The Roots Run Deep

Tony Dixon, one of Walker County’s most famous gridiron stars, has carved out a life in the state of Kentucky. But he’ll never forget where he came from. 

Words by Justin Hunter | Images courtesy the University of Kentucky 

For some, the 2003 1A State Football championship may appear in a byline in a news article or perhaps a brief sentence in sports archive. For Tony Dixon and this small coalmining town in northwest Alabama, it meant the world. 

"Parrish High School football was the center of the town," says Dixon. "It was the place where everybody in the community could get together and have a good time. Football was the heartbeat of the town."

Dixon grew up around the game of football. All his uncles played at one point in their lives, so it was inevitable that he would find his way onto the field. 

"One afternoon, I was riding my bike when my friends pulled up beside me in a car with their football coach on their way to practice,” Dixon recalls. “They just asked me if I would like to play. I was six years old at the time.”

It's been nearly 20 years since Dixon set multiple AHSAA football records in a video game-like rushing performance against Hubbertville High School his senior year at Parrish High. That night in late October, he was an unstoppable force, washing over the Lions' defense at Wiley Hollingworth Stadium in Fayette, Alabama. 

The numbers are striking: Dixon alone accounted for eight touchdowns, 57 points, and 531 yards of offense—all of which were state records—as the the Tornadoes’ marched to an 81-58 victory. He still holds the AHSAA record for the most rushing yards in a single game.

"From a personal standpoint, the only standout in my high school career was winning the 2003 1A State championship game because it was doing something that the school hadn't done before,” Dixon says. “However, the Hubbertville game gave me the highlight of my career as far as stats go.”

Dixon led the Tornadoes to a 13-1 record and finished the season with 2,298 rushing yards. He was named the 2003 Class 1A Back of the Year. In his final game, he ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead the Tornados in a 20-17 comeback victory over American Christian.

"Never did it enter in my mind once that we were going to lose that game," he says.

Ten years after Dixon graduated from PHS in 2004, the Walker County Board of Education voted to close the school. "The closing of Parrish High School hurts me pretty deep,” he says, “but the championship we won can never be taken away. Yes, the school may be gone, but everybody will remember that Parrish High School Football team.”

Dixon grew up rooting for the Alabama Crimson Tide but turned down the scholarship offered to him by Dennis Franchione, the head coach at the time, because the program was dealing with NCAA sanctions. "I would have loved to have played for Alabama, but they offered Brandon Jones and me half scholarships,” Dixon says. “I didn't want to pay for college, since I had 11 other D-1 offers.”

Instead, he committed to play for the University of Kentucky Wildcats and coach Guy Morris. Unfortunately, his time at Kentucky didn't go as planned; Dixon was fraught with injuries that often sidelined him during his time on the Wildcats roster. 

"Playing the SEC was the real deal,” Dixon says. “Every play felt like you were in a car crash. It’s truly hard to put into words what it’s like to be on the field during a game. I can say the SEC is the closest thing to playing in the NFL, without playing in the NFL."

Dixon overcame the on-the-field adversity and took full advantage of his scholarship, earning his undergraduate degree in social work. Football was God's tool to help him discover his purpose in serving those in the community with mental health issues. 

"I believe everything happens for a reason," says Dixon.

After graduation, Dixon relocated to Somerset, Kentucky, which he now calls home. He is involved in his community, working as a case manager at Quest Counseling and recently earning his master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at Walden University. He is a successful personal trainer and assistant coach at Somerset High School. Most importantly, Dixon is a father to two beautiful daughters and was baptized this past Easter, rededicating his life to Christ. 

Though the draw of the Bluegrass State has been strong enough to hold him, he will never forget the indelible impact the town of Parrish made on him and the deep roots that still exist in Walker County. 

"I love my hometown,” he says. “As a kid, I loved growing up in Parrish because it made me who I am today.” 78