Peggy M. Himburg

Dr. Brad Bradford was honored by Impact Learning Center at a reception after stepping down as chairman of its executive board. He served tirelessly with Impact for over 30 years and has influenced others to join in the fight against literacy in Jackson County.

 It all began with Dr. Bradford’s involvement with the Rotary Club when the club was challenged to come up with a project focusing on illiteracy. About 25 community leaders got together to address this important issue and chartered the Jackson County 21st Century Council as a workforce development and educational arm of the local Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Bradford was named as the chairman of this group which is today know as Impact.

 The 1994 goals of the County 21st Century Council included four items. They were an Adult Career Center, Job Specific Work Place Education, Educational Endowments, and Video Teleconferencing. Over the years all of these goals have been met and literacy has increased in our county.

 Bill White, a member of the Impact board and life-long friend of Dr. Bradford, pointed directly to Dr. Bradford when speaking about the success of Impact. “The first key to success was Dr. Brad’s enormous passion for helping others,” stated White. “The second key to Impact’s success was Dr. Brad’s skill in recruiting qualified, knowledgeable, and experienced people for each particular task. Most of those recruited will tell you that his leadership was the deciding factor in their agreeing to serve.”

 Apparently people have a difficult time saying no to Dr. Bradford. He has the unique style of recruiting which involves a face to face meeting. He would not accept no for an answer as if anyone thought about giving that as their answer. White added, “When you accepted, you found out that Dr. Brad’s passion for helping others was contagious. Before you knew it, that passion had been transferred to you.”

 “The third key to Impact’s success was Dr. Brad’s ability to form partnerships with others. Everyone involved agreed that the illiteracy problem would require the cooperation of many community assets,” said White. 

 State Senator Steve Livingston and State Representative Mike Kirkland presented Dr. Bradford with a copy of the resolution which was presented in the State Senate and House of Representatives. This resolution honors Dr. Bradford for his work for literacy in Jackson County.

 Impact is also establishing a scholarship honoring Dr. Bradford. High school seniors in the Scottsboro City and Jackson County School Systems who plan to pursue a career in the medical field will be eligible to apply for this scholarship. Donations have already began for the scholarship. Anyone interested in making a donation should call the Impact Learning Center at 256-218-2121 for additional information.

 Dr. Bo Bradford, Dr. Bradford’s youngest son who now sits on the Impact board, praised his father for his contributions to the community. The younger Bradford said, “Education has always been your passion, and Impact was an off spring of that vision.” He also praised his dad for “the way you have chosen to live your life and the legacy you will leave”. He used the same words others had used during the recognition to describe his father including humble, hospitable, determined, driven, and gracious.

 At the conclusion of the recognition, Dr. Bradford said, “My sincere hope is that whatever contributions we have made here at Impact can become part of the fabric Scottsboro and Jackson County can become in its very bright future.”