Five people added to Bob Jones Hall of Fame

MADISON – The excitement of high-school homecoming creates lasting memories. Adding to the atmosphere, the Hall of Fame at Bob Jones High School has five inductees for 2022.

Bob Jones Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding alumni who have maintained a high standard of excellence and compiled a significant contribution in their fields of endeavor. People who are not alumni qualify if they made a major gain for Bob Jones in leadership or service.

Hall of Fame members serve as role models for current and future Bob Jones students.

“We are so proud of our 2022 inductees as their service and commitment to excellence is a tradition that we strive to instill in our students each day. We are grateful for their legacy,” Bob Jones Principal Sylvia Lambert said.

Hall of Fame inductees will serve as Grand Marshals for the homecoming parade on Sep. 8. They then will be honored with a reception catered by Bob Jones Culinary students and recognized at halftime during the homecoming game on Sept. 9.

* Bridget Chambers Drummond – Worked at Bob Jones from 1996 to 2021 as receptionist, teacher and coach. She taught social studies, coached dance team, led cheer squad to state championship and was instrumental in starting “Peer Helping and Innovations” class at Bob Jones.

Building relationships and mentoring students was second nature for Drummond. Peer Helpers worked tirelessly to confirm that new students never felt alone, informed students about dangers of alcohol and drugs and raised money and supplies for charities locally and nationally. With Drummond’s guidance, Peer Helpers developed as a recognized, respected group in the community.

Drummond loved Bob Jones High School. She was proud to serve as a Patriot for 25 years, and her commitment showed in tireless work.

Drummond, husband Brad and twin daughters, Brooke and Blaire, live in Eva.

* Michael Gunner – Started working at Bob Jones in 2000 as head coach for swimming. Gunner led students to nine state championships for boys and one state championship for girls. In 2007, the Patriots won both the boys’ and girls’ state titles.

In 2016, Gunner was selected “National High School Boys Swimming Coach of the Year” by the National Federation of State High School Coaches Association. In 2020, he was inducted into Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame.

In his career, Gunner worked at Decatur, Austin and Athens high schools, along with Rainbow Elementary School as teacher and assistant principal. Gunner retired from coaching after the 2017 swim season and works as MCS Coordinator of Operations.

Gunner and his wife Christian are Madison residents. Their three children graduated from Bob Jones.

* Elise Toney Kirkland – Graduated from Bob Jones in 1975. A lifelong Madison resident, she recently retired after 43 years as a City of Madison employee. Kirkland served many Bob Jones students and staff in recreational activities, both as mentor and friend.

In high school, Kirkland first worked for Madison Recreation Department as a temporary playground worker in 1973-1975. After graduation, she worked as clerk typist at City Hall.

In 1978, Kirkland was hired as clerk stenographer for the City Clerk. In 1980, she transferred to the department’s Secretary/Director’s Aide until 1984 when she accepted the job of Administrative Assistant to Director of Parks and Recreation Department. In 1997, she was promoted to Recreation Administrative Supervisor.

She and husband Marc live in Madison. Their sons, James and Brian, are also Bob Jones graduates.

* Catessa Malone Robinson – Graduated in 2006 from Bob Jones. Robinson participated in Junior Varsity Dance Team, Beta Club, Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Girls Inc. and Boys and Girls Club, along with support of her church.

Robinson graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree in health information management. At UAB, she served as mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, tutored at elementary schools and volunteered as patient pal at Children’s Hospital.

Robinson’s high scholastic achievement and commitment to service led to initiation in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and numerous honor societies. Robinson earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Alabama School of Law and received the “Order of Samaritan Award” for pro bono legal service.

In Texas, Robinson worked as Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Currently, she is in-house attorney at Citibank.

Malone Robinson, husband Steven and daughter Samara are Dallas residents.

* Megan Brown Shumate – Graduated in 2002 from Bob Jones. She participated in several clubs and Varsity Dance Team for four years. As a senior, Shumate was dance co-captain, selected as Ms. Bob Jones and graduated in top 10 percent of her class.

In 2006, she graduated magna cum laude from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. In 2018, Shumate graduated from Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. with a master’s degree in program management.

Currently, Shumate works as Air-to-Ground Missiles Team Lead for DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center’s RAM Engineering and System Assessment Division. Since 2008, she has led Missile Stockpile Reliability Programs for the U.S. Army, Joint Services and Foreign Military Sales customers.

Shumate often visits Bob Jones as guest speaker for Society of Women Engineers Club and “Introduction to Engineering” classes. Shumate stands as role model for female students interested in STEM careers.

She lives in Madison with husband Josh and their children, Noah and Logan.