By Anna-Claire Terry
Staff Reporter
Photo by Robert Noles
Mayor Gary Fuller visited Morris Intermediate school May 8. Fuller answered questions from Janice Green’s third grade class.
A few weeks ago, students in Janice Green’s third grade class at Morris Intermediate School wrote letters to Mayor Gary Fuller to ask him questions about himself to find out what it is like to be the mayor of Opelika.
According to Fuller, he was so impressed with the students’ letters that he decided to go answer them in person. The Mayor was able to spend some time with the students May 8.
“Seeing all of these bright, young faces energizes me,” Fuller told the group.
Jordan Harper was tasked with waiting in the front office for Fuller and escorting him to the activity center where the rest of the other students were waiting. Fuller jokingly referred to Harper as his “security.”
Fuller answered questions from a stack of letters, and the child who wrote the letter got to sit beside Fuller on the stage while he answered their question.
Some of the questions asked were “How did you become the mayor, and is it a hard job?” “What is your mom’s name?” and “Do you like jokes? Do you tell jokes? Are you funny?”
Azaria Billingsley, a student in Mrs. Green’s class, said she had been looking forward to Fuller’s visit.
“I’m excited and a little bit nervous because I’ve never met the mayor before,” she said.
Parker Killcreas, from Mrs. Boswell’s class, said he had questions for Fuller about other jobs he had before he was the mayor.
Fuller told students about his path to becoming the mayor of Opelika, his favorite subject in school, that he likes to read and play golf in his spare time and what his childhood was like.
“I had parents who loved me,” Fuller said.
In response to a letter that said “We should give food to the elderly,” Fuller explained how the East Alabama Food Bank works and its importance to the group of students.
Nino Mason, Morris principal, said this is the fourth year that students from Morris Intermediate have written letters to the mayor.
“It’s great that the mayor has an interest in our education and academic programs,” Mason said. “It’s good to see our public officials interact with and visiting the schools on a regular basis.”