This article is a pleasure to write because it honors two of the most deserving people I know: Bill and Judy Ayers of Rainsville. To me, they will always be Mr. and Mrs. Ayers because of the respect and love I have for them. I have known the couple since my early days at Plainview School, and Mrs. Ayers was my seventh-grade English teacher and revered cheerleader sponsor at PHS. Mr. Ayers was her assistant, driver, and general whatever-you-need kind of guy.

Later, after I became a teacher myself, I had the pleasure of working with them for most of my career. They were—and remain—icons of Plainview High School and its athletic programs.

In more recent years, I’ve also had the pleasure of working with the couple at church, with Mr. Ayers volunteering his time as a puppet master and Mrs. Ayers serving as a puppet and prop designer. Mr. and Mrs. Ayers even agreed to flip roles from being my leaders to taking directions from me when I directed the puppet team. Both spent a vast amount of time serving children outside the school setting, spreading their love for others.

It is both fitting and truly heartwarming that they have been named the Class 4A recipients of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s 2025 Making a Difference Award—an honor reserved for individuals who have gone above and beyond in service to their school communities.

Presented annually by the AHSAA and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA), the Making a Difference Award recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond in their service to students, schools, and communities. One recipient is chosen from each classification (1A through 7A), and this year, for the first time in the award’s 15-year history, a husband-and-wife duo is being honored.

Bill and Judy Ayers have dedicated more than five decades to Plainview High School. Judy Ayers recently completed her 53rd year with the DeKalb County School System, serving the last 40 years as the school’s librarian. She began her career at Plainview in 1972, teaching English and history, and was asked to temporarily take over the varsity cheerleading squad in 1976—a role she held for 25 years.

Bill Ayers taught and served in administration at Plainview until retiring in 2008 after 32 years of service. But retirement didn’t slow him down. He and Judy have continued to support the school’s athletic programs, particularly by serving as longtime basketball statisticians. Their meticulous stat-keeping has helped document Plainview’s program in both the AHSAA and NFHS National Record Book, especially for 3-point shooting achievements.

Coach Luke Griggs called them “the most well-known and most beloved couple in Rainsville, whose value to the school, its athletic programs, and community cannot be understated.”

Bill Ayers explained how his lifelong commitment to Plainview began with a simple offer to help.

“When Terry Mitchell asked me to help him by keeping basketball stats and records in the 1970s, I said yes,” he said. “He and I devised a system which I still use today for basketball stats after 48 years. Later on, I was asked to keep football stats by Coach [Dale] Pruitt, and I stayed on the sidelines for many years.”

He added, “The greatest gift for doing the stats is watching the players’ faces when I read the stats to the coaches and players at half-time. Also, seeing the athletes years later and them coming up to give us a hug or ask how we are doing is a big reward for both Judy and me. This is what I call ‘BEAR PRIDE!’ I have been a Plainview Bear since I began school at Plainview in the second grade and plan to remain a part of Plainview in the coming years.”

Judy Ayers also reflected on her unexpected yet fulfilling journey.

“My life-long association with Plainview High School and its students began humbly in 1972 when I was hired to teach science and history, neither of which was my secondary education major,” she said.

“Four years later, the principal asked me to work with the varsity cheerleaders long enough for him to find someone who wanted that responsibility. Twenty-five years passed without that person coming forth,” she added with a smile.

“In the meantime, I learned about cheerleading, Bill became a teacher at Plainview, and we both became invested in the lives of the students at Plainview. We saw that students needed direction, support, respect, and appreciation for their interests, their talents, and their hard work. We had the time, energy, and love for giving all of that…AND IT WAS FUN!”

Beyond their work with athletics, Judy has worn many hats over the years—coordinating graduation ceremonies, advising student publications, sponsoring school plays and proms, and encouraging students’ growth in reading, writing, and leadership.

The Ayers will be formally honored during the AHSAA Summer Conference Championship Coaches’ Awards Banquet on Thursday, July 24, at 6 p.m. at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. Other winners being honored are:

• Class 1A: Johnny “Cal” Young
  A former Brantley High School student who has provided his alma mater exemplary service as an assistant coach over the last 30 years for virtually every athletic program at Brantley High School – including boys’ and girls’ basketball, softball, baseball, and football.

• Class 2A: Dale Carrell
  A veteran track and field coach at Westminster of Oak Mountain School, who has set an example of faith and courage through his long-time service and impact as a teacher, administrator, and coach for the Christian school located in Shelby County.

• Class 3A: Haleigh Woodard Williams
  Lauderdale County High School’s tennis coach has built the girls’ program into the top Class 1A-3A program in the state, making a major impact on the lives of the student-athletes in her exceptional tennis program and classroom.

• Class 5A: Cedric Blair
  The offensive line coach for Ramsay High School’s football team, Blair has also served at various other Birmingham City Schools, earning a reputation as not only an outstanding line coach but also a molder of young men through his own example of service and dedication.

• Class 6A: Dr. Ann Jackson
  The Superintendent of Jasper City Schools, in office since 2014, has transformed the Jasper City School System into one of the finest in the nation and implemented an education-based athletic program that has become a model of excellence.

• Class 7A: Erica Dubois
  The former Prattville High School basketball star returned to her alma mater, where she has become one of the most respected teachers and basketball coaches in the AHSAA.

With their deep roots in the community and decades of heartfelt service to education and athletics, Bill and Judy Ayers truly embody the spirit of the Making a Difference Award. They haven’t just made a difference—they continue to be the difference, every single day, to everyone fortunate enough to know them.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].