by R.D. Morris Jr. "Rod"
Out my window, a block away, construction crews are digging away at the new city hall/regions bank/Merrill Lynch move site—a 1st step in the river front renewal vision my longtime friend Mayor Craig Ford is betting on to spark our revival. This spot on the parade route has seen Gadsden’s highs and lows, and as a son of Goodyear families, I’m asking Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt to help us reclaim our economic strength. Our story, my family’s and this town’s—runs deep, and it’s time we build a future our kids won’t have to leave behind.
My wife and I grew up in the Goodyear Tire and Rubber family. Back in ’85, we both worked at the plant through their “vacation replacement” program for college kids—a rite of passage around here. Our fathers retired from that same Gadsden plant, their careers built on its humming floors. Go back further, and my grandfather worked there too, passing away at his machine in Department 151E. His father-in-law, Sam Cramer, migrated from Goodyear’s Akron plant, helping start the golf course that’s now a Walmart, car lot, and strip mall. Sam’s brother Henry even served as the original clock tower operator in Akron, according to family lore. We weren’t just employees—we were part of a community that made Gadsden grow, alongside steel plant workers and neighbors who poured their lives into our town.
But those plants are gone now, and with them, the promise of long-term careers. The retirees from Goodyear and steel still fill our streets—folks like my parent and in-laws—keeping services like mine (home lending), Realty, Food industry, insurance, and medical afloat. They’re why I’m at First Equity Home Loan, helping families buy homes or tap equity along the Coosa River. Yet, without new jobs, we can’t replace them down the road. Our families’ kids are moving away for opportunity—Birmingham, Atlanta, beyond—because the brain drain here in Etowah County is real... our population and opportunities have been crushed by NAFTA and other factors. Our rivers, mountains, waterfalls, friendly people, and outdoors are hard to match anywhere—Noccalula Falls alone is a treasure—but beauty won’t pay the bills here any longer.
That’s why I’m turning to Senators Tuberville and Britt. I’ll confess: I’m a diehard Alabama football fan (Roll Tide!), but I pull for Auburn when we’re not playing. That didn’t stop me from vocally and financially backing Coach Tommy Tuberville in his first Senate race. I knew he was perfect for Alabama—common sense, no-nonsense, not bought by Big Pharma, and a listener, not a career politician. His conservative grit has delivered: securing defense jobs in 2023’s NDAA, fighting government waste, and standing up for rural towns like ours. I’m confident he’ll hear us out, especially on something as critical as the I-759 extension. My neighbors in Hokes Bluff and Glencoe need it badly to reach jobs in Birmingham and elsewhere. The whole I-59 corridor—from Argo, Alabama, to Rising Fawn, Georgia—desperately needs major employers to stop our talent from slipping away in North Alabama.
Senator Katie Britt’s a powerhouse too. Her work on the Appropriations Committee brought Alabama over $6.9 billion in 2024, including transportation funds that could juice up our infrastructure. Together, they could turn the Northeast Alabama Regional MegaSite into a game-changer. This 1,300-acre site, just outside downtown, is ready to go—rail access, I-59 proximity, and the Coosa River at its doorstep. Imagine a manufacturer or logistics hub here, hiring hundreds or thousands. Jobs that’d fill our restaurants, boost home sales, and keep our clinics busy. Careers that’d convince our kids to stay, raise families, and one day retire here, just like their Goodyear grandparents.
Industry experts reading this: take a hard look at Gadsden. Our MegaSite’s a blank canvas for your next plant or warehouse, with a workforce hungry for opportunity and a cost of living that beats the big cities. Our outdoors offer a lifestyle anyone would love. Senators Tuberville and Britt could sweeten the deal—think tax breaks, federal grants, or that I-759 upgrade to make commuting a breeze. Tommy gets how jobs anchor a community; he’s seen it coaching teams and now fighting for Alabama. Katie’s savvy could seal it, connecting D.C. dollars to our dirt. Picture this headline: “Tuberville and Britt Land Mega-Employer in Gadsden, Reviving I-59 Corridor.” That’s not just a win—it’s a legacy.
Back at my desk, I see Craig’s new city hall move and river development moving forward—a brick-and-mortar promise of renewal that can add to our appeal. But buildings alone won’t cut it. We need employers who’ll hire our sons and daughters, grow our tax base, and keep our riverfront alive with business and families coming together. Senators, you’ve got the pull to make it happen. Coach, we believed in you from the jump—I know you’ll push for that I-759 extension and jobs to match. Senator Britt, your energy could lock in the MegaSite’s first tenant. We’ve seen the transformation in nearby Cullman. Gadsden’s families—like mine, tied to Goodyear’s past—deserve a future here. Let’s make our town a place where history meets opportunity again.
How can I help! 256-New-Loan
