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Easter 2025: Pope Francis emerges from convalescence, delights crowd with popemobile tour

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.

“Viva il Papa!” (Long live the pope), “Bravo!” the crowd shouted as Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it. He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him, a scene that was common in the past but unthinkable just a few weeks ago as the 88-year-old Francis fought for his life.

“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since his hospitalization.

Francis didn’t celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin. The thousands of people below erupted in cheers as a military band kicked off rounds of the Holy See and Italian anthems.

Francis waved from the balcony as a Vatican archbishop read aloud his speech, a global appeal for peace in the world’s hotspots that is the hallmark of the Vatican’s Easter celebrations.

In all, he was outside on a sunny spring day for around 50 minutes, with temperatures at 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) in a piazza awash in daffodils, tulips and other flowers donated by the Netherlands for Easter.

On his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly in his hotel with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Vatican said the encounter lasted just a few minutes and was designed to allow for an exchange of Easter greetings.

Francis has only appeared in public a handful of times since returning to the Vatican on March 23 after a 38-day hospital stay. He skipped the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to Easter, but he had been expected to make an appearance on Sunday.

Easter is the most joyful moment on the Christian liturgical calendar, when the faithful celebrate the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion. This year, Easter is being celebrated on the same day by Catholics and Orthodox Christians, and has been marked by Russia’s announced temporary Easter truce in its war in Ukraine.

Easter at the Vatican traditionally involves a Mass and the pope’s Urbi et Orbi blessing (Latin for “to the city and the world”), a papal speech delivered from the loggia which is usually a roundup of global hotspots and human suffering.

In the speech, read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical ceremonies, Francis appealed for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as Congo and Myanmar and in other hotspots.

“May the risen Christ grant Ukraine, devastated by war, his Easter gift of peace, and encourage all parties involved to pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace,” the message said. “In this Jubilee year, may Easter also be a fitting occasion for the liberation of prisoners of war and political prisoners!”

Francis has sharply cut back his workload as he follows doctors’ orders of two months of convalescence and respiratory therapy to improve his lung function. He still seems to require great effort to project his voice, and his breathing remains labored. But it sounded stronger than it has to date in the few words he uttered from the loggia.

Before Sunday, his biggest outing had been a visit to Rome’s downtown prison to spend Holy Thursday with inmates. The visit made clear his priorities as he slowly recovers: to spend time with the people most on the margins.

By Nicole Winfield

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He lost both feet and almost died. But Ward Webb just keeps moving forward.

Ward Webb is on the move. The Mountain Brook, Alabama, resident was born over 28 years ago, and from the start, his motor was stuck in fourth gear. From the age of 1 when he learned to walk, to the age of 4 when he learned to walk again, Ward Webb hasn’t had time to slow down.

“Ever since that day 24 years ago, I decided there was only one way to go, and that was forward,” Ward told me.

“He is so active,” said Ward’s girlfriend Taylor Graham.

Ward Webb’s zest for the outdoors is what attracted Taylor to him about nine years ago when they were students at the University of Alabama. “Ward loves the outdoors — he’s taught me how to turkey hunt and fish,” she said. “When I met Ward, I thought he was very handsome and humble — he’s just a really good guy. His drive for life is inspiring.”

While today Ward Webb’s drive for life is inspiring, he inspired the world with his drive to live on Aug. 16, 2001.

Ward and his friend Zachary were walking in a partially dried creek bed behind their Mountain Brook homes. “I don’t remember too much about that day, but I do remember Zachary holding a stick while I held a blue box of rubber snakes.

“I have no recollection of the significance of holding that box,” added Ward.

Boys were being boys.

They didn’t see the downed power line with 7,200 volts that was 3 inches off the ground, partially covered by a fallen tree. Zachary Downard brushed against the power line — the 6-year-old was killed, and 4-year-old Ward Webb was rushed to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham where he was treated for third degree burns to his head, back and legs.

It wasn’t long before doctors took Ward’s feet just above the ankles.

“I remember waking up in the hospital and telling my mother (Marion) that I had a splinter in my toe,” said Ward. “I soon found out that I didn’t have feet.”

Mountain Brook mourned in the summer of 2001. One precious boy was sent to Children’s, while the other precious boy was sent to Heaven. Good neighbors in the hamlet just south of Birmingham stood by one another as the families did their best to cope.

He fought them at first. Ward Webb’s new prosthetics brought pain and defiance. He was home from the hospital, but it seemed that every other day he was headed back. Ward had more than 30 surgeries as doctors — including Dr. John Grant — performed skin grafts to his head, back and legs. Doctors later closed a hole in Ward’s head, and as the days and months wore on, Ward Webb tried his best to live his new normal.

“There was a lot of pain,” Ward told me. “There were a lot of hurdles. I broke my prosthetics several times, and because I was growing, I had to be re-fitted for new prosthetic feet every couple of years. But I had a great support system, and I decided if I wanted it bad enough, I had to go get it.”

Go get it he did. Despite the horrific accident, Ward was not going to be kept from the outdoors he loved. His father, Bill, was and is a fine outdoorsman, and young Ward Webb grabbed the fishing poles and rifles by the horns and proved to the world what a kid without two feet could accomplish.

He hunted and he fished. He skied, and he played soccer and basketball. And less than five years after he was injured, 9-year-old Ward Webb dove into the sport of football.

It was quite a sight to see. Ward moved up to middle school, and he became one of the toughest players on his team. “Opposing players would see my prosthetic feet and tell me they were hesitant to hit me,” said Ward. “Then I would lay a lick on them, and they would tell me they weren’t going to back down ever again,” Ward chuckled.

Middle school football was one thing, but varsity football? Ward’s motor kicked into high gear again, and before he knew it, he was playing linebacker for the Mountain Brook Spartans varsity football team. “I must have broken 15 pairs of legs,” said Ward. “Finally, the folks at Biotech Limb and Brace made special prosthetics for me, and I didn’t break another.”

The Mountain Brook linebacker was turning heads, his dedication and resolve admired. “Ward came to me and told me he wanted to soak up life,” Mountain Brook head coach Chris Yeager told me. Ward Webb was 17 years old and he found himself doing more than soaking up life — he was soaking up big moments on the football field, one of which Coach Yeager can remember to this day.

“We were playing a really good Minor High School team featuring Christion Jones, who would go on to star for the Crimson Tide,” Coach Yeager told me. “It was near the end of the game, and Minor was trying to pull out the win. Jones caught a screen pass, and as he was zig-zagging down the field, a Minor player hit Ward so hard that he knocked off Ward’s feet. The Minor players on the sideline thought that Ward’s feet really came off. You should have seen the looks on their faces. Meanwhile, Ward continued to chase down Christion Jones while on the stubs of his legs. He reached out and tripped Christion up.

“We won the football game.”

Yes, Ward Webb had a motor, alright — and as he headed to the University of Alabama, he would continue to seek the outdoors. After graduation, he headed to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he soaked it all in as a fishing guide. Years later, he moved back to Alabama. He’s been working as a site contractor, and his love of nature continues to carry him outside often.

“Ward is a go-getter,” Ward’s good friend John Eagan told me. “When we hunt, I do everything I can do to keep up with him. When he decides to do something, he just does it. He’s been working out and dieting — he’s a beast.”

Said Franklin Brown, another good friend, “Ward is by far the greatest outdoorsman I have ever seen. People who go hunting and fishing with him have no idea he is handicapped. He’s just rock solid.”

And now, about Ward Webb’s decision on what comes next: “I’ll be moving to Idaho next month to work as a fly fishing guide at The Lodge at Palisades Creek,” said Ward. I’ll be located at the South Fork of the Snake River,” Ward added, sounding like he was ready to hop in his truck and head west.

Twenty-four years after a terrible accident, 28-year-old Ward Webb is ready to push the limits even more. “Taylor and I have some big things ahead,” said Ward, making me wonder if Ward might soon be popping the question.

“Ward inspires me every day,” said Taylor, her voice sounding light and in love.

He’s the young man with a motor that won’t quit.

“If you want something bad enough, just go ahead and take it,” said Ward, as I asked him what message he wants to bring the world.

I thanked Ward for his time, while Ward thanked me back before he hung up the phone.

Ward Webb was on the move again.

*Rick Karle, who writes a weekly ‘Good News’ story, is a 25-time Emmy winner and a 43-year veteran of broadcast news who has lived and worked in Alabama for 35 years. You can find his work on Facebook at Rick Karle Good News. Send your story suggestions to: [email protected]

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Easter Sunday: Christians celebrate Resurrection

Christians today celebrate their holiest day, Easter Sunday, which commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Easter has long been a mix of the secular and the sacred, of candy, flowers and bunnies, symbols of spring and of church and family tradition.

Across Alabama, Easter celebrates family, renewal and redemption. Many will share baskets of seasonal candy, then attend church.

For devout Christians, there is a message to proclaim that supersedes Easter eggs.

Christians across Alabama and all over the world on Sunday will proclaim, “He is risen!” and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.

The Christian celebration of Easter itself supplanted a history of pagan celebrations. The name Easter comes from the Nordic goddess of spring, Ostara.

Attendance will run much higher today in Easter worship services than on other Sundays during the year. People who rarely go to church will help fill the pews.

There are about 2.38 billion Christians, making Christianity the largest religion in the world, out of about 8 billion people.

Christianity’s humble beginnings trace to a moment when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified in Jerusalem, then part of the Roman Empire, about 33 A.D.

Those who followed the itinerant preacher believed he rose from the dead and appeared to them, proving he was the Son of God.

The Resurrection startled even Jesus’ own followers, according to the Gospels. The disciples were skeptical, as is evident in Matthew 28:16-17. That the most ardent followers couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the risen Jesus gives an indication how difficult the central doctrine of the Christian faith can be for modern believers.

Early in Christian history, the Gnostics argued that the resurrection was purely spiritual, not physical. Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus argued with his own critics about the reality of resurrection. In Luke Chapter 20, Jesus discusses bodily resurrection of the dead with the Sadducees, who did not believe in it. The Sadducees were the rationalists of the Hellenistic world – they didn’t believe in angels, devils or resurrection. Jesus tells the Sadducees that those who are worthy of resurrection from the dead are equal to angels and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

The New Testament promise of resurrection for Christians is not just the immortality of the soul but a glorified bodily resurrection like that experienced by Christ. Immortality of the soul is an ancient Greek idea, but the expectation of bodily resurrection comes directly from the New Testament.

‘‘If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain,‘’ the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15.

One argument made for the reality of the Resurrection is the astonishing growth of Christianity from a few followers who scattered, frightened, when Jesus was crucified. At the time the Apostle Paul wrote his letters, about 54 A.D., he said that more than 500 witnesses who had seen Jesus resurrected were still alive.

Though Christianity started with a small community of believers, it multiplied quickly, and within 100 years after Jesus’ death there were a million Christians. By the time Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire about 300 years after the death of Jesus, there were about 30 million Christians, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia.

For Christians, the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus explain that rapid growth.

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Asking Eric: Couple disagree over kitchen remodel

Dear Eric: My husband and I are in our 70s. He works full time, watches a lot of sports, is on his computer a lot and runs around doing errands. I work part time, clean house, cook, do laundry and yard work.

I know my husband loves me, but he doesn’t seem to have any regard for my feelings.

I love my kitchen, but my husband thought it needed a lot of major changes. I said I liked it just the way it was. He started these projects months ago. The kitchen is now a mess and he’s always too tired to work on it. There are other projects, large and small, that never get done.

I’m either going to lose it or run away from home.

– Perplexed About Projects

Dear Perplexed: You’re both doing so much, even the thought of a hard conversation about this kitchen mess is surely exhausting. Just the thought of a half-remodeled kitchen is enough to send me straight to bed. You have my sympathy.

Running away may not be necessary but see if you can figure out a break for yourself. Are there friends or family you can visit? Taking some time away from the construction site – and telling your husband why – will help you breathe easier.

Though your husband might have had the best intentions, intention doesn’t equal impact. And it’ll help both of you if you are kind but clear with him about how this is impacting you. Is it possible for him to get someone in to help him set the kitchen right? Ask him to do so and to give you a realistic timetable for when that’s going to happen. He may see the kitchen as just another item on the to-do list, but this affects your life every day. Share that with him and ask him if he understands. This doesn’t have to be a heated talk, but it should be a goal-oriented one.

If the goal of repairing the kitchen isn’t something that he can make a clear plan for, then you can introduce option B: a discussion about how the family budget can be restructured to allow for takeout every day

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

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JD Crowe: Easter Sunday 2025: Bask in love and peace of the Son Light

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Kenneth Cox, sports hall of famer, runs for Hoover city council

Kenneth Cox, a deacon, public servant and nationally recognized coach, recently announced his candidacy to serve on the Hoover city council.

The city of Hoover is not split into districts, so the city council is elected at large, which means all seven council members represent the entirety of the city. Cox has not yet announced which place he is seeking. The municipal election for Hoover city council is on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.

“I’m running for Hoover city council to build a stronger, more connected community where every voice is heard,” Cox said in a statement. “Hoover deserves leadership that prioritizes opportunity, safety, and growth for all its residents.”

Cox has spent more than 20 years working as a coach, administrator and mentor.

He was the associate athletic director and head cross country and track and field coach at Birmingham-Southern College, where he led teams to seven NCAA Division III national titles and earned induction into the BSC Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

Cox was also the former president of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, where he shaped policies to advance the sport.

He is the vice chair of Leadership Hoover, resource development chair for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Alabama and a board member of the Hoover Parks & Recreation Foundation and Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

He also serves as senior games manager for the 2025 World Police & Fire Games.

Cox has an MBA from Faulkner University, a bachelor of arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an honorary doctorate in philosophy from Trinity International University of Ambassadors.

He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the 100 Black Men of America Metro Birmingham Chapter.

A native of North Carolina, Cox resides in Hoover with his wife, Leesha Ellis-Cox, and their three children, Bailey, Khloe, and Evan. They are members of The Worship Center Christian Church where Cox serves as a deacon.

“I’ve spent my life bringing people together and delivering results; now, I’m ready to serve our city with that same dedication and vision,” Cox said in a statement.

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Asking Eric: Nephew plans wedding for same weekend as relative’s milestone birthday party

Dear Eric: Our family will be celebrating our mother’s 100th birthday this fall. We were planning on having an open house to include my mom’s only living sister, family and community neighbors to honor a 100-year legacy that doesn’t happen for everyone.

My niece’s son proposed to his girlfriend in February and decided to set a wedding date the same weekend as our mom’s birthday. We are all very upset that they picked that particular weekend. We feel when the calendar came out to pick a date my niece (his mom) should have taken that weekend off the table and told them it was reserved.

My niece suggests that we have the 100th birthday party on Sunday, the day after the wedding. We think that is overkill for one weekend and would overshadow each event that should have their own special time.

I, as well as some others, live out of state. I’m 10 hours away. So, plan B would be to have mom’s celebration the weekend before, which means traveling 40 hours if I want to be there both weekends for my mother’s actual birthday.

I called my niece to see if there could be another weekend for them and she said she didn’t want to interfere. We feel that mom and our plans (that she knew about) have been disrespected. How can we navigate this whole situation? I feel it’s going to be a tense and unhappy event for everyone.

– Disrespected

Dear Disrespected: Your mileage may vary (quite literally) but making a 10-hour trip for the party and then, say, a few weeks later, making the same 10-hour trip for the wedding, had it been rescheduled, sounds much more inconvenient than the plan to have one event on Saturday and the other on Sunday while everyone is in town.

As you start to travel down the branches of a family tree, calendaring gets complicated. Frankly, it can be hard to settle on a compatible date with the people in one’s own house. To plan his wedding, your niece’s son is negotiating with the needs of his immediate family, the extended family and his fiancée’s family. Not to mention venue availability and, that smallest of things: what the actual couple wants. Let’s give them a break.

The wedding isn’t going to steal the thunder of your mother’s remarkable milestone. These events have slightly overlapped guest lists and different purposes, both wonderful. I don’t see disrespect here; I see pragmatism. By embracing the weekend as a double celebration of your family’s past and future, you’ll create more meaningful memories than if you approach it with resentment.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

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Alabama’s NFL Draft: Mighty Mouse and the outsiders

Last year’s NFL Draft concluded when the New York Jets chose Alabama safety Jaylen Key with the 257th selection. This year’s NFL Draft also will end with the 257th selection.

But in previous NFL drafts, 39 players have been picked from Alabama with choices at higher numbers than 257.

Six of those players defied their draft positions and played in the NFL, including cornerback Mark McMillian.

Chosen 272nd in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, McMillian appeared in 127 regular-season games and seven playoff contests during his eight years in the NFL.

“Mighty Mouse,” as McMillian was known because he stood 5-foot-7, intercepted 23 passes, which he returned for 404 yards and three touchdowns. McMillian also had two interceptions in seven playoff games.

No Alabama player drafted later than McMillian has played in as many games as he did, and only three Crimson Tide alumni, regardless of draft status, have had more interceptions.

The other Alabama alumni who entered the league as picks that don’t exist in the 2025 draft but played in NFL regular-season games include:

• Chosen 270th in 1990 by the Washington Redskins, guard Thomas Rayam played in 20 NFL regular-season games.
• Chosen 284th in 1978 by the Green Bay Packers, nose tackle Terry Jones played in 85 NFL regular-season games.
• Chosen 298th in 1951 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, halfback Tom Calvin played in 30 NFL regular-season games.
• Chosen 309th in 1983 by the New York Giants, linebacker Robbie Jones played in 60 NFL regular-season games.
• Chosen 322nd by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1945, halfback Kenny Reese played in four NFL regular-season games.

The Alabama players who have been picked with the 258th selection or later of an NFL Draft include:

No. 258 pick: Jack Green, guard, Chicago Bears, 1945.

Green resumed his college career after returning from his military service in World War II and played in 1945 for Alabama after being drafted by the Bears. The Crimson Tide went undefeated in 1945, outscoring its opponents 430-80 and winning the Rose Bowl 34-14 over Southern Cal.

No. 260 pick: Mike Hall, linebacker, New York Jets, 1969.

Hall played for the Alabama Hawks of the Continental Football League in 1969.

No. 266 pick: David Bailey, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers, 1972.

Bailey caught 35 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1974 and was on the WFL’s Birmingham Vulcans in 1975.

No. 270 pick: Thomas Rayam, guard, Washington Redskins, 1990.

Rayam persevered to reach the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in 20 games across the 1992 and 1993 seasons, with 13 starts at right guard. He then played eight years in the Canadian Football League, starting with the Birmingham Barracudas in 1995.

No. 272 pick: Mark McMillian, defensive back, Philadelphia Eagles, 1992.

Despite standing 5-foot-7 and being drafted in the 10th round, the cornerback had an eight-year career, during which he intercepted 23 passes, which is fourth on the Alabama NFL list. McMillian led the NFL in interception-return yards with 274 for the Chiefs in 1997, when he ran three of his eight picks back for touchdowns, including a 62-yard return in a 35-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers and an 87-yard return in a 29-7 victory over the San Diego Chargers. McMillian also had a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown in a 31-29 loss to Carolina in his final game with the San Francisco 49ers in 1999. He finished that season with nine games for the Washington Redskins to complete his career with 127 NFL regular-season appearances.

No. 273 pick: Cecil “Hootie” Ingram, back, Philadelphia Eagles, 1955.

When Ingram didn’t make Philadelphia’s team, he got into coaching, eventually becoming the head coach at Clemson. He served as Alabama’s athletic director from 1989 through 1995.

No. 274 pick: Al Sabo, back, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1943; Travis Hunt, tackle, San Francisco 49ers, 1953.

An Albertville High School standout, Hunt is a member of the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame.

No. 276 pick: Byron Holdbrooks, defensive tackle, San Francisco 49ers, 1991.

Holdbrooks was an All-State offensive lineman for Haleyville High School in 1985.

No. 279 picks: Andy Bires, end, New York Giants, 1944; Fay Mills, tackle, Washington Redskins, 1949.

Bires went into the U.S. Army Air Corps instead of the NFL.

No. 282 pick: Jack McKewan, tackle, Chicago Bears, 1944.

McKewan was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was drafted in between.

No. 284 pick: Terry Jones, nose tackle, Green Bay Packers, 1978.

Jones is the Alabama player taken deepest in the draft who became a regular starter in the NFL. After three seasons as a reserve, he spent three years as a starter for Green Bay. Jones played in 85 NFL regular-season games, with 49 starts – all for the Packers. He later became a strength-and-conditioning coach for the Crimson Tide. His son, Terry Jones Jr., was the 155th selection in the 2002 NFL Draft.

No. 290 pick: Leroy Cook, defensive end, Dallas Cowboys, 1976.

Alabama’s first two-time consensus All-American, Cook suffered a knee injury in his final college regular-season game. After rehabbing in 1976, Cook didn’t make the Dallas roster in 1977 and never played in the NFL.

No. 291 pick: Jack Smalley, tackle, Green Bay Packers, 1954.

Smalley was an All-State tackle for Tuscaloosa High School’s undefeated team in 1949.

No. 296 pick: Efrum Thomas, defensive back, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1991.

Thomas returned two interceptions for touchdowns for the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football in 1992.

No. 298 pick: Tom Calvin, halfback, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1951.

After coaching Baldwin County High School to a 7-2-1 record in 1951, Calvin played in 30 games, with five starts, for Pittsburgh from 1952 through 1955. He ran for 136 yards on 32 carries and caught seven passes for 51 yards. In 1956, he started a 21-year run as the football coach at Sylacauga High School, then coached 11 more seasons at Austin High School. Calvin compiled a 201-130-11 record and is a member of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.

No. 302 pick: Ralph Carrigan, center, Chicago Cardinals, 1954.

Carrigan did not sign with the Cardinals until 1956 with a military hitch between Alabama and the NFL. The Chicago press guide for the 1956 season refers to Carrigan as “a local lad who prepped at Oak Park (Ill.) High School,” but he didn’t stick with the team.

No. 306 pick: Bobby Wilson, back, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1952.

After two seasons in the U.S. Army, Wilson went into coaching. In 12 seasons at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Wilson guided the Poets to a 92-24-6 record. In Wilson’s final three seasons, Sidney Lanier won the AHSAA Class 4A championship annually and lost only one game across the 1966, 1967 and 1968 seasons. Wilson is a member of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.

No. 309 picks: Jim Krapf, guard, Oakland Raiders, 1973; Robbie Jones, linebacker, New York Giants, 1983.

Krapf played for the CFL’s British Columbia Lions in 1973.

Jones played in 60 regular-season games across four years with the Giants. The former Demopolis High School standout was the special-teams captain in 1986, when New York defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI.

No. 312 pick: Charley Compton, tackle, Cleveland Rams, 1945.

Compton started his Alabama career in 1942, but after being drafted by Cleveland, he returned to play for the Crimson Tide in 1946 and 1947. In between, he earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry in World War II. The Charlie Compton Award is presented annually to a member of the Alabama football team who has demonstrated outstanding Christian leadership. After football, Compton attended seminary and became a missionary.

No. 313 picks: Major Ogilvie, running back, San Francisco 49ers, 1981; Mike Shula, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1987.

A prep star at Mountain Brook, Ogilvie is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Shula broke the Alabama single-season record for touchdown passes, but he never played in an NFL regular-season game. After one season with the Bucs, he joined the Tampa Bay coaching staff of Ray Perkins, who’d coached him at Alabama. Shula returned to coach the Crimson Tide from 2003 through 2006.

No. 318 pick: Alvie “Boots” Ellett, tackle, Philadelphia Eagles, 1956.

The U.S. Army got Ellett in its draft, too.

No. 320 pick: Bobby Johns, defensive back, Kansas City Chiefs, 1968.

Johns’ coaching career included a four-year stint as the head coach at West Alabama.

No. 322 pick: Kenny Reese, halfback, Philadelphia Eagles, 1945

Reese is the highest-numbered draft pick from Alabama who has appeared in an NFL regular-season game. He got on the field with the Detroit Lions two years after he was drafted the Eagles. In four games, Reese netted 1 yard on three carries.

No. 328 picks: Red Noonan, back, Boston Yanks, 1950; Harold “Red” Lutz, end, Cardinals, 1952.

A former Murphy High School standout, Noonan became an Alabama state senator and spent 18 years as a probate judge in Baldwin County.

Lutz was a high school head coach from 1957 through 1981, compiling a 149-88-8 record in 12 seasons at Fairfield, 10 seasons at Tuscaloosa and three seasons at Central Tuscaloosa.

No. 329 pick: John Staples, guard, New York Giants, 1945.

Staples was drafted after his military service, for which he earned a bronze star, but he returned to play at Alabama after World War II.

No. 340 picks: Wes Thompson, tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1956; Joe Dale Harris, wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals, 1976.

Thompson was the head coach at Central Florence by 1957 and also led the teams at Decatur, West Morgan and Deshler.

A three-sport standout at Monroe Academy, Harris became a high school football and basketball coach.

No. 348 pick: Clell Hobson, back, Cleveland Browns, 1953.

While Hobson never played in the NFL, his son Butch Hobson, who also played football at Alabama, played eight seasons of Major League Baseball and later managed the Boston Red Sox in three seasons.

No. 358 picks: Jim Buckler, guard, Chicago Bears, 1956; Dave Sington, tackle, New York Giants, 1959.

Buckler’s father, Bill Buckler, was among the first three Alabama alumni to play in the NFL, debuting in 1926 – 10 years before the first NFL Draft. Bill Buckler played six seasons as a guard with the Bears, the team that drafted his son.

Sington coached both the Huntsville Rockets and the Alabama Hawks in semi-pro football leagues.

No. 386 pick: Robin Parkhouse, linebacker, Baltimore Colts, 1972.

Parkhouse played for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1974 before a knee injury ended his career.

No. 392 pick: Buddy Brown, guard, New York Giants, 1974.

Brown signed with the WFL’s Birmingham Americans instead of New York and earned All-WFL recognition as a guard on the league’s championship team. He played from 1975 through 1978 for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

No. 411 pick: Steve Higginbotham, defensive back, Washington Redskins, 1972.

After Washington picked Higginbotham, the 1972 draft still had 31 picks to go – and six of those selections played in the NFL, including linebackers Stan White and Ted Washington, who started more than 100 regular-season games apiece.

No. 412 pick: Bill Davis, linebacker, Raiders, 1969.

After Oakland picked Davis in the 17th round, the 1969 draft still had 30 picks to go.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

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Dear Annie: Happy Easter & Passover

Dear Readers: Wishing you and your families a very happy Easter and Passover. Spring is a time to get outdoors and play. It is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. It is a time when the flowers begin to bloom and kittens are born. Below are some of my favorite poems about spring and joy and the innocence and beauty of childhood.

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“Spring” by William Blake

“Sound the flute! / Now it’s mute! / Bird’s delight, / Day and night, / Nightingale, / In the dale, / Lark in sky, — / Merrily, / Merrily merrily, to welcome in the year. / Little boy, / Full of joy; / Little girl, / Sweet and small; / Cock does crow, / So do you; / Merry voice, / Infant noise; / Merrily, merrily, to welcome in the year. / Little lamb, / Here I am; / Come and lick / My white neck; / Let me pull / Your soft wool; / Let me kiss / Your soft face; / Merrily, merrily, to welcome in the year.”

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“Infant Joy” by William Blake

“I have no name / I am but two days old. — / What shall I call thee? / I happy am / Joy is my name, — / Sweet joy befall thee! / Pretty joy! / Sweet joy but two days old, / Sweet joy I call thee; / Thou dost smile. / I sing the while / Sweet joy befall thee.”

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“Lines Written in Early Spring” by William Wordsworth

“I heard a thousand blended notes, / While in a grove I sate reclined, / In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts / Bring sad thoughts to the mind. / To her fair works did Nature link / The human soul that through me ran; / And much it grieved my heart to think / What man has made of man. / Through primrose tufts, in that green bower, / The periwinkle trailed its wreaths; / And ‘tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes. / The birds around me hopped and played, / Their thoughts I cannot measure: — / But the least motion which they made / It seemed a thrill of pleasure. / The budding twigs spread out their fan, / To catch the breezy air; / And I must think, do all I can, / That there was pleasure there. / If this belief from heaven be sent, / If such be Nature’s holy plan, / Have I not reason to lament / What man has made of man?

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“The World-Soul” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Spring still makes spring in the mind / When sixty years are told: / Love wakes anew this throbbing heart, / And we are never old / Over the winter glaciers / I see the summer glow / And through the wind-piled snowdrift / The warm rosebuds below.”

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“Easter Bunny” by Leanne Guenther

“With a hip and a hop — / Easter bunny won’t you stop, / At my house to hide some yummy little eggs. / Then you’ll jump out and run — / Down the street for some fun, / Zippity quick on your fuzzy, furry legs. / To hide treats for the others — / Boys and girls — even mothers, / Treats galore packed in baskets and bright bags!”

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].

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General

Today’s daily horoscopes: April 20, 2025

The tension between the Taurus sun and Mars in Leo reminds us that happiness is too transient to use as a goal. It’s like making a milestone out of a bunny. You can’t possibly arrive at such a marker because, once you get close, it hops away. Make integrity the goal — it’s the value that sticks. Let happiness hop on over in its own timing, and it just might surprise you.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Listening is the skill that takes years to master, and many never get there. Even people who are paid to be good listeners can struggle to do so, which you’ll witness today. Keeping your information simple and clear will help them immensely.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your unpredictability attracts. People will tell you that you react in ways they didn’t see coming, but you’re not here for their entertainment. You just have a sense that certain opportunities are for you, and you act on them.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There’s a mystery to solve. Stay open-minded and gather all the facts before making a judgment, just like a detective who waits for all the evidence. This one has a twist. One surprising revelation could change everything.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your curiosity is insatiable today. It won’t be enough for you to see what is and take it at face value. You want to know the underlying forces, to understand how those forces are exerting themselves and why. You’ll get answers, mostly through observation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your natural charisma and presence will have a powerful effect on others more than the specific words you say. Your energy, tone, and unspoken intentions will send a message that’s understood by like minds who respond in your favor.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The problem at hand is the perfect excuse to ask for advice, help and collaboration. Sometimes the greatest breakthroughs come when we let go of the need to “do it alone” and let others bring what’s missing. Collective effort will be magical.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When you are face-to-face with a problem, turn around. Try to see the world from the problem’s point of view. It sounds strange, but by getting on the other side, you can join the flow like a surfer joining a wave, working with the situation rather than against it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Comparing two completely different things (like apples and oranges) isn’t useful. Instead of judging things by the same standard, you’ll recognize their unique qualities and find ways to make the most of them. This mindset helps you appreciate differences.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Familiar thoughts and patterns will play out like a script you’ve been following for years. Today you clearly see your choice in this — you don’t have to stick to the old play. You’ll rewrite it, change your response and break free.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Commit to seeing your purpose through without worrying so much about how long it will take. Truly, the timeline is less important than you think. What matters is all you gain on the way to this eventual achievement.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Secrets are valuable. This is why people tend to exchange them rather than give them away freely. As we share our secrets, we gradually expose deeper parts of who we truly are, fostering intimacy and understanding.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). A particular idea will take center stage in your mind, influencing your actions and perspective as much as a lead character drives a story. Its significance depends on how much attention and belief you invest in it — if you treat it as important, it will be.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 20). Your ambition is crackling with energy in this year of moving toward so much more of the good stuff than you’ve known in the past. You’re taking yourself seriously, and the world responds. Your projects, your vision, your undeniable presence — all of it is growing. More highlights: Family makes you proud, earnings increase, and a club celebrates you. Aquarius and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 12, 1, 40 and 16.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: From “King Kong” to “Tootsie” to “American Horror Story,” Jessica Lange brings a captivating complexity to every role. Lange recently reunited with Ed Harris for a film adaptation of the classic drama “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” Next up? Lange will portray Joan Didion in the film adaptation of “The Year of Magical Thinking.” On the day of her birth, the sun, Mercury and Venus were in Taurus, the sign of sensuality and luxury.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

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