Bessemer’s city leaders and workers celebrated 10 years of serving residents at the Kenneth E. Gulley Rec Center last week.
Held in the evening with a block party theme, the celebration featured radio personality Drika Ray as mistress of ceremonies and music by DJ Bad Boy Butch.
The Bessemer City High School drumline opened the program, followed by remarks from Mayor Kenneth Gulley, who spoke on the importance of a facility that serves the physical health of Bessemer residents, on the center’s history and on what it took to get the project started.
“It wasn’t easy, but as we know, resilience and a good purpose can’t be beat,” Gulley said. “With much help from our city workers and council members as well as our chamber of commerce, we teamed up to have where we are now, a facility for the people, by the people.”
Alton Woodard, the center’s first director, announced the member tributes and spoke on coming to the facility when its doors first opened.
“I’d never directed anything, but I was trusted with the task and did the best I could,” Woodard said. “It means much to have been a part of such a project, yet more so to have held the position, but a trusted staff and workers made the job even more easier by helping me gain the confidence I didn’t have to do my part at the very beginning.”
Makeda Smith, the center’s current director, recognized each of the facility’s departments and employees.
“I believe fully in recreation because I feel it’s all about recreating ourselves into better individuals mentally, physically and even spiritually,” Smith said. “We’re ensuring that the beautiful city of Bessemer and all of its citizens get valuable information about our programs and future events and newcoming projects that are given through this facility, because there’s no recreation without our people.”
The center’s Silver Boomers group received an honorable mention, the Nathifa Dance Company performed dance numbers and songs, the Bessemer City High cheerleaders performed, and Desi Keith’s D2 Line Dancing got everyone who could dance a step moving. Granny’s Fish N Grits and Prolific Water Ice provided free food and cool cups.
A friend once said to me, “You know, sometimes we don’t even realize the special people we have the opportunity to be around, and the historical significance they possess, and the places right in our neighborhoods. We simply let things pass us by and don’t realize how special they are until they’re gone.”
I say let’s not let good facilities that serve us all pass us by. Let’s recreate a better atmosphere wherein we all can live and be purposeful in goodness toward one another, and not take for granted what’s before us.
The Kenneth E. Gulley Rec Center is at 100 14th St. South, Bessemer; call 205-425-0655.
Alton Woodard, the center’s first director, with director Makeda Smith and staff during
the anniversary celebration
Mayor Kenneth Gulley and Alton Woodard, the center’s first director.
Members of the Bessemer Silver Boomers at the block party.
Line dancing outside the center
