SHORELINES

so far as I know, the (Auburn) center's combination of it is clear Atkins has become very dear to him. When the programs, networks, scholarly alliances with local experts tornado destroyed the Atkins' lake home, McCrary and his and broad community participation were unrivaled." wife, Phyllis, visited them. "It was just awful," he says. Through the decades, Atkins has maintained her lifelong Yet, standing amid the wreckage, McCrary and Atkins love affair with the water. She and George have owned a home on Lake Martin since 1964, where she taught her children and countless others how to water ski. The EF-4 tornado that ripped across Lake Martin on April 27, 2011, leveled their home and boathouse, which have since been rebuilt. Their old ski boat, though, was damaged and they have not yet gotten it repaired. Atkins has not skied since the summer of 2010, although she insists she wants to get back up on the water again. Longtime friend Charles Lloyd doesn't sound surprised upon hearing that Atkins plans on skiing again, even though she is 78 years old. Lloyd, who grew up in Birmingham and lives in Goddard, Kan., remembers the ultra-competitive Leah Marie Rawls from six decades ago. She, Lloyd and Dick Bruhn skied together as teenagers on the Black Warrior, driving each other to get better. "All three of us were Type A personalities and very competitive," Lloyd says. Atkins says, "They pushed me so hard. I knew if I could beat them, I could beat the women. Competition between began joking about a power pole lying across what was left friends is good." of the house. During her acceptance speech at the Alabama Sports "She was kidding me the power pole knocked the house Hall of Fame, Atkins credited Lloyd and Bruhn with down," McCrary remembers. "I joked with her I was going making her a better skier. to have to charge her rent for using the power pole for "She was just a gritty competitor. She always has been," Lloyd says. "Don't let that sweet Southern belle exterior fool you." Underneath that sweet Southern belle exterior is a sweet Southern belle interior, as those who know her well will attest. "She's just as sweet as she can be," McCrary says, and holding that house up." McCrary had company employees remove a section from the power pole to make a base for a glass-topped table, which sits in the den of the rebuilt lake home. "It was a show of affection between the company and Leah," he says. Above Right: Photo by Bill Snow — The Atkins home on Lake Martin in the aftermath of the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. Below Right: Photo by Bernard Troncale — The Atkins family lake home has been rebuilt in the original location on Lake Martin. S hor el i ne s | 2013 Vol:3 17

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