By David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
The late James “Big Daddy” Lawler, tall in stature, tall in influence and tall in promoting his beloved Alabama Black Belt, was honored and remembered Tuesday at Roland Cooper State Park on the shores of Millers Ferry Lake on the Alabama River.
James “Big Daddy” Lawler brought attention to his beloved Alabama Black Belt through his podcast and social media content. (Billy Pope)
Lawler, who died earlier this year after a brief illness, was an advocate of all things outdoors, especially when it took place in the Black Belt.
Lawler successfully lobbied Roland Cooper to build a T-Pier to accommodate larger fishing tournaments, and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey was among the dignitaries, family and friends who attended the grand opening where the T-Pier was named in his honor.
“It’s so nice to be back home, and what better place to gather than our local treasure here at Roland Cooper State Park,” said Governor Ivey, a Camden native. “Folks, it’s no secret that Alabama is known for its beautiful outdoors. Alabamians and tourists from all over the world flock to the great outdoors in Sweet Home Alabama to enjoy the best natural views and experiences in the country. From the verdant mountains of Cheaha State Park to the beautiful white sand beaches of Gulf State Park to the sparkling waters here at Roland Cooper and many others in between, our state parks have something for everyone. Being outdoors is the best way to enjoy life and grow closer to God.
“This is especially true for my dear friend James ‘Big Daddy’ Lawler. He made promoting Alabama’s natural wonders his passion and his life. He knew that our state parks belong to all Alabama residents and that our state parks should not be taken for granted.”
Governor Ivey emphasized that teamwork is needed to provide expanded access to state parks through the work of the Alabama Legislature and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR).
“I especially want to thank (ADCNR) Commissioner Blankenship for all the work he does leading this agency,” the governor said. “It also takes strong support from private entities like the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Alabama Bass Trail and Lawler Lumber Company. And finally, it takes people who love Alabama’s beautiful outdoors and are willing to lead projects that will enable our parks to better serve Alabama residents for decades to come.”
“As we stand here admiring the T-Pier at Roland Cooper State Park, we realize that this project simply would not have happened without the leadership of James ‘Big Daddy’ Lawler. He was also instrumental in the Bridgeport Landing project just down the road.”
Governor Ivey emphasized that the development of Bridgeport Landing has enabled Camden and Wilcox County to host major fishing tournaments, including the Alabama Bass Trail, which generates much-needed tax revenue.
“Big Daddy was a true champion of conservation and improving outdoor recreation here in the Black Belt region,” the governor said. “In other words, when people think of Big Daddy, they think of hunting and fishing. When I spoke with him in 2021 at the grand opening of this project, it was clear that he wanted to make it easier for more Alabama residents to come here and make lifelong memories. May this dedication today serve as a lasting reminder of how much he loved the Black Belt and how he gave back to this beautiful region. Let us be clear that this pier and the improvements at Bridgeport Landing would not have been built without the dedication, leadership and commitment of Big Daddy Lawler. It is a privilege to be here today and home again. May God continue to bless each of you and the great state of Alabama.”
A large crowd gathered at the T-Pier at Roland Cooper State Park to remember Lawler. (Billy Pope)
Commissioner Blankenship said his duties include traveling throughout the state and meeting and speaking with citizens and visitors about Alabama’s natural resources and outdoor recreation.
“I talk to a lot of people who love the outdoors and appreciate what God has blessed us with in Alabama,” said Commissioner Blankenship. “Nobody understood that better than Big Daddy Lawler. He knew what we are blessed with in Alabama, especially in the Black Belt, and how that could be used as an economic engine for places like Camden, Wilcox County and the entire Black Belt, to bring people here to hunt, fish and take advantage of those benefits.”
Commissioner Blankenship said his first encounter with Lawler left him sleep-deprived before a significant event in his career.
“The first time I met Big Daddy was the night before Governor Ivey swore me in as commissioner. I came to Roland Cooper State Park to participate in the alligator hunt. We were there until about 3 a.m. watching the alligators being weighed. Finally, I told Big Daddy, ‘I need to get back to Montgomery and get a few hours of sleep before the governor swears me in. I don’t want to fall asleep during my swearing-in ceremony,'” he said.
“When we were hunting down here, Big Daddy said, ‘Come on, I want to show you something.’ We left the pavilion and went down the hill to show me this bank down here. He said, ‘We have a lot of fishing tournaments here at the park, and they bring a lot of money into the community. But when we have these tournaments, they have to bring these $150,000 boats here and drive them to the bank because we don’t have a pier. We don’t have a place to dock to do a tournament weigh-in. And the people who come up and down the Alabama River don’t have a place to dock overnight. We need something in this part of the state, and this would be a good place for it.'”
Commissioner Blankenship and Deputy Commissioner Ed Poolos went to work to make Big Daddy’s idea a reality. Poolos was able to find funding with a boating infrastructure grant funded through ADEM and matched with Alabama State Parks funds. The pier was dedicated by Governor Ivey in the summer of 2021.
Camden City Councilman Jimmy Brock told the story of how James Lawler became Big Daddy. Lawler and some of his teenage friends were shooting pistols at targets.
“They fired and fired and one of them gave James Lawler a gun and said, ‘Here, Big Daddy, take this thing and see what you can do with it,'” Brock said. “And he shot the gun well and that name stuck in his mind.
“I want to share two things about James Lawler that I think made him great. First, it was his big personality. He could tell a good story. He could host an event, host a show, and chat better than anyone I’ve ever met. His ‘Gettin’ Outdoors’ and Facebook page made Wilcox County and the Alabama River known to people all over the world. His big personality brought thousands of hunters and fishermen to our area. The second thing that made him great was his love for God’s creation.”
Kay Donaldson, director of the Alabama Bass Trail, said Lawler’s impact on the Black Belt and tournament fishing in the area will be felt for generations to come.
“I know you know what he meant to this community,” Donaldson said. “I can hardly tell you what he meant to me as a mentor and a father figure, but I can tell you that Big Daddy Lawler’s dreams came true thanks to Greg Lein (Alabama State Parks Director), Chris Blankenship and the leadership of Governor Ivey’s office. The economic impact this has had on this community will never be forgotten. It will live on forever.”
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey cuts the ribbon to rename the T-Pier at Roland Cooper State Park in honor of Lawler. (Billy Pope)
Donaldson recalled the first major tournament in Wilcox County and how an overjoyed Lawler judged its success.
“We ran out of sausage at Hardee’s on a Wednesday,” she said. “That’s how Big Daddy talked about the economic impact. It wasn’t about hotel rooms or other revenue, it was about us running out of sausage at Hardee’s.”
Joe Allen Dunn of Thomasville was one of Lawler’s closest friends. How close? “There were only two people who cooked more meals for him than I did: his mom and the woman in the school cafeteria,” Dunn said.
Dunn also said that for Big Daddy, it’s not just about hunting and fishing. It’s about nature as a whole.
“He was a big bird fan,” he said. “We were fishing and he spotted a bird and told me exactly what it was. But I was ecstatic when I put a pumpkin up by the house as a bird’s nest. Big Daddy wanted to set up a camera to film the bird. We set it up and it lasted about a week. In one of the pictures he said, ‘Come here and look at this.’ It was a snake. It got the bird. I said I should kill that snake. Big Daddy said, ‘No, no, the snake has to eat too. That’s just part of nature.'”
