Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Just about every morning, most days before sunrise, an angel has been spotted in the area of Sims Park in Gulf Shores. One of the people seeing the angel during his morning exercise sessions is Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft. The longtime distance runner and cyclist, Craft is a regular on mornings at Sims Park and has seen – and named – the angel who shows up there to greet other early risers.

“There are so many good things going on here that none of us really know about,” Craft said at the start of a council work session meeting on March 2. “There are things that happen here that I didn’t know about. I happen to be one of the very few around here who exercises early in the morning before the sun comes up around Sims Park. What I have found there by being there most mornings is we have an angel of Sims Park.”

Greeting others with a smile and pleasant conversation, Craft said, is Leigh Anne Landrum. His early-morning conversations with Leigh Anne alerted Craft to her quest to get ready for this year’s national Special Olympics.

“Leigh Anne rides her bike and when the sun comes up, Leigh Anne comes out,” Craft said. “She’s riding around and she’ll talk to everybody that’s working there and walking around there. I found out she’s actually participating in the Special Olympics at the national level in Minneapolis in June. I wanted her to come today because I want to introduce you to her. She’s a very special young lady.”

In the past, Leigh Anne competed in the Special Olympics World Games as a member of the Texas basketball, swim and bowling teams. This year, she’ll represent Alabama on June 20-26 for the national Special Olympics in Minneapolis, competing again as a swimmer.

To help honor Leigh Anne, Craft made a call to Gulf Shores City Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Williams who brought some of the high school’s Special Olympians to the council meeting.

“We’re all so proud of you and so excited for you to represent the city of Gulf Shores,” Williams said. “At Gulf Shores City Schools, we have 45 special Olympic athletes that will be competing in our program this year on April 29. They have come here to be recognized and to support you.”

Williams presented Landrum with a medal and other items from Gulf Shores City Schools.

Leigh Anne, whose mom, Tracy, was on hand for a surprise honor, works at Rouses Supermarkets in Orange Beach.