Eva Principal Patrick Patterson, left, and Morgan County Rural Industrial Development Association President Jeff McLemore unveil a sign naming Eva School’s new agriscience building in honor of Louie McDonald Jr. and Jerry Miner. | Clif Knight

Eva School is back on board with an agriscience program thanks to the support of the Morgan County School Board and Morgan County Rural Industrial Development Association.

The program was reactivated this year after the school board funded the construction of a new agriscience facility on campus and the industrial development board provided over $28,000 for furnishings and equipment.

The facility was named in honor of Louie McDonald Jr. and Jerry Riner during a special PTO meeting, which was conducted by the school’s FFA Chapter officers Tuesday night.

A permanent sign was unveiled by Principal Patrick Patterson and Jeff McLemore, school board member and president of the Morgan County Rural Industrial Development Board.

Patterson said the sign would be installed on the east side of the school building where it can be easily seen by the student body.

Engraved plaques were presented to the honorees to commemorate the honor.

A reception and tour of the building followed the dedication ceremony.

“Our board made the decision to bring vocational education back to the junior high schools,” said Hopkins. “This is an extra teacher unit, above what we get from the state, but they feel it’s worth it.”

“We couldn’t have done it without the help of the industrial development board and the Eva school staff,” he added. “Our goal is to have agriscience at all of our junior high schools.”

McLemore commended both McDonald and Minor for their years of service on the industrial development board and their interest in creating jobs and promoting economic development.

“You could always depend on them being there when there was a job to be done,” he pointed out. “They believed in training and helping young people and they always extended a hand in support of educational activities.”

“Vocational agriculture taught us boys a lot when we were growing up,” said Miner, “and it was not all about learning how to do things on the farm. Part of it was instilling integrity, teamwork and honesty.”

“I’m glad to see it being taught again,” he added.

McDonald recalled going to Billy Goat Hollow with his father as a boy and watching men from the Eva community haul out the rock that was used to build the school‘s original vocational agriculture

building.

“The people of this community have always teamed up and gotten things done,” he said. I feel there are many others who deserve this more than me. It’s an honor and I appreciate it.”

Several elected officials were in attendance at the dedication. They included State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, former State Rep. and current member of the Alabama Public Service Commission Jeremy Oden, Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Log and District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher.