Teen excels in and out of classroom

Published 1:12 pm Thursday, April 15, 2010

By Eason Franklin
The Lowndes Signal

Many students tough-out the academic assignments handed out by teachers from day to day, though some students’ intense preparation and participation makes them stand out above the rest. Earl Moorer, Jr of Lowndes County is one of these students.

Moorer is one of two brothers, a twelfth-grade senior and an avid participant in baseball, basketball, football and a member of the National Honors Society at Central High School in Mosses.

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The 17-year-old excels in mathematics and was selected as one of the school’s Golden Ambassadors, which signifies him as passing the high school exit exam on his first try.

“Earl is a good kid…we have never had any problem with his school work,” said his mother, Angelor Moorer. “We’ve always told him if he doesn’t make good grades, then he doesn’t get to participate in extracurricular activities.”

A well-liked student at the school, according to Assistant Principal Keith Scissom, Moorer was voted by his fellow classmates as Mr. Senior for the school’s homecoming as well as Mr. Upward Bound, which is a program to help students prepare themselves for college.

“Earl has always been a hard worker,” said Scissom. “No matter what he does, he is always able to tackle it with ease.”

Moorer’s family is one whose history in Lowndes County expands for many generations.

His grandfather was born in 1926 and lost his dad at the age of ten. This forced him to quit school to care for his mother and two sisters.

“I’ve always tried to relate the story to Earl Jr hoping it would keep him motivated,” said Moorer’s father.

Earl Moorer, Sr. comes from a family of 16 brothers and sisters whom are spread across the country from Dallas, Texas to Detroit, Michigan.

He attended school for truck driving was an avid worker for 24 years who owned his own rig before a back injury prevented him from further ventures.

Moorer’s mother is one of nine brothers and sisters and has worked with the state of Alabama for nearly 23 years, 20 of which she spent as an administrative assistant.

Her father served in the Korean War until he arrived home and began working at the Queen of Mercy as a maintenance engineer. Thereafter he was employed with the Saturn carwash detailing vehicles until he retired.

The young man was praised by his father who said “we have been more proud of him averaging his grade point average (GPA) while playing three sports. We continually try instill the importance of education to him, in spite of the diversities he may face in life.”

Though Moorer is an active participant programs offered by the school, this does not stop him from engaging in activities outside of the classroom.

Moorer has participated in walkathons for dogs and sings in his church choir at the Unity Baptist Church in White Hall.

“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me,” is a phrase that Moorer’s parents have always used to encourage and inspire him in his day-to-day life.

Moorer has been accepted to numerous colleges within the state including Alabama A&M, Tuskegee University and Alabama State.

The young man plans to attend Alabama State during the summer then head to Alabama A&M in the fall to pursue baseball and major in Mechanical Engineering.