Grandmother divides spirit between two Madison high schools

Darry Towry, center, divides her school loyalty between granddaughter Taylor Haraway at James Clemens and grandson Dylan Haraway at Bob Jones. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Darry Towry had a real dilemma for the Madison Bowl, pitting the James Clemens Jets against the Bob Jones Patriots.

Towry’s grandson Dylan Haraway plays football at Bob Jones. Her granddaughter Taylor Haraway performs with the Jets Dance Team.

Dylan, a senior, is a Patriots linebacker. His parents are Steve and Donna Haraway. Taylor, a freshman, is a dance team member, who perform with the Jets Band. Her parents are Stacy Haraway and Paige Posey.

Cousins Taylor Haraway and Dylan Haraway. (CONTRIBUTED)

Towry debated on which side to sit at the ball game. “I didn’t decide until I walked through the stadium gate. The sun was shining right in (James Clemens’) eyes, so I sat on Bob Jones side. I apologized to Taylor this weekend,” Towry said.

After Bob Jones’ victory, Towry expects “cousin rivalry at Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers. I just laugh at them, because they’re never really ugly with each other … just a few jabs. I’m always positive when I’m around Taylor, supporting everything she does at James Clemens and the same with Dylan at Bob Jones.”

Towry has been “a big Bob Jones fan since 1979, when my son Steve, Dylan’s dad, started playing football.” Two more sons, Stacy (Taylor’s dad) and Shawn Haraway, played from 1979-1988. When her other son Chip Towry played at Sparkman High School, she “had a hard time” pulling for Bob Jones’ rival. Shawn and Chip are bachelors.

Towry wasn’t happy at first with Madison having two high schools. “I now realize they had no choice,” she said.

Two schools benefit all children — smaller classrooms, great chance to participate in sports and activities. “I’ve always been a firm believer that, if your child is involved in sports and school activities, it keeps them off the streets.”

Towry has three more grandchildren who are Bob Jones alumni: Ryan and Chelsea Haraway, Taylor’s siblings, and Dustin Haraway, Dylan’s brother, who is attending Georgetown (Ky.) College on a football scholarship.

Towry is a Rogersville native. In 2005, she retired after 25 years in accounting at Chrysler Corporation.