Hope Zeanah and Curtis Harris are two of six inductees that will enter the Atmore Area Hall of Fame on Sat., April 30, at The Club.

The other inductees include Danny Sandspree, Kenneth Barnett, Lou Vickery and John Garrad.

Biographies of the rest of the inductees will be published in the next two editions of The Atmore Advance.

 

Hope M. Zeanah

Zeanah graduated from the University of South Alabama, where she earned her master’s degree in administration and supervision in 1992. She also earned her master’s degree from the University of West Alabama in elementary education. Seven years prior, she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Troy University.

Zeanah has been assistant and interim superintendent and coordinator for the Baldwin County School System; principal at Elberta Elementary School; and teacher at Gulf Shores School, Flomaton and Escambia Academy.

While an educator, Zeanah received numerous awards, including the Certified Instructional Leader Certification; National Distinguished Principal; Alabama District Distinguished Principal; trainer for the Alabama Reading Initiative; was a consultant for the state department of education; presented at many education conferences; and was named the outstanding educator of the year and administrator of the year in Baldwin County.

 

Curtis Bell Harris

Harris, the third of four children, was born on Oct. 12, 1916, in Atlanta, Ga., to Charles and Emma Harris. At an early age, Harris moved with his parents to Chicago, Ill. He completed his secondary education at DuSable High School, where he played the trombone in the marching band with the late Nat King Cole.

Harris went to Alabama State University on a music scholarship, and received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mathematics education. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country for three-and-a-half years with the 186th Army Ground Forces Band overseas and at home during World War II.

Harris was band director at Escambia County Training School and Escambia County High School for close to 40 years. He also taught at Faulkner State Community College for a number of years.

In Atmore, Harris became involved in civic and social organizations. He served as deacon, choir director and Sunday school scholar at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church.

Harris married his college sweetheart, Marcelete Maxine Hollis, on July 6, 1944. They had three children, six grandchildren and one great granddaughter.