Celebrating Sports Fellowship,
Spirit, and Community Pride
GCAC 10th Annual
Golf Tournament Results
GCAC Members,

A big thanks to all that participated, sponsored and volunteered their time to make our GCAC golf tournament a great success! We had about 100 golfers and numerous sponsors commit to our tournament Friday, March 30th at Craft Farms and we could not have done it without you.

A big thanks to all of our sponsors and those that donated items for our silent auction and door prize giveaways. Our club raised nearly $10,000!!! This will certainly help our club in the coming year with expenses but more importantly, keep our committment to awarding scholarships to our Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athletes.

I want to thank the staff at Craft Farms for making this a great organized event...be sure to check out the pictures on our gcathleticclub.com website. GCAC Member and Golf Committee chairperson, John McCormick did an outstanding job on keeping the golf committee organized and on top of things all the way through and making sure this tournament was a success. Again...thanks to all of you that donated your time for this great event!

Football season is only 4 months away!!!

GCAC Pres Dec McClelland
A Big THANK YOU to all our Speakers this Season!

Aug  29--Coach Joey Jones, University of South Alabama Head FB Coach

Sep  12--Max Howell-Radio sports talk show legend and former football coach.

Sep  26--Coach Doug Barfield-Former Head Football Coach-Auburn University

Oct   10--Roger Shultz--former Univ of Alabama player and coach.

Oct   24--Jackie Sherrill--Former Alabama player & Head Football Coach at Miss. State

Nov   7-- Inky Johnson-former UT football player "An Amazing Story of Faith and Perseverance."

Nov 21-- Dr Gaylon McCollough:   On Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant:
                                                      
Jan 23-- Coach Larry Blakeney--Head Football Coach-Troy University.
GCAC Members,

It was great to see many of you last night at our first
GCAC Meeting of the year...YEAH...FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!!

I was encouraged with our turnout, the return to membership of 3 former GCAC members,  5 NEW members and numerous guests. Thanks to Head Coach Coach Joey Jones of USA for coming and speaking to our great club.

We were also glad to get a quick visit from Gulf Shores High School head coach Ben Blackmon...we all wish him and the Dolphins the best this season!

Just as reminder, Next Meeting is Sept 12th: Max Howell- College Football Analyst will be our guest speaker--more on Max later.

As a courtesy to our good friends at the Craft Farms Clubhouse, please RSVP asap for each meeting by email or telephone for you and your guests attendance. TJ and his staff do a wonderful job in preparing our food for each club meeting and we want to make sure that they get plenty of notice on how many to prepare for. Thanks.

The GCAC website is being resurrected and updated--thanks to Jim Walker.  It will be ready soon and you can check it out  at www.gcathleticclub.com

Iron Bowl Tickets Raffle: The club has acquired 2 tickets to this years Alabama vs. Auburn Iron Bowl.  This years game will be in Auburn.  A maximum of 100 raffle tickets will be sold on a "first come-first serve" basis and will be $30 for 1 raffle ticket or $50 for 2.  These tickets will go fast so buy your chances now.  Contact Fred Dickinson, 975-1500, email fdickinson@gulftel.com to purchase.   Winner will be chosen at Nov 7th meeting.  Proceeds from this fundraiser will help continue the support and scholarships to Gulf Shores High School Athletics.

Thanks and see y'all in couple of weeks on Sept 12 for our first crying towel!

Dec McClelland
GCAC President
From the 4th GCAC Meeting
with Guest Speaker Roger Shultz
October 10th, 2011
GCAC Members,

We had a great meeting Monday Sept 12th as we welcomed sports radio host Max Howell. Max did a great job going over some of his thoughts surrounding the world of college football and of course our members grilled him with their questions.

It was great to hear team reports led by Crying Towel committee chairperson, Kevin Corcoran. I knew, yours truly, would be this years first recipient as my beloved golden domers had once again found a way to be overranked chumps coming out of the gate. Good luck to the Irish as they take on Ketzler's Kids, the Spartans of Meeeeechigan State this saturday.

Thanks again to Jim Walker for giving us all rundown and breakdown on our new and improved GCAC website. Great job and looks sharp!

Look forward to our next meeting with coach Doug Barfield and remember to RSVP!!!

Dec McClelland
GCAC President

GCAC Club,

We had a great meeting this past Monday and a nice crowd on hand to hear former Alabama player, and runner-up in the hit TV show, Biggest Loser, Roger Shultz. 

Roger has an incredible wit and kept the members intrigued as he told stories of his 4 years as an Alabama player and his ambition to be on a reality TV show, which led to his near miss at winning Biggest Loser, having lost first place by a mere 4lbs. 

As always, a big part of the evening is led by Crying Towel committee chairman, Kevin Corcoran.  Ed Cluck was on hand to receive his "Prize".

Please support the GCAC Iron Bowl Raffle ticket sales.  We still have plenty of tickets available.  Here's a way to support our clubs goals and have a great chance at winning 2 tickets to a surely great game.

GCAC Vice President
Fred Dickinson
From the 1st GCAC Meeting of 2011-2012
August 29th, 2011
Guest Speaker, USA Head Football Coach, Joey Jones
USA Coach Joey Jones
Max Howell
From the 2nd GCAC Meeting
with Guest Speaker Max Howell
September 13th, 2011
From the 3rd GCAC Meeting
with Guest Speaker Doug Barfield
September 26th, 2011
GCAC Club,

Great meeting this past Monday night as we welcomed our special guest, former Auburn football coach, Doug Barfield. What A great speaker! Informative, funny and inspirational. We look forward to our next speaker, Roger Shultz, at our next meeting.

Congrats to our scholar athletes again, Virginia Jones and Chris Tilley Jr, two kids going in great directions and I could definitely see that their parents were proud.

We look forward to our team reports, led by crying committee chairman, Kevin Corcoran. Unfortunately our Arkansas Razorback member, Ed Cluck, was not in house to accept his prized crying towel this week as his hog soooeys were indeed rolled by the 3rd ranked Crimson tide.

Remember, Iron Bowl Raffle tickets still available...only 34 sold...plenty of chances left!

GCAC Pres
Dec McClelland
Roger Shultz
Important Note:  All those planning to attend the next meeting,
please RVSP to Fred or Dec prior to the meeting night. 
This will insure proper food coverage for the meeting.
Fred: 251-975-1500   fdickinson@gulftel.com  
Dec: 251-968-9010  dec.mcclelland@edwardjones.com
 
From the 6th GCAC Meeting
with Guest Speaker Inky Johnson
November 7th, 2011

GCAC Club,


We had a great meeting monday and what a privelage it was to listen to former University of Tennesse player Inky Johnson tell his story of life.

Inky shared with us just how hard he had to work in order to make things happen for himself and really became an inspiration for those in his family and his teammates on how to persevere...not just a football player but as a man.

A tragic ending to his career happened in a split second on a tackling play against the Air Force Academy,  but that did not keep him down...it forced him to become stronger.

Inky was a great visit and a great speaker. I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Inky this morning before I took him over to the field house at Gulf Shores High School to talk in front of the football team. 
Again, a great story!

Thanks again to our scholar athletes, Sarah Uter and James Duggan and congratulations on being recognized! Also, congratulations to club member, Jack Reagan for winning our Iron Bowl Tickets!

See you Nov 21st when we get to hear more about the Coach, the legend and teacher, Paul Bear Bryant, from our own Dr. Gaylon McCollough.

Good luck with your teams as our schedules wind down for the year!


Dec McClelland
GCAC President
Below, are this seasons
Previous Meeting Notes
From the 5th GCAC Meeting
with Guest Speaker Jackie Sherrill
October 24th, 2011
GCAC Club,

Great crowd Monday night at Craft Farms for guest speaker
Alabama legend and Head Coach Jackie Sherrill! I have to
say...that was arguably one of the most interesting and informative meetings we have had from our long list of guest speakers. Of course if you were there, Jackie went into great detail about the realignment of college football, what has already happened and what is to come. Coach Sherrill spoke at great length about the business of college football and how it is shaping not only football but college sports altogether.

Jackie informed our group how "the footprint" of college program is where and how a team holds its own within a major conference. A fan base and television market share is what makes each program desirable or attractive to be affliated within a conference. ACC just added University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse but could Clemson or Georgia Tech be sneaking out the back door to join the SEC? How about the Big 12 dissolving...could Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech be joining the Pac 12?...Will West Virginia join the Big 12 if Missouri leaves to join the SEC? Sound confusing?...Well for some...it has been but Jackie did an excellent job running through these different scenarios and illustrated with his maps how eventually we are headed to 4 major conferences and eventually may be headed, at some point, hopefully, to a college football playoff! Wow!

Sorry Auburn Tigers and Jo Jo McCarron on the crying towel...it was a beatdown from the LSU Bayou Bengals but good luck with Ole Miss this week. Kevin, as always did a great job in leading us with team reports and his sacred attire of Michigan State's miracle end of the game hail mary to beat the Badgers of Wisconsin. Good luck to everyone's team this week.

See you all on Nov 7th as we welcome former Tennessee player Inky Johnson. Remember...Iron
Bowl Tickets winner will be announced on that evening!

GCAC President
Dec McClelland
Jackie Sherrill
From the 7th GCAC Meeting
with Guest Speaker Dr. Gaylon McCollough
November 21st, 2011

GCAC Club, 

Our GCAC had another great meeting Nov 21st when we were treated to a real insight to the legendary coach Paul Bryant presented by our very own member, Dr Gaylon McCollough. Gaylon gave us an in-depth look into how Coach Bryant laid his foundation for success.  A foundation that started on the football field and continued well into their lives beyond football.

Gaylon gave us some great stories and insight into the man, coach and mentor that he was. We heard several stories of the lessons he taught so well in his career as a coach, and how those lessons carried off the field in the minds of his players, like Dr McCollough, and how his players practiced those teachings on the gridiron of life.

Thanks again for a wonderful presentation and a big thank you to Gaylon for giving everyone a copy of his book, "The Long Shadow of Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, and for signing autographs after the meeting.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all of you through the holiday season!

Our next meeting will be January 23rd when we will welcome head coach of Southern Miss, Larry Fedora.


Dec McClelland
GCAC President
Below are photos shared by GCAC Member and
brother-in-law to Dr. McCollough, Joel Nomberg. 
Joel proudly introduced Dr. McCollough at Monday nights meeting.
Dr. McCollough with Joe Namath at the stamp dedication for Bear Bryant.
Book signing in 2010 at The Wharf, from L to R:
Dr. Gaylon McCollough, son Sted McCollough, All American Linebacker, Leroy Jordan, Joel Nomberg, and the voice of Alabama Football, Eli Gold.    

Dr. McCollough with lovely wife Susan.
Coach Bear Bryant with Dr. McCollough (center), at the Sugar Bowl.Dr. McCollough at a booksigning in Fairhope last year.Gaylon cooking fish that Joel claims to catch & clean, Gaylon cooks.Dr. McCollough with one of his passions.
Additional photos:  CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Coach Larry Blakeney
From the 8th GCAC Meeting
with Guest Speaker Larry Blakeney
January 23rd, 2012
Dear GCAC Members,

Thanks again for a great turnout for our last club meeting for the 2011-2012 year...Coach Larry Blakeney did a fantastic job and was a great guest speaker. Coach Blakeney certainly has taken the Troy Trojans a long way and now has put Troy, AL on the map of college football. We wish him and the Trojans well in their upcoming year!

Congratulations to our Scholar Athlete, Bethany Ogden, and her pursuit for greatness. She certainly has accomplished great things off the basketball court and I believe she has scored another 11 pts just as I have been writing this!

GCAC member AJ Benintende was a great sport in receiving his "Crying Towel"...Alabama played an excellent game that was well executed and they successfully knocked off the undefeated LSU Tigers. Believe it or not, it's only 7 months to kickoff!

I want all our members to get involved and support our GCAC Golf Tournament that will take place Friday, March 30th at Craft Farms. This is our biggest fundraiser and helps us to keep getting those great speakers and of course, supporting our very own Gulf Shores High School with scholarships. Join or create your own golf team, if you don't play golf, then we need your support by helping us with financial sponsorship. If you can donate some items for our silent auction or even be a volunteer for the day...any help will be noted and appreciated. More info on the tournament can be found here.

Thanks to Emily and Kayla and all that they do and have done for our GCAC athletic club. Congratulations to Kayla and her upcoming marriage...unfortunately she will be moving to Auburn so we will miss you in our fall schedule.

Last but not least, big thanks to Jim Walker and his attention to detail in creating and building our GCAC website. I have said it before and will say it again...it is outstanding and looks great!

See you all at the tournament!

Dec McClelland GCAC President

Saying goodbye to a friend, Larry Powell.

Larry Powell was a former GCAC member and past President.  Larry passed away recently and the GCAC would like to extend their condolences to Larry's family and friends.

From Larry's obituary:
Larry Eugene Powell, 65, of Gulf Shores, AL previously of Birmingham died peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a short battle with cancer on May 22, 2012. He was preceded in death by his father, Marshall N. Powell and his brother, Robert M. Powell. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Kathy Donahoo Powell; his sons, Kirk E. Powell (Erin) of Castaic, CA and Kris L. Powell (Hope) of Gulf Shores, AL; his mother, Jennie Powell of Foley, AL; and his two grand daughters, Beth and Addison Powell of Castaic, CA. Larry graduated from Shades Valley High School and then Auburn University. He spent much of his life in Birmingham until the family moved to Gulf Shores 20 years ago. He was a friend of Bill W. He was a loving husband, father, son and grandfather as well as inspiration to many in his community. His light will be missed by all.
Congratulations to the Winners!
Tom Smith, Mike Cunningham, Jim Cunningham, Albert Thompson
Who shot a 56 to take the 4 Man Scramble!
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
Shown L to R: Tom Smith, Mike Cunningham, Jim Cunningham, Albert Thompson
Click here
Click here
Congratulations to our 2012 Scholarship Winners!
Virginia Jones and Tyler Stargel

What a great year for the GCAC!  We were privileged to have had some great speakers visit our club, a wonderful attendance for our annual golf tournament and of course, we were able to award $1500 scholarships to two, well deserving scholar-athletes from Gulf Shores High School.

This year our recipients were volleyball player Virginia Jones and football player Tyler Stargel, both acknowledged for their great sportsmanship and academic leadership. Virginia Jones will be attending Auburn University while fellow winner, Tyler Stargel, will be attending and playing football for the Georgia Tech. Congratulations to them and their families!!!

We had a great year and we look forward to next year as the planning has already begun. Membership is up and we are looking to increase our numbers again this coming year under incoming president, Fred Dickinson. Fred has been a valuable part of our GCAC and will continue on with his leadership role. I want to thank all of you that have supported me and our club in the past 2 years and I certainly look forward to another exciting GCAC season!

Dec McClelland
GCAC President
L to R:  Virginia Jones, GCAC President: Dec McClelland, Tyler Stargel
Doug Barfield
GCAC
2012 Scholarship
Recipients