On Friday, just before the Tigers' homecoming football game against Donoho, Mintz had the Cedar Bluff baseball field named in his honor in front of former and current baseball players, as well as parents, administrators and supporters at the school cafeteria. His two sons - Levi and Jake Mintz - unveiled the sign that bears his name. It will be prominently placed on the scoreboard.
"I was really surprised and greatly honored, very humbled," Mintz said. "We've been taught to always honor and praise others. It's very rewarding to know that the things you've worked for have turned out well and come to fruition.
"I'm very proud of our baseball field. It's not the greatest in the world, but at the same time, we've built it over time. We played my first year at Centre at the old field where the Dixie Youth fields are now. After that, we started building our own field. It's come a long way from what it used to be."
Mintz, who is now in his 25th year at Cedar Bluff School, has helped spearhead the efforts to make the Tiger baseball field the best it can be over the years.
Originally from Southside, Mintz came to Cedar Bluff as a baseball coach in 1988 and remained coach until the early 1990s. He became principal of Cedar Bluff School in 1995.
"One of the things as principal that I've always wanted to do is I've always wanted our kids to have the opportunity to have the very nicest things they could have," Mintz said. "It doesn't matter whether its football, baseball, basketball, academics, I want them to have the nicest things they can have. I think here at Cedar Bluff, if you look at our facilities, through the hard work of the community and the people, our board members, I think we have that."
Mintz said he couldn't think of two better people to unveil the sign that bears his name than his two sons - both of whom play for the Tiger baseball team.
"You thank God every night for your children," Mintz said. "You realize he's the father and you're just the earthly dad. I praise him every night for those guys because they're everything you'd ever want."
Before Mintz's sons unveiled the sign that bears their father's name, Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Brian Johnson read a special proclamation from Alabama Governor Robert Bentley to the crowd.
Johnson read, "On behalf of the citizens of Alabama, it is my privilege to award this certificate for your outstanding accomplishments and upon this occasion for Cedar Bluff baseball field being declared in your honor, leading both football and baseball teams to numerous playoff appearances and supporting the Cedar Bluff teams as an administrator as they have won 13 Alabama High School Athletic Association state championships. It is a great tribute to your career. Truly you have upheld the fine tradition of excellence established at Cedar Bluff High School. For your exempliary character, service as a role model for the citizens of Alabama, may I take this time to offer my congratulations. Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama."
Talbot, who's coached the Tiger baseball team the past seven years, said honoring Mintz for his contributions is something that's "long overdue."
"Any time somebody spends 25 years in one spot in education, that's a great testament," Talbot said. "It's an honor for him, and it's something we look forward to getting up on the scoreboard and making a big deal out of.
"I can tell you from my standpoint in the seven years I've been here, I know we've put over $60,000 in our facilities down there. I think easily it's one of the best (Class) 1A facilities in the state. The biggest thing is he's never said no, no matter what I've come up with, no matter what I thought or what he thought. It's been 'How do we need to do it? What can we do, and how can I do more?' It's really an honor to work for somebody like that."
Talbot thanked Katrina Hunter, Kay Davis, basketball and track coach Joe Carpenter, Johnson and the Cherokee County Board of Education for helping make honoring Mintz possible.
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