loose brushstrokes. His subject matters are varied: he has collections ranging from landscapes and city scenes to his spiritual series. He also paints sporting and hunting scenes, art focusing on the growing bourbon culture, and whimsical subjects like Santa Claus.

“The variety of things I like to do just keeps me fresh in all of them,” he said. “I’m not doing the same thing all the time – that would drive me bonkers. A lot of people can’t say they love what they do, but I get a lot of gratification from it. Once I get in to doing a painting, everything else just sort of goes away.”

Finding purpose

There were signs early on that Walker had the makings to be a great artist. Growing up in Birmingham, he watched his father dabble in watercolor, and his own high school work caught the attention of his art teacher. She encouraged him to pursue it, but his interest and talent lay dormant for years.

After graduating from Vestavia Hills High School, Walker earned a degree in industrial design at Auburn University and that helped provide a foundation in drawing and perspective. “I did a little design work right out of college, but I had the opportunity to go with the bank, and it was a better option for raising a family at the time,” he said.

Debbie and Dirk Walker in the Pell City studio

After the visit to the gallery, however, Walker decided to give in to the pull. His first painting was a still life. “It was horrible, looking back on it now,” he said with a laugh.

Still, he took it to back to the gallery to be framed, and Loretta Goodwin, who would become a dear friend and mentor, saw something he didn’t. She asked him who had painted the piece. “I said, ‘I did,’ and she said, ‘Can you do it again?’”

It took him about two years to create something he wanted to show her. “It was the most nerve-wracking experience,” said Walker, who started painting with oils. “I circled the block two or three times because I wanted to throw up I was so nervous.”

The first few times he showed Goodwin his work, she told him, “You’re not quite there, keep trying,” Walker remembered. “I’d tuck tail and go back home and stay at it. Eventually, I got to the point where she thought she could do something with it.”

Goodwin was a tremendous influence on Walker. “She loved the arts, she loved local artists, and she did so much to promote the arts in Birmingham. We formed a deep friendship where we talked as much about the business of art as we did the painting process. It instilled in me a love of both.”

She wasn’t his only influence. Hungry to learn, Walker sought guidance and inspiration from Alabama artists John Lonergan, who taught art at Pell City High School for 25 years, and Tom Black, who grew up in Gadsden and lived in Pell City before moving to Arizona. “I would go up to Tom’s studio and just watch him mix color and see what he’d do. I was too nervous to paint around anyone,” he said.

Walker later met and took workshops from David Leffel and Sherrie McGraw, both artists who taught at the Art Students League of New York. His early style was similar to those who had influenced him – “very much the Old Masters, very much the old Renaissance look,” Walker said. “It was the play of shadows and light, light flowing over objects.”

Still working at the bank while pursuing his art, Walker didn’t have the luxury of painting outside during the day and taking advantage of the natural light. “At night, I’d go down to my studio and set up a still life so I could control the light,” he said.

Walker’s work soon grew a following, and in addition to the Loretta Goodwin Gallery, his art has been featured in eight galleries across the country. When his job went away after a bank merger, Walker bought Goodwin’s gallery, which he owned for 20 years before becoming a full-time artist.

Changing times

Walker, who now lives in Cropwell with Debbie, his wife of eight years, has said that painting “is a lifelong struggle, but one that is well worth the journey.” He said he loves the fact that he continues to grow and change as an artist.

“It’s something you never completely learn,” he said. “I think that’s one of the big appeals for me. Forty years later, I’m still learning and experimenting and making mistakes.”

The artist’s spiritual series stems from his personal faith

In fact, Walker said his willingness to continue to explore techniques and subjects and experiment with color has been a big part of his success. “So many artists just kind of get stuck and they wonder why their art isn’t being accepted the way it was maybe years earlier,” he said. “I learned how to watch what people responded to, and through the years, it impacted how my style changed.”

Walker’s portfolio soon expanded to iconic landmarks. His work includes Alabama landmarks like Sloss Furnaces, the Alabama Theatre, Vulcan, the Pell City Depot and the Mobile Bay Lighthouse. He eventually added scenes from Atlanta, as well as places like the Lincoln Memorial, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Eiffel Tower.

“I started off painting very tight, very traditional, and then I wanted to go a little more abstract, a little more impressionistic,” he said, adding that one of the first steps was adding nondescript figures to some of his landmark paintings. “Through the years, I kept pushing in that vein.”

Walker started experimenting with sporting and hunting scenes after his son, Geoffrey, who works in the sporting goods industry, showed his artwork to Kevin and Kathleen Kelly, owners of Kevin’s Fine Outdoor Gear & Apparel. Based in Thomasville, Geogia, it is one of several retailers who represent his work.

“They asked if I ever did hunting scenes, and Geoffrey said, ‘I don’t know; I’ll check,’” Walker said. “He called me that night and said, ‘Dad, I think you need to try doing some hunting scenes.’”

Walker took his son’s advice, and the collection has been wildly popular, thanks in part to his abstract realism style. “I think my style was a really fresh approach,” he said. “Most of the wildlife art you see is very tight, very realistic, very static. Mine was loose and colorful, and I think it caught people at the right time. There’s been a tremendous response to it. It’s just kind of blown my world up.”

Walker, who lived on Logan Martin Lake for years before he and Debbie moved to their gentleman’s farm in Cropwell, has fond memories of fishing and hunting growing up and eventually fishing with his own kids. “We’ve got so many great memories of being on the water,” he said. “That’s one of the really neat things about that genre of work. People connect to it on an emotional level. They want a painting of a dog like they had, or they hunted with their kids. It evokes a lot of memories.”

About four years ago, Kelly approached Walker about doing limited edition prints of some of his paintings. He was reluctant at first, but he realized that people who couldn’t or wouldn’t invest in original art might spend $300 or $400 on a print.

They began offering a line of collector’s closed edition prints, and “we get orders almost every day,” he said. Debbie handles that side of the business, and “it has really broadened our exposure,” Walker said. “Now I get calls to do commissions from all over the country and from other countries, as well.”

Higher calling

Another series that has been personal for Walker is his spiritual collection, which includes depictions of Jesus’ baptism, the Last Supper, the feeding of the 5,000, and the crucifixion. The series was born of his own personal faith and struggles.

Raised in the church, Walker said “if the doors were open, we were there.” As an adult, he went through a period where he floundered a bit, but “something was calling me back to the church.” Not long after he returned, he felt ta strong desire to paint scenes from the Bible.

“Being a person of faith, I think everyone is given gifts on some level, whether it’s music, art, writing, whatever,” he said. “This is something that’s He’s given me, and it’s a way for me to kind of give back and witness a little about my faith. I try to portray something in a way that might cause someone to want to sit and think, and if it also helps someone else find the Lord or deal with issues, that’s a blessing for both parties.”

Walker spent a lot of time on his spiritual art the past two years after being commissioned by Vestavia Hills Methodist Church to paint a series of scenes portraying the life of Christ according to the Gospel of John. Baptist Health also commissioned artwork for all of its hospitals in Alabama.

He also was commissioned to do several large pieces, including a portrayal of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, for collectors in Australia and Germany. The connection was largely the result of his online presence.

“Without the internet, that never would have happened,” he said. “It’s kind of a God thing. He’s using this voice of mine to reach people literally around the globe. It really makes me very humble and proud.”

A new medium

While he has painted with oils for most of his career, Walker was moved to study a new medium about six years ago when he introduced his bourbon series. “Bourbon is such a collectible thing right now, and they’re a lot of fun to do,” he said of the paintings. “Watercolor is sort of the perfect medium for that subject.”

Walker said he strives to create the same kind of look as his oil paintings – the boldness of color, for example – so his approach is a little different than that of traditional watercolorists. While most watercolors tend to have a lot of transparency, he often uses gouache, which is similar to watercolor, but more opaque. The result is paintings with more dimension and vibrancy. “My technique is a little different in that regard,” he said.

The challenge is part of the allure. “Watercolor is a hard medium,” he said. “I enjoy it equally as much as oil, but I’m still kind of learning as I go.”

Walker, his own toughest critic, has a stack of watercolors in his studio that he has discarded. “You’re never completely satisfied no matter how good a painting might turn out,” he said. “I can go back and look at a painting I did yesterday or 10 years ago and see things I wish I’d done differently. Even to this day I’m frustrated by why one painting works and one doesn’t.”

Finding balance

At 70, Walker has no plans to stop painting. “Debbie and I work really hard at this, and I’m up in the studio almost every day,” he said. “I enjoy it, though, and it’s something I hope I can do for years to come.”

Vintage Pell City train depot, an original painting Walker donated to Museum of Pell City as a fundraiser

They do make time for other pursuits, however. Debbie, who traveled the world in her younger years is trying her best to help Walker catch the travel bug, and being with family will always be a priority for both of them.

Their combined family is a big one. Walker has four children, Debbie has two, and there are nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with another on the way. One of his greatest joys has been creating scenes that mean something to them and will be around for generations.

“I’m so proud that my kids have been able to see me develop, although they give me grief about it,” he said. “If they ever think my ego is out of check, they bring me back down to earth. But it’s so cool because they’ve all told me, ‘Dad, you want to give us something for Christmas, give us a piece of your art.’ That, as a parent, is awesome.”

Chances are, there are a lot more Christmas gifts in their future. Walker, who said he can’t see ever retiring, will never get too far from his red Craftsman tool cabinet that holds brushes and paint and other tools of his trade.

“I once read, ‘Art is a delicate balance between the visual concept and each artist’s technique,’” Walker has said. “After years of chasing that artistic balance, it is the anticipation of the struggle that keeps me coming back to the canvas.” l

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The house of glass

Ashville architectural wonder made entirely from antique windows

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mandy Baughn

Deep in the countryside, hidden in a hillside forest, there is a glass house. Entirely made of antique windows, the space is bright and airy, looking a bit like a tiny conservatory. Ashville’s The Valley Glasshouse is a simple space, just 32 feet by 12 feet, but has an interesting ability to change its look throughout the day as the sun creates shadows and plays with the colors inside the building.

For artists and photographers, this place is a dream come true. More specifically, for chiaroscurists, those who appreciate the interplay of light and shadow, the building is must-see.

As a professional photography venue, though, the room’s appeal is more than just about the light and shadows. Reflection and nature itself play into the appeal. The ability to capture clients in nature, while being protected from the unpredictability of weather, makes it a unique place to work, according to professional photographer Brittany Hackleman.

A swing adds to the whimsical nature of the surroundings

“I really like to do outdoor shoots, in grass, fields and creeks,” explains Hackleman. “But if it rains, you can’t do it. With The Valley Glasshouse, it’s still doable because you’re protected by a roof and walls, but you still get the outdoors in the shots.”

Shortly after the venue opened, she brought another photographer friend out, used her as the model and shot some photos, posted them, and within 20 minutes had filled two session days and has a waitlist.

Owners Dana and Sammy Pike began building the glass house in May of 2024, finishing it in December. It took them nine months to transform the property that once housed an old woodshed. They demolished the shed, taking it down to just the six steel beams that once supported it. From there, they began the rebuilding process.

A treasure hunting trip to neighboring Georgia yielded 72 antique windows, 71 of which were used in the final building. They are from several different older homes, so they’re not all the same size. “It was my husband’s job to put the puzzle together,” says Dana. “He made it all work.”

“Yes, it was a challenge,” admits Sammy. “We separated the windows into their sizes. Then I measured the gaps between each of the pillars. I took each window size and each gap size and sketched it out on paper.”

With those measurements sketched on paper, Sammy knew how much wood trim he would have to add to make the wall sections fit in the gaps between the pillars. The roof was a challenge as well, since it required erecting a 16-foot beam, which he put up by himself. “Yes, that required a lot of propping and pulling,” he admits. Then he covered that with opaque polycarbonate panels, the material used for greenhouses.

The couple grew up in St. Clair County just three miles from each other. Sammy’s family lived on the property next door to Dana and Sammy’s current home when he was growing up. The two met at church and have now been married 34 years. “Dana has wanted to do this glass house pretty much our whole marriage,” said Sammy.

It took a visit to another glass house on her parents’ 50^th wedding anniversary to get things rolling. “I wanted to gift them a photo shoot for their anniversary. There is a glass house in Boaz that is also a photography studio, so we thought that might be fun to use,” said Dana. “After that, we decided we could build one on our own property.” A few months later, the plan was in place and, when the weather warmed up, they got started.

The play of light and shadow make it a photographer’s dream

“My grandmother was the keeper of all the family photos from way back,” recalls Dana. “Those photos were (and are) treasures. She was so excited about the project but never got to see it finished.” Her grandmother passed away in October at the age of 92, and to honor her, they are planning to add a memorial garden on the property. “I just want people to come here to capture their own memories,” adds Dana.

The Pikes love antiques and have some unique décor that can be used by photographers. They have a storage shed nearby to house props and furniture that will be changed out seasonally. Photographers are also encouraged to bring additional props as needed. The venue also has lighting options inside and out for evening sessions.

But you know what they say about people who build glass houses? You might think that they should not throw stones. While that is true, the answer according to the late humorist Art Buchwald, is simply “they have to wash their windows all the time.”

For the Pikes, with 71 windows to wash, it’s a family affair. “Our grandkids have participated in the window washing fun,” admits Dana, laughing. “And we are very careful mowing grass these days.”

While The Valley Glasshouse is only offered as a photography venue currently, the Pikes have had several inquiries about hosting parties and events on the property. They are considering offering special event space in the future. It is, indeed, a special place and only a stone’s throw away in north St. Clair County.or their contributions to racing. If these museums close up, the cars end up in private collections and no one will see them anymore.”

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We must decide …

Not everyone will rise up to meet you. Not everything we wish for will work out in our favor. Not every doctor’s appointment is going to deliver good results.

Not every prayer will be answered the way we hope. Not every letter will bear good news. Not every friend will defend you or stand by your side. Not every “I love you” will be sincere.

Not every person who walks into our life will decide to stay.

But in every hard, heavy and seemingly unbearable situation we find ourselves in we have a choice …

We decide how to bear the news. We decide how it affects us. We decide how to carry on. We decide what to hold and what to leave behind.

WE decide. Sometimes our greatest growth and personal advancement emerges from our sadness and broken hearts.

Sometimes a greater awareness of ourselves and what we are capable of becoming … and surviving … arises through our disappointments and despair. Sometimes we rise up to exceed our own expectations when life is hardest and messiest.

But first WE must decide.

– Mackenzie Free –

Wife, mother, photographer & current resident of the unassumingly magical town of Steele, Alabama

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McClendon’s legacy

Jefferson State names nursing wing after former senator

Story by Carol Pappas
Submitted photos

When Jim McClendon was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002, state Sen. Jack Biddle asked him what he wanted for his future in politics.

“I want your seat,” he told Biddle, one of the most powerful senators at the time. Biddle retorted, “You’re not ready yet. You don’t know where the money is.”

In the years that followed, Senator McClendon not only found the money, he invested it in what is becoming a lasting legacy for St. Clair County and the region.

Jefferson State Community College recognized the longstanding support of McClendon by naming the Nursing Wing at the St. Clair-Pell City Campus in his honor with a ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Dr. McClendon has been an ardent supporter of Jefferson State initiatives for many years. He was instrumental in the opening of the St. Clair-Pell City Campus in 2009 and the establishment of the Nursing Wing in October 2017, an expansion that included two simulation labs, a fundamental instruction lab, two classrooms, six offices and a conference room.

Nursing students at the opening of the new wing in 2017

“Dr. McClendon was instrumental in Jefferson State starting in St. Clair County,” said Jefferson State President Keith Brown. “Because of his efforts, we’ve been able to educate hundreds of RNs, and they’re working and caring for people right here in this community.”

Just before unveiling the plaque commemorating the new name, Brown talked of McClendon’s dedication to education and health care in the form of support for the college. “It’s just my job,” Brown said McClendon told him.

“I’ve always had an affinity for nurses,” he joked to the crowd gathered for the ceremony. “I married one.”

Jefferson State’s first presence in the county was in Moody, but it was only temporary – representing a “foot in St. Clair County” – as McClendon described it. The college was built in 2009 with an LPN program. In 2012, the RN program became a reality, and the opening of St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital in 2011 and the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in 2012 catalyzed the program’s growth.

“All of this was critical to educating these folks here and creating good jobs,” McClendon said. He noted that graduates have a 100 percent rate of job placement before graduation. “It’s a model for other state programs. They are educated here. They come back here. Health care in our area is getting better and better because of what’s going on at Jefferson State in Pell City.”

The college, he said, represents so many opportunities for St. Clair Countians. Many times, it is the first time higher education doors are open to families. “It’s changing Alabama. It’s changing our community. And they’re doing it the right way.”

A vision for the college

Looking back to the earliest conversations about locating a community college in St. Clair County, “there was always a recognition that there was a need for what a community college could bring to our region,” said Guin Robinson, dean of Economic Development at Jefferson State.

“Workforce development was at the top of that list,” Robinson said. “It was very obvious that health care was a driver for St. Clair County and the entire region, so it made sense there would be a need for nursing in Pell City and St. Clair County. It has certainly been a priority,” bolstered by the location of hospital and the state veterans home near the campus and doctors’ offices throughout the area.

The nursing program is expensive to operate and is not fully funded by tuition. The community’s and McClendon’s support have been “vitally important,” Robinson stressed. “Sen. McClendon has been our partner since the beginning. He could not have been a greater partner.”

McClendon’s influence and determination ensured that this legacy will continue, Robinson said. “And he did it without fanfare because we needed it for our community. He played a major role in the generational impact it is having in our community, and we wanted to honor him now so that we can show our appreciation.”

The McClendon story

Born in Mobile, McClendon earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Birmingham-Southern College in 1965 and his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Houston in 1967.

McClendon then joined the United States Navy Medical Service Corps in 1968 where he was commissioned as an officer. Lt. McClendon served with distinction in Vietnam, for which he was decorated with the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.

Over the course of his optometry career, McClendon distinguished himself as a leader in Alabama›s optometry community, serving as president of the Alabama Optometric Association.

Retired senator chats with new senator, Lance Bell

In November 2002, McClendon retired from his private practice to pursue public service. That year, he was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, representing the state’s 50th District, where he was subsequently reelected for two additional terms.

Among other notable postings and accomplishments (including Chair of the House Ethics Committee and Chair of the House Redistricting Committee), Rep. McClendon served as Chair of the Health Committee, where he played a pivotal role in the passage of the Medicaid reform legislation.

In 2014, McClendon was elected to the Alabama Senate where he represented Alabama›s 11th District for two consecutive terms. He served on and provided leadership for various critical Senate committees, including the Rules Committee, Education and Youth Affairs, Fiscal Responsibility and Economics Development, Transportation and Energy, Health and Human Services, for which he served as Vice Chair, and the Senate Healthcare Committee for which he served as Chair.

McClendon personally introduced 210 bills in the House and Senate on a range of critical issues, including education, public safety, economic development, and, of particular personal importance to him, healthcare and the advancement of Alabama’s healthcare professions.

“During my time as a legislator, I always heard the importance of job creation, employment and improving Alabama by creating good jobs,” said McClendon. “That’s exactly what Jeff State is doing, and it is a model for all other programs in the state.”

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Jacob’s Ladder

A lifelong love of fishing has Springville’s Walker climbing in pro fishing circles

Story by Paul South
Submitted photos

Like most anglers, from weekenders to tournament champions, Jacob Walker’s love affair with fishing brings with it a creel full of family and friends who taught him the art and science of the sport.

Like a teenage boy smitten by the homecoming queen, Walker fell fast and hard for angling. Even as a small boy, from the Warrior River to Logan Martin Lake, fishing and family were his Alpha and Omega.

He and his friends even engaged in a little truancy to take to the outdoors. “We didn’t skip school to do bad things,” he said. “We skipped school to go fishing and hunting.”

After high school, he enrolled briefly at UAB. But boats and tackle, not books and tests, won out. While working at Mark’s Outdoors, a Vestavia store, Walker’s fire for fishing – sparked as a small boy by his grandfathers, father, Geoff Walker, stepfather, Dexter Laird, and friends – only grew.

One grandfather owned a place on Logan Martin Lake. “When I was little, my grandfather took me to Logan Martin all the time,” Walker said. “It seemed like we got up at 1 in the morning when we’d get up early and get out on the water.

“They would never see me from the time we got there until it was time to leave,” he recalled. “I was walking around, fishing. I’ve been doing it my whole life, man. It’s crazy.”

From those earliest days, Walker began to craft his own style of fishing. Now on the Major League Fishing Circuit, that style has served him well.

In 2024, he captured his first MLF tournament title in a weather-abbreviated event at Lake Champlain, N.Y. On the circuit, he carries counsel from his early teachers in his mind and heart: Find your own style – from water depth, to location, to lures – and strive to be the best.

“You can’t beat everybody at their technique. You can’t always be the best at every technique. So, when I was growing up fishing on the Warrior River, I spent a lot of time fishing in shallow water… around a lot of grass and logs and lily pads and stuff. What’s really got me (to the pros) is shallow fishing.”

What advice would he offer to someone dreaming of a pro career?

“Try to do it all. Try to learn everything. But do what fits you. Don’t try to copy someone else’s style. Try to find a style that’s going to work for you. Sometimes, that’s not going to work out. But when it does, it’ll pay off.”

That philosophy has worked in Walker’s brief tournament career. According to the MLF website, in 12 tournament appearances he has five top 10 finishes, including the Lake Champlain title, earning more than $150,000.

Tournament fishing, like the rest of society, is increasingly technology driven. But even at 26, Walker considers himself “old school.” Sure, he uses tech gadgetry, but his fishing is driven by attributes as old as fishing itself.

“There are a lot of younger guys coming out of high school and college, I would say 24 and under. Those guys are very, very good at technology … But the guys like me who are between 25 and 35, we grew up fishing the old-school techniques, not a lot of technology. The really good technology we have now, we go to watch it advance.”

He added, “A lot of guys like me, we grew up learning from the old school fishermen. No technology. They would just go off their eyes, their hearts, their instincts. (Younger tourney anglers) don’t really know the old-school techniques – fishing off your instincts and reading the water.”

So he holds fast to the old ways, even In these modern times. Shallow water. Fishing around cover and around docks. For Walker, style matters, but so do the old ways.

“Luckily, I’ve got the old-school instincts. But fortunately, I’ve been on board with the technology. So I can do both.”

He calls that period for fishermen between the mid-20’s and mid-30’s “the magic number.” And Alabama is loaded with talented anglers, buoyed in part by the state’s diverse waters with different depths and stains and currents.

“The Coosa River, all these rivers, there’s all kinds of styles of fishing you can learn. So I was very fortunate to grow up fishing here. It’s taught me everything.”

And that knowledge along with the support of his wife, Alyssa, and other family, friends and corporate sponsors have driven his dream. He knows his career will involve fishing. What form that professional life will take is the great unknown.

He’s a brand ambassador for NSR Fishing, Coosa Cotton apparel, Phoenix Boats from Stateline Marine in Lanett, Mark’s Outdoors, Megabass, Deps lures and Dirty Jigs Tackle and other firms and individuals. Walker has a long list of supporters.

“Part of the reason I decided not to go to college was I knew I wanted to pursue fishing as a career. Whether it’s fishing in tournaments, or being in the industry, I still don’t really know 25 years from now what I’ll be doing. But I know I want it to be (fishing) industry related. Working at Mark’s Outdoors gave me that golden ticket.”

His tournament career began in the pandemic year2020 in the Bassmaster open series. He finished second in his first event at Lay Lake, winning more than $18,000. In the next year, he narrowly missed qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series.

“I was confident after that. I know I could do this.”

After moving to MLF in 2023, Walker, now the proud father of a new baby, fished closer to home, but managed to finish sixth overall.

He credits Alyssa for her support and keeping the waters steady at home. Thanks to his job and the support of corporate and personal sponsors, he’s been able to compete in tournaments that carry with them $5,000 entry fees.

“It’s been a great year,” he said. “I finished seventh overall. I fished in six tournaments. I got a check in five, including Lake Champlain.

“It’s crazy that a guy from way down in Alabama could go all the way up there close to the Canadian border and win,” he said. “That was such a cool experience.”

High winds that made waves treacherous on a lake that features an “inland sea” cut the tournament short. In the joy of winning, something gnawed at Jacob Walker’s heart. It didn’t feel like a full-fledged win. That led to an unusual victory celebration. There was no cracking open a bottle of champagne, no lighting a victory cigar. He had to settle his mind and know that had the tournament not been cut short, he still would have won.

But it seems his celebration would have been a hit with family and friends who stoked his passion for fishing when Walker wasn’t much bigger than his rod and reel.

“I went fishing,” he said. “After that, I got to prove to myself I would have won anyway. It was a ball.”

And if there is a takeaway from Jacob Walker’s story, it’s thankfulness, family and friends.

“I’m very thankful to the people who took me fishing when I was a kid. I’m very thankful to my sponsors and to my wife, too. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

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Brocks Gap Training Center

A range of the highest caliber

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free
Drone photos by Eric Love
Additional photos by Michael Goodman
Photos by Ed Tyler
Contributed photos

Like so many, they were looking for a new home. The group had a place they’d outgrown and needed more space, open concept, for sure, with room to breathe. Their dreams were realized when they found 877 acres for sale in St. Clair County.

The search committee for Brock’s Gap Training Center had been peppering the area with inquiries, targeting any large tracts within 30 minutes of their Hoover location. They zeroed in on the perfect location on Camp Creek Road in Pell City. They sold their 90 acres in Hoover and were able to purchase almost 10 times the acreage in St. Clair County for their shooting range and training facility.

Recently opened, the facility boasts one of the longest ranges in the southeast. “We’ll have a 1,400-yard range as one of our offerings,” says Michael Goodman, president of Brock’s Gap Training Center, a membership-based shooting club. “It’s uncommon to have a range of that length. People usually have to travel to Tennessee to practice shooting that distance.”

“There’s a community that really values those longer ranges,” adds Goodman. “We’re hoping to attract those shooters from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee to come to our range.” Additionally, the new center will have 100-yard, 50-yard and 30-yard ranges with covered shelters, along with pistol bays and two “plinking” ranges. (A plinking range is a shorter distance range with metal targets.) Ranges also offer either bench rest or positional shooting.

As you look out over the acreage, you see rows of uniformly sculpted berms, well-drained and seeded. In between those berms, the shooters are protected from ammunition from other ranges.

Range safety officers hold each group to strict code of hard and fast rules, including gun expert Jeff Cooper’s “Coopers 4” rules: 1) Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, 2) Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire, 3) Never point your firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot, and 4) Be sure of your target and what is in front of and behind it.

Brock’s Gap Training Center offers courses in gun safety, concealed carry, women’s personal safety, competitive shooting and training for security teams. They currently assist local law enforcement by providing facilities for their officers to practice for certifications. They also have had high school students preparing to enter the military come to their facility for training.

“Safety is number one,” emphasizes Goodman. “We hope to encourage and empower people to be responsible gun owners. We prioritize safety, gun maintenance and understanding of the responsibilities of gun ownership.”

Having the facilities to practice with their firearm keeps the gun owner familiar with it and establishes safe and responsible use and care habits. “It’s especially important, if you’re using your gun for self-defense,” explains Goodman. “You need to be introduced safely to your firearm and learn to establish safe handling practices.”

While Brock’s Gap is a private facility, membership is open to the public. The membership application process is overseen by an elected board. You do not have to be a member to participate in classes or to come to the matches. Those are all open to the public.

History of growth

In the 62-year history of Brock’s Gap Training Center, they’ve grown to 900 members and host shooting matches and competitive shooting events nearly every weekend.

They’ve already begun hosting their first matches at the new facility. Those matches are a boost for the local economy, with state-level matches drawing more than 100 people from out of the area into St. Clair County for food and lodging revenue. Brock’s Gap has hosted matches for the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) and the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA).

With the move, Brock’s Gap has been able to expand the number of shooting bays and stage areas for matches. Most matches are held in “berm-defined” bays, using 6-12 of these bays set as “stages.”

They play in a squad of 8-10 shooters. As in a golf match, those in the squad have handicaps and compete against those with similar handicaps. When each shooter has completed the targets in each stage, the group moves to the next stage in the next bay.

Some of the larger matches can use up to 20 stages. With more bays, they will be able to host larger matches and even have matches that overlap dates. The additional bays will give them the latitude to set up stages for incoming matches while current matches are concluding.

Facilities at Brock’s Gap Training Center include the Range Headquarters building, with restrooms, ice and water availability, and a training room. Future plans include the addition of a small RV park to accommodate out-of-town match participants and an EMS helipad. Current plans use just 250 acres of land, leaving plenty for future development and growth.

“There’s a large recreational shooting community in Alabama,” says Goodman. “We need facilities like this one to be able to participate safely in this sport.” There are those like Goodman who shoot every weekend and some who have specific seasonal needs. “We have people who use our facility to zero their rifles to get ready for hunting season,” he says.

The training facility also supports Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), a national program that provides an environment for student athletes that supports learning through shooting sports activities. They have also been a resource for scouting groups through the years.

“A friend introduced me to competitive shooting,” says Goodman, “so I’d been shooting off and on my whole life. Once I joined Brock’s Gap, it became an every week kind of thing.”

If you’ve set your sights on shooting as a hobby or sport, you now have a neighbor in St. Clair County with a high caliber facility ready and waiting for you to take aim.

Editor’s Note: Visit brocksgap.com for more information about Brock’s Gap Training Center.

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