'bama Beginnings

ALICEVILLE, ALA.

ESTABLISHED: 1903

POP.: 2,465

AREA: 4.5 square miles

STUDENTS ATTENDING ALICEVILLE HIGH: 527

NEAREST BIG CITY: Birmingham (83 miles NE)

ALICEVILLE'S CLAIM TO FAME "Probably Walter Jones," says Jones. "I finally got a key to the city [on June 23]. It was a great accomplishment. Also, for a couple of years [2004-06] they had up a billboard of me." The billboard featured a picture of the 6'5", 315-pound Jones and said, he grew up in aliceville and boy, did he grow up!

HOW TO PASS THE TIME "Oh, man. It's a really small town and very family-oriented. It's a town where, if you see people outside having a good time, you can just walk up and enjoy them. There's really not a lot to do other than hang with your friends."

HOW JONES HAS LEFT HIS MARK His donations to the high school have paid for football uniforms and equipment, and funded the athletic department's Walter Jones Fieldhouse (below left).

LOCAL EATERY Adam's Wings-now called Calvin's (right), after an ownership change in 2003-"It's a little wing joint, and the wings were just good. Everyone in town loves them."