They moved back to Cullman and had four
daughters Jackie (Bobby) Patterson, Laura
(Johnny) Harris, Linda (Gary) Johnson and
Donna (Patrick) Thomason; two sons, Jimmy
(Judy) Calvert and William (Sherry) Calvert;
12 grandchildren and many great-grand-
childen.
In the 1970s, he was hired by the County
Commission Chairman Robert Harbison in
order to get the water system going. “He real-
ly needed someone to implement this project,
move away from well water, and help build a
water treatment plant,” said Calvert.
Through the tremendous efforts of Calvert,
along with many others in Cullman and sur-
rounding areas, the water system was con-
structed.
“What some people might not realize
is how instrumental he was in getting the
county water system going,” said his daughter
Laura Calvert Harris. “Just look at all these
photos of how the water system was imple-
mented; replacing all the wells in the county.”
Harris showed off a magazine article that
displayed various photos of the new water
system and how her dad had an active role.
“When I first started working for the Cull-
man County water system, we actually had
well water,” said Calvert. “Over time, though,
I was able to help implement a county water
system that would change the way water was
operated in the county system.”
“It’s an honor to know my daddy helped
play a major role in the implementation of
the water system in Cullman County, over
the past century,” said Harris. “I remember
when you had to rely solely on wells and well
water!”
And of course, knowing her late husband
Johnny Harris had also worked with her dad
at the county water department for many
years was even more of a blessing.
“This man never ceases to amaze me, in
anything he does. He was inducted in to the
Hall of Fame in 2004, for his role on the Cull-
man Red Sox Baseball team,” Harris said.
This photo, provided by James Calvert, shows them
implementating the water system.
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CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE
342847-1
SPRING 2020 | 29