For generations, the Mims have been nothing but simple farmers. They did not move around too much, preferring to stay in the South. We tended small farms, not the stereotypical mega plantations, and led quiet, simple lives. My dad grew up in the small town of Clanton, in Chilton County, Alabama. He lived in a two bedroom, two bathroom house with his mother, father, and two older brothers. Some of my dad’s favorite memories as a kid were field trips to the cinemas. Because he was so poor, he was never allowed to go to the movies, but school field trips meant free admission. My dad’s two older brothers both graduated high school and did little with their education. They mostly worked on the family farm and did random jobs here and there for the townsfolk.
However, when my father graduated from high school, he did something that no one in his family had ever done before. To the disapproval of his family, especially his parents and two brothers, my dad left home to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Alabama. My father worked the graveyard shifts at a pharmacy to pay for food, housing and tuition at the University. After years of sleepless nights and living off of rice and green beans, Dennis Mims graduated from the University of Alabama with the first college degree in the history of his family. He soon moved to Huntsville, Alabama to take a job at Dynetics. In Huntsville, he has been very successful, taking leadership roles in companies like Dynetics and Boeing, and now is the Vice President of Willbrook Solutions.
The rest of my dad’s family remained stubborn, they have continued to be nothing but farmers. However, my generation has learned very well from my dad’s experiences. Since my dad graduated from college, the Mims family has seen over a dozen young adults receive degrees, with many more in the works. My dad’s success sparked a generation to become educated and take control of their lives. I for one am following closely in my father’s steps and am pursuing an electrical engineering degree here at the University of Alabama.
Works Consulted:
No Title, Roland Harper Photo Collection, University Libraries Division of Special Collections, The University of Alabama, 68120.
Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, University Photograph Collection, University Libraries Division of Special Collections, The University of Alabama, 45570.