OUR STORY

Kerry, a 1983 Hazlewood High graduate, is known as one of the “The Goodes: Alabama’s Football Family.” He and his three brothers – Chris, Pierre, and the late Clyde III – and first cousin, Antonio Langham, played for the Crimson Tide. Kerry, Chris, and Antonio also later went on to play in the National Football League (NFL).

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In August 2015, Kerry was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Kerry’s teammate, Kevin Turner, had been diagnosed with ALS five years earlier (in May 2010) as a freshman at Alabama when Kerry was a senior.

This is not the first time disease has visited the family. Clyde Goode III was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer on January 7, 2011, and died on July 6, 2012. The father of four was 43. In 2018, older brother Chris Goode, who played seven seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, battled prostate cancer.

Kerry Goode played for Alabama from 1983 to 1987, and rushed for 1,572 yards and seven touchdowns. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him in the seventh round during the 1988 draft. He was the No. 167 overall pick. Goode played one year in Tampa Bay and a season with the Miami Dolphins before retiring.

Between 1993 and 1998, Kerry worked six years in the NFL as a strength and conditioning coach with the New York Giants and St. Louis Rams.

Kerry is approaching his battle with ALS like he has everything else in life, even though the battle is against something potentially terminal. “I’m placing God on my side, and I’m in it to win it.”
In September 2015, Kerry established The Goode Foundation to support ALS research and those affected by the disease.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jim Morris

Jim brings over two decades of Sports Administration and Communications experience to the Goode Foundation. His career has included stops with teams at both the college and professional level before serving as VP of External Relations for NFL Alumni and later as liaison between the NFL Commissioner’s Office and former players.

A graduate of The University of Alabama, Jim now resides in Madison, Alabama where he serves as a Senior Sports Administrator for a local high school while also serving as an outside consultant to area College programs and Professional sports teams. Jim’s known for his candor in advising senior staff on issues and resolutions related to public and media relations, and crisis management. He is currently overseeing a multi-million dollar Athletics Facility project that will position Madison area schools with some of the best high school athletic facilities in the nation.

Clyde E. Goode Jr.

A retired educational and organizational leader offering 45 years of career excellence. Demonstrating in depth knowledge of community involvement methods and proposal writing focused on delivering highly successful fundraising outcomes. Esteemed educator and communicator proficient in instruction and team building exercises with students and faculty. Smart lead teacher enthusiastically embracing classroom challenges with dynamic solutions. Considered valued educator and energetic professional skilled in lesson planning, curriculum development and talents.

Clyde Goode has held several principal positions in the state of Alabama. Specializing in bring order to trouble schools and improving teacher morale.

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Kerry Goode

Formed the Goode Foundation where our goal is to partner with like-minded organizations and the research community. To bring awareness and assistance in not only finding a cure but finding new and improved ways to treat patients.

Was the 1983 Freshman of the year in the SEC while playing for the Alabama Crimson tide. He also served as the 1987 Captain of the U Of A football team. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1988, Kerry also played for the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins before career was cut short by injuries. After coaching for the St Louis Rams and the New York Giants, he became a Sales Manager for Ryder Systems Inc. before being diagnosed with ALS.

Sam Bryant

Sam Bryant is the Founder and Managing Partner of BlackLight Strategic Partners, LLC, bringing more than 25 years of sales and marketing expertise. BlackLight Strategic Partners, LLC, is a boutique management consulting firm focused on supporting mid-market companies with revenue growth (enterprise value enhancement) and business transition (harvest) strategies.

Sam helps senior executives think through complicated business issues and new initiatives using a functional approach that researches and analyzes the landscape to validate the feasibility of pursuing new revenue streams. His diverse industry experience includes consulting in finance, insurance, banking, healthcare and automotive as Partner and key advisor. An expert in teamwork and collaboration, Sam effectively leverages his network of subject matter experts to deliver the highest in quality service to his clients.

He has held FINRA Series 7, 24, 63 & 65 general securities registrations and has also been licensed in multiple states to sell life, health, dental, disability, variable annuity and variable life insurance. Sam currently sits on the board of the Goode Foundation (ALS research); the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse Business School Board of Visitors, where he has served on the Dean’s Executive Committee; Alabama Business Hall of Fame nomination committee; and the J. Craig Smith Chair in Ethics and Business Integrity Corporate Advisory Committee.

Tanja Goode

Tanja has committed to working with the Goode Foundation since its inception. She brings to the Foundation over 30 plus years of sales, marketing and organizational skills that she gained from working at various Fortune 500 Companies, most notably AT&T.

Since retiring from Corporate America, she has devoted all of her time and talents to caring for her Family, the Goode Foundation, her children's school, and her church. She is a member of Ben Hill United Methodist Church where she has held many roles and responsibilities and served on various committees from the Board of Trustee's to the Church Council. She attended the University of Alabama where she met her husband. She is mother of 5 children and the wife of Kerry Goode. She resides with her family in Fairburn, Georgia.

Chris Goode

Chris played with the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts for seven years. Goode was drafted by the Colts in the 1987 NFL Draft out of Alabama. After retiring Chris formed his own real estate company where he has garnered great success. Chris is the founder and Director of Goode Elite Prep Academy, a post grad prep academy for athletes that are non qualifiers. Goode Elite Prep provide students athletes that have graduated from high school with a second chance opportunity to play college sports in football, basketball and track.