Closeness and caring: The Moomaw family

PROGRESS 2018— Michael Moomaw’s view of family and parenthood is one that is likely shared by many. “I couldn’t have asked for God to give me three children any better than the ones he gave me,” he said. “Being a parent is not an easy thing, but it’s a blessing to be one.”

Moomaw has handled town maintenance and utilities for the Town of Vina for 26 years, giving him an “extended family” that spans the entire town. “The main thing I enjoy about this job is helping people I have grown up around,” he said. “It’s just a good feeling to know you can help people when they call on you.” He is also a familiar face in the Vina Fire Department; he was asked to join the VFD in 1992 and was eventually urged to take the role of fire chief. “My greatest joy is when they bring the little kids from the school, and we get to show them the fire department,” he said. “We take them back to school on the truck, and we’ll run the lights and sirens. It tickles me to see their expressions.”

But among the children he cares for are his own: 28-year-old Kyle, his stepson, is “a great young man, and I call him my son.” Ashley, 21, is his only daughter. Kyle and Ashley are both graduates of Vina High School, and Michael’s youngest, Braden, is a sophomore at Vina.

“I like that no matter what – if we’ve disagreed on something or we’re in an argument – family does come first,” said Ashley. “I love that we care about each other, and we care about others, too.”

That care for others was instilled by seeing their father’s example, both as a town employee and as the fire chief.

“His passion is to make sure everyone he knows is OK,” Ashley said. “He cares. He has always cared about kids and people who are less fortunate. When I was younger, it always made me jealous because that’s ‘my’ Daddy. But he’s helped a lot of kids, and they have had a better life because of him.”

Ashley is employed at IHP, primarily working in cabinet assembly but also handling a wide assortment of other tasks. She intends to enroll at Northwest-Shoals Community College next year to pursue an EMT/paramedic degree and potentially continue into the nursing program.

Kyle drives a truck across the Southeast region, but he is home every other night and most weekends to be with his girlfriend Sara and their infant son Tucker – Michael’s first grandchild. Kyle formerly served in the Army Reserves, deploying to Afghanistan for 13 months, and now serves as a firefighter at Vina. He, Michael and Ashley also serve the community on the rescue squad.

“I’ve got everything I ever wanted and all because of him,” Kyle said. “I didn’t really have a dad growing up, and when he met my mom, he came into my life. At first it was horrible. We never saw eye-to-eye … but once you finally grow up, you get to realizing, it was all done for a purpose. Things I didn’t understand, see or realize – I do now. It’s hard to explain, but I wouldn’t change anything about anything that has happened or that we went through.”

Athletics play a central role in Moomaw family togetherness. Michael began coaching when Kyle was in Little League baseball and football, and he went on to coach Ashley in softball and Braden in basketball, football and baseball youth leagues. Kyle and Michael used to play church league softball together – and Kyle plays summer softball all over the state. Michael has made it a point to take his children to collegiate athletic events and accompany them to their state tournaments.

Braden plays baseball, football and basketball at Vina and also runs track. He aims to attend Auburn University, where he hopes to play on the Auburn football team.

Family time can be hard to come by, with everyone so busy, but it’s something they all treasure when they can make it happen. “We enjoy eating and fellowshipping,” Michael said. “Now that Kyle and Sara have blessed us with Tucker, it makes it even more special to get together.” Watching ballgames on TV is another fun family pastime.

In addition to his other roles, Michael is president of Vina Civitan Club; Sunday School director at Vina First Baptist, where he teaches a college and career class on Sunday mornings and a youth class on Sunday nights; Vina’s representative on the Franklin County Development Authority board; and president of the Franklin County Fire and Rescue Squad.

“I have a vision for our town to grow, for industry to move in and bring jobs so our children don’t have to move off to Nashville or Birmingham or Atlanta,” Michael said. His vision also includes a potential future in politics – whether at the municipal, county or state level, with an eye toward increased involvement in the community he loves.

“I’m remodeling a house that both my grandmas lived in; that’s pretty special for me. I go to a church that is full of people who love and care and pray for you, and I live in a community where I have more mommas and daddies and grandmas than you can count on your hands,” Michael said. “It’s just that closeness that you have.”