August 2007
JWR Engineer’s Son Earns Baseball Scholarship
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Melanie Sides felt like she hit a home run when she found out her son, Grant, had been awarded a baseball scholarship to Samford University in Birmingham.  “I am so proud of him,” says Melanie.  “I know he will get a great education at Samford and they have a top notch baseball program as well.”

Grant, 18, graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School with a 3.96 GPA and wants to major in mathematics or physics and then pursue a master’s degree in engineering.  The 6-foot-4 right handed pitcher had a 6-5 record and one save in his senior year.  When he wasn’t pitching he played in the outfield.  Grant’s batting average was .375 with three homeruns, 37 RBIs and 43 runs scored.  He stole 15 bases in 16 tries. 

  Melanie is the Planning Engineer at the Central Mining Office and began her career with JWR in 1984.  She spends her days taking care of land leases, legal issues on properties we are mining and making sure the royalties JWR pays to landowners are correct.  All of this and raising two children alone may seem overwhelming to some, but Melanie sees it a little different.

”I became a single mom when Grant was five-years old,” Melanie explains.  “I wanted my kids to have a normal childhood so I took on the role of dad too.  We tried basketball and soccer but Grant loved baseball.  We started with T-ball and I helped him practice his hitting and pitching.  One of the best things about this scholarship is no more washing uniforms and shuttling him to practice and to games!”

Being an engineer, Melanie watches her son in a different light than the other player’s moms.  “I watch how Grant plants his foot on the mound, how he holds the ball and all the other mechanical things involved in his pitching.  I can’t help it,” she adds.

”I’m really looking forward to watching him pitch at the college level,” says Melanie.  “He’s my baby and leaving the nest but it’s an exciting time too.  Many of my co-workers have watched my children grow up.  I am so appreciative of Jim Walter Resource for the support they have shown me while raising two children.  George (Richmond) is so family oriented. He has always made it a point to ask how my children are doing over the years.  I’m sure he has no idea how much that has meant to me.”

Melanie’s daughter, Arielle, 21, is majoring in elementary education at The University of Alabama.