Rec center named in honor of former civic leader

The framed formal portrait of James William Adkins is displayed in a place of honor in the front hall at the Daleville Recreation Center named in his honor.

Most people called him Billy.

The former civic leader, educator, coach, business owner and school board member died at the age of 50 in 1984 while serving as the first director of the recreation center he helped build in Daleville.

“Coach Adkin’s untiring efforts to promote a program of recreation to meet the needs of the community was extremely successful and a source of pride for the people of Daleville and Dale County,” wrote his widow and the mother of his four children, Annette Thomason, in the 2001 publication called “The Heritage of Dale County.”

A Skipperville native, Adkins graduated from what was then Dale County High School in Ozark and enrolled at State Teachers College in Troy.

While attending the Teachers College, now Troy State University, he met and later married one of the college’s marching band majorettes, Annette Brooks, according to “The Heritage of Dale County.”

Adkins received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955 and was awarded a one-year scholarship to the University of Montevallo. After a year, he transferred to Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now known as Auburn, where he earned his Master’s Degree in Education.

Adkins held several teaching and coaching jobs in Midland City, Coffee Springs, Wicksburg and Florala before moving to Daleville in 1957.

In Daleville, Adkins continued to teach school and co-owned a small gas station/grocery store with his father.

Adkins served on the Dale County School Board for several years and in 1964 was appointed to serve as the City of Daleville’s first Superintendent of Education and school principal.

In 1970 Adkins served as the first headmaster for Abbeville Christian Academy in Henry County.

“Coaching young people was his life,” said son Mike Adkins. “No matter where he was or where he worked, he would always try to find a way to coach or get others involved in coaching.

“Billy Adkins can be considered one of the most significant pioneers in the history of Daleville,” his son added, calling his father an “innovating trailblazer.”

Adkins helped with the incorporating of the city of Daleville in 1958. During the 1970s he was instrumental in obtaining federal grants to build the community center and swimming pool and low rent housing for those in need.

He was the first recreation center director and the director of the housing authority. He later served as the chairman of the Daleville Medical Board and was able to acquire federal funds to build a much needed clinic.

He was in the process of applying for a grant to build a new city hall and public safety department building at the time of his death” his son recalled. “His hard work was later realized when the new city buildings were completed in 1988.

In 1973, Adkins began working with the Youth Activities Department at Fort Rucker. “This was his ultimate job,” his son said. “He was in hog heaven because he was around kids and coaching all day long and got paid to do it.”

Adkins was named the city of Daleville’s Plans and Research Director and served in that position until his untimely death in 1984. Adkins was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Daleville, the Daleville Jaycees, Lion’s Club, Masonic Lodge and Shriners. He served as the first Alabama National Director of Dixie Youth Softball and was instrumental in Daleville hosting the first Dixie Debs World Series.

In 1969 Adkins was named Daleville Man of the Year by the Jaycees and in 1982, the city proclaimed May 5 as “Billy Adkins Day.”

The athletic field beside the community center was named in Adkins honor before his death. In 1984, a Dale County peewee/midget football league was also named in his honor.

In 1985 the Daleville City Council voted to rename the community center in honor of Adkins.

“Many times, Billy found himself involved in projects that were thankless and unheralded but as with most dedicated servants, Coach Adkins never complained about not getting praised and not having enough time to do a particular job,” Thomason wrote about her late husband. “His only regret was that there was not enough time for him to do more.

“I cannot image a person loving a town more than Billy loved Daleville,” Thomason continued. “In his short lifetime, he touched the lives of many and enriched the lives of all. Our corner of the world is brighter for having known him and we will treasure his memory forever.”