Highway Hooligans …

On the road to a cure

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

When it comes to Highway Hooligans, Danny Rhodes beats them all.

Nobody knows roads more than Rhodes, so that "highly" qualified him to compete in Highway Hooligans contest sponsored by the Seventh Division, District Five of the Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT).

Competition was tough because many hooligans have been hired by the highway department, but when the dust settled, it was Rhodes who took home the coveted title.

Rhodes, who is a "vegetation manager" for the DOT, was crowned "King of the Road"

on "Paving Day," which was set aside by the DOT’s Seventh Division to "pave the way to a cure for cancer."

More than $1,000 was raised by the Highway Hooligans in their quest for the crown, banner and matchbox truck.

Tim Hornsby was in hot pursuit of the title but Rhodes passed the $400 mark and finished with a flair. Hornsby cruised to a second place finish, comfortably ahead of the nearest competitor.

This year’s Relay for Life campaign was especially important for the Seventh Division, said Chris Huner, Relay team chairman.

The division lost one of their own, John Bowen, to cancer April 23 and everyone wanted to honor him by surpassing the goal they had set for themselves.

"Our goal was $1,500 and we have almost doubled that," Huner said. "We have collected $2,872 and we will have more donations coming in before Relay."

The division also sponsored a domino tournament and a golf scramble and played Bingo to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Huner expressed appreciation to the employees and their families for their support of their fund-raising efforts.

"The Highway Hooligan contest was the biggest fund raiser and we especially want to thank the men who participated," Huner said.

For Rhodes, the means justified the end.

"It’s worth being a Highway Hooligan, if helps to find a cure for cancer," he said. "I lost an uncle, Grady Shaver, and my granddaddy, John C. Shaver, to cancer. And, we lost John just a couple of weeks ago. Cancer does touch everyone in some way. So, we all need to do what we can to win the fight against this disease."

He expressed appreciation to the Goshen Farmer’s Co-op, Rodgers Grocery, Richburg Market at Little Oak, and Raymond’s Barber Shop, which were his collection sites.