Claude
In the spring of 1984, I was the head coach at Muscle Shoals High School. Ray Perkins was entering his second year at Alabama and invited our team down to watch spring training. Practice was rained out but it gave me and assistant coach Ronnie Ritter an opportunity to visit with Perk in his office, which had been Coach Bryant’s office.
A few weeks later, he invited me and my wife to be his guest for A-Day and to discuss a possible position on his staff. My wife, Barbara, was 7 months pregnant with our second child. Coach Perkins offered me a position as a graduate assistant with ZERO benefits.
Sitting across the table from Ray Perkins was intimidating enough. It was worse when I responded: “Coach; I appreciate the offer, but my family comes first. You can obviously see that we are about to be parents again in June. Alabama has always been my dream job, but I can’t take it without insurance. I hope you understand.”
In what seemed like an eternity, he just sat there staring then turned to Barbara and asked: “How would yall like to be parents to 132 student athletes? I’m offering yall the position as Bryant Hall Director with full benefits.”
The next day, I was added to the Crimson Tide staff. Six weeks later, our second son was born. In those days, we had no idea if our nursery was going to be pink or blue. I can now admit, I secretly wanted a baby brother for Jake to grow up with.
Today is my youngest son, Joseph Claude Bradford’s 42nd birthday. We will be celebrating tonight with Claude and his beautiful daughter, Riley Jo.
Riley Jo will turn 12 tomorrow. I say her hair is deep red, but Susan of course says that it’s Auburn colored. She idolizes her SuSu and they enjoy their time together.
Riley was born after midnight, which makes her birthday, on the 4th of June. Joe Claude says that she was actually born on HIS birthday, if they were living in California.
I have said before how he got his unusual name. I think that it is worth repeating.
His maternal Grandfather was Joseph William Garlen. His paternal Great-Grandfather was Joseph Clarence Bradford. That took care of the Joseph. (Of course, Riley’s middle name is Jo.)
His maternal Great-Grandfather was Claude Mitchell. I had 2 uncles named Claude: Claude Norton and Claude Bradford. That took care of the Claude. Thus: Joseph Claude.
I was scared out of my mind when he was an infant and had choked on a piece of bologna. He survived that episode after rushing him to DCH Hospital in Tuscaloosa, while we were living in Bryant Hall.
Speaking of Bryant Hall, Claude was less than a month old when we moved into the athletic dorm and took over as the dorm parents. This meant that his adopted older brothers were Mike Shula, Cornelius Bennett, John Hand, Wes Neighbors, Derrick Thomas, Curt Jarvis, Hoss Johnson, Bobby Humphrey, Kerry Goode, Van Tiffin, the list goes on and on.
Here is the favorite story of Joe Kines, the former defensive coordinator at Alabama.
The coaches would sometimes have guests over for lunch at the dorm. Coach Kines was waiting in the lobby for his guest who happened to be his preacher.
Joe hears some yelling coming down the hall from our apartment. Joe Claude was running toward the lobby with Barbara right behind him, running as well. Claude had gotten out of our apartment after his bath and was butt naked. Coach Kines blocked his route. He still reminds me of that episode, after more than 4 decades.
When we were living in Louisville, we were debating on whether to send him on to school as one of the youngest in his class or give him an extra year in kindergarten. (Early redshirting!) The decision was tough since Claude graded in the top 10% academically.
We held him back and it was one of the smartest decisions we ever made. Being one of the oldest in his class, made him a natural leader and it also helped him to develop athletically.
When Claude was in junior high in Northport, the wrestling team at the high school was having to forfeit every match at the smallest weight classes: 98 pounds, 106 pounds and 113 pounds. Coach Griffin recruited Joe Claude for the wrestling team. If for no other reason, so they could receive a forfeit instead of giving one up.
There were very few “small” wrestlers.
He won 6 matches that year. Actually, 5 of those wins were forfeits.
Joe Claude started at wide receiver for Tuscaloosa County High School his senior year at less than 140 pounds. They had a great year under Coach Robert Higginbotham and gave Hoover High their only loss that year. This was the year that Hoover was featured in the “Two a Days” TV show.
He followed in his brother Jake’s footsteps as the #1 player on the tennis team.
Joe Claude was less than one month away from graduating from high school when we found that Barbara, his Mother and my wife, had breast cancer. She started her chemo and radiation as Claude was entering his freshmen year at Alabama.
To his credit, he was there all through her treatments and surgeries. His compassion was on display during these tough times.
He developed an interest in music since I always had a guitar, mandolin and upright bass at the house. Claude became a “self- taught” guitar player. I must brag here but he is an excellent player and singer.
I used to try and keep up with him in golf to no avail. He is built like Gumby and can drill a drive almost 300 yards. I can reach 300 yards by hitting a driver, followed by a 7 wood.
He has survived some tough challenges in his life. He would tell you that. Winners find a way though.
Joe Claude has become a tremendous Father and role model for Riley Jo. His work ethic and leadership as one of the managers at the Edge in Destin, is an example of his endurance.
Every year on this day, I think of Bobbie Gentry and her hit song “Ode to Billie Joe.”
The song’s first line: “It was the 3rd of June another sleepy dusty Delta day.”
Tonight in Destin, it probably won’t be sleepy or dusty.
It will be a birthday celebration though.
Happy birthday, Claude.
So proud of you.