Tom Hulderman at Nick Saban, Sr. grave in Fairmont

Beautiful article about Brother & Monongah today

Clay Skipper, who writes for the Bitter Southerner, has done an incredible job in an article about Nick Saban that turns into a homage to Monongah, Carolina, Worthington and coal miners.

It’s filled with great photos of Marion County and Monongah today.

Tom Hulderman, who caught Brother’s passes in the 1968 state championship game, is featured, and still lives.

Nick Saban, Sr. gets a tribute almost worthy of him. Nothing written can equal what Nick, Sr. did for the kids who played on his Idamay Black Diamonds Pop Warner football team.

It’s a long story, but it captures the heart and spirit of the people who grew up around Nick Saban, and the people who live today where Brother once walked.

It you want to share in this marvelous trip to yesterday and today, which does, as the song says, “Take me home, country roads,” click on

http://bittersoutherner.com/this-place-matters#.VK1Ir7ktDX4

Clay contacted me after discovering this Monongah High Alumni blog and we exchanged phone calls and emails over the weeks before he traveled to Monongah, Carolina and Worthington for his story.

Author Clay’s thank-you email to me:

John, 

Hope you enjoyed the holidays. 

My story went up yesterday. You can find it at: 

http://bittersoutherner.com/this-place-matters 

Hope you enjoy. Thanks again for all of your help. I really, really appreciate 

it. 

Clay Skipper