Shannon J. Allen, Correspondent
I covered my first high school football game in August of 1988. It was a Thursday night game between Albertville and Talladega at Talladega.
It was the Aggies’ season opener, as well as the debut of their new head coach, the late Dennis Hicks. Coach Hicks was a classmate and lifelong friend of my late father, Edwin Allen.
The Tigers beat the Aggies 20-7, which unfortunately proved to be a preview of things to come for Coach Hicks’ squad. Albertville posted a 2-8 record in 1988, beating only Boaz 27-8 and Arab 20-14.
The 1988 campaign was a sad one for Boaz as well, as the Pirates went 0-10 in Vance Roberson’s only season as their head coach.
What wasn’t disappointing that season was the assistance I received from a pair of legendary photographers — the late Robert O. Johnson and the late John Chumley. Their outstanding photos made my football coverage better than I could have imagined for a rookie sports editor.
Both John and Mr. Johnson — I never called him Robert O. — took me under their wings and treated me like their own. To this day, I still recall Mr. Johnson telling me the first rule of covering a game from the sideline is self-preservation. If you see a play coming toward you, then you better move out of the way.
During the 1988 football season, I visited Mr. Johnson in his downtown studio for the first time. It was in the afternoon, and Mr. Johnson said, “Would you like a beer? It’s after 4 o’clock?”
After I politely told him I didn’t drink, he went to another room in his studio and returned with two bottles of Coca-Cola. He kept a supply of the 6 ½-ounce bottles in his studio. Those bottles provided the best tasting Coke ever.
The 1988 Backyard Brawl between the Aggies and Pirates was played in torrential rain at the old Aggie Stadium. Mr. Johnson chose wisely that Friday night and stayed at home, while John decided to attend the game. For him, the result was a ruined camera.
We lost Mr. Johnson in 2013 and John in 2014. I continue to be thankful for their friendship and the positive impact they made in my life and career.
The memories Mr. Johnson and John captured with their cameras will live on in albums, scrapbooks and yearbooks.
It’s amazing how an old photo comes to life, isn’t it? Putting us right back in the moment and tugging on our emotions, producing a smile, laughter or maybe even tears.
Shannon J. Allen is a correspondent for The Sand Mountain Leader and an English teacher at Crossville High School.
