MADISON – The first annual Dez Dennis Memorial 9K Race is scheduled for May 13 at Bob Jones High School.

The Bob Jones Football program is sponsoring the race, which will be staged entirely on the Bob Jones campus. Check-in and registration will open at 8 a.m., and the race will start at 9 a.m.

A football standout, Dez was known as ‘No. 9’ for his jersey number and graduated from Bob Jones in 2012. He was killed in a car accident in October 2013.

“My son Dez was amazing,” Amy Dennis said. “Dez was a mamma’s boy to heart and did not care who knew it. He loved his sister Destiny to no end and had her spoiled rotten. Dez knew God at an early age and had a heart of gold.”

“The love he had for football was undeniable. Not just any football, he loved Bob Jones football through and through. The team was like his brothers,” Amy said.  

“Dez loved everyone. No matter if you were on the drama team, dance team, played in the band — black, white, big, small … if you were a jock or not,” Amy said. “Dez was a team player. He was differently a leader, not a follower.”

“The day of Dez’s funeral, a young boy came up to me and told me if it were not for my son he would have killed himself. My son had talked him out of it. So, many looked up to Dez and he knew it,” Amy said. “I was so blessed to be his mom for 20 years.”

Kevin A. Rose, Head Football Coach at Bob Jones, coached Dez in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. “Dez was a starting linebacker and team leader for Bob Jones Football. Number 9 loved Bob Jones Football,” Rose said.

For the race, early bird registration will end April 9 and cost $9 per person. After April 9, registration is $19 for anyone who is nine years old and older.

Participants can pay by cash or check at Bob Jones main lobby or mail payment to Bob Jones High School, 650 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758. Make checks to “Bob Jones Football.” T-shirts cost $19.99 each.

Sponsors for the race are welcome. Sponsorship levels are Title Sponsor, $999; Finish Line Sponsor, $199; and T-shirt sponsor, $99. For information, contact Leigh Christian by calling 256-509-1580 or emailing leigh@planstoprosperconsulting.com.