By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Editor’s note: Greg Blackman’s name was incorrectly printed as “Mark Blackman” in our Wednesday edition. We have corrected the error in the Web version and will reprint the story in our April 1 Shopper.



A former Gardendale resident is in the running to be a nationwide hero.

Greg Blackman, a 1981 graduate of Gardendale High School, is in the top-10 in a contest sponsored by Lenox tools.

In January, Lenox asked customers to submit stories of people they considered heroes as part of their “Extra Mile Hero Contest.” Blackman’s wife, Leann, submitted a story about her husband, which made him a finalist.

As part of being named to the top-10, Blackman won $3,100, as did the charity of his choice, The Big Oak Ranch. Why $3,100? NASCAR driver Jeff Burton drives the No. 31 Chevrolet, sponsored by Lenox.

The focus of Leann Blackman’s letter nominating her husband was an incident that happened in 2006. While at a softball swim party, Greg Blackman was preparing to give out trophies to his daughter’s team when a scream brought everything to a halt.

“The scream was from a teammate’s mother who saw her son on the bottom of the pool,” said Leann Blackman in her letter to Lenox. “When he brought the child up, he was blue and complete rigid from head to toe.”

Greg Blackman, a former lifeguard at the aquatic club in Gardendale, performed CPR and then chest compressions on 4-year-old Caleb Qualls until he began to cry. Today, he and the boy he saved are good friends.

Blackman, a fourth-generation plumber in Hoover, said he was doing what anyone else would have and he was a little embarrassed by all the attention. When he found out he had been nominated and was a finalist, Blackman said he was happy that the Big Oak Ranch benefitted from the attention.

“I kinda was a little hesitant at first, but when I heard it was going to charity, I felt better about it,” he said. “I really respect people like John Croyle and what kind of ministry he has for kids.”

Now through April 30, residents can visit www.lenoxhero.com and vote for the winner. The finalist who receives the most votes will win $31,000 and $31,000 for the charity of his or her choice. Lastly, if Jeff Burton wins the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 28, the winner will receive $1 million to be split with the charity of his or her choice.