A.L. Brown Coach Tyler Buckwell & the Buckwell Family Legacy in Kannapolis | EP 7

Tyler Buckwell – A.L. Brown High School teacher, coach, and the next chapter of a deep Kannapolis family legacy – joins Chris Hughes, Ryan Dayvault, and Chuck Irvin (Dr. Dave) on K-Town Connection.

Son of longtime Kannapolis coach and administrator Darren “Chip” Buckwell, Tyler is the guy you see everywhere at A.L. Brown: on the field, in the classroom, behind the camera, running graphics and social media, and putting Wonders students in the spotlight. He talks family roots, growing up in Kannapolis, the old mills and downtown, Friday night culture, and why building buy-in for the next generation matters.

Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in beautiful downtown Kannapolis.

00:00 Cold Open – Dr. Dave, Sun Drop & the 1984 A.L. Brown State Championship Program
01:41 Introducing Chip Buckwell & the Buckwell Family Legacy
02:33 “That Guy Is All Over A.L. Brown” – Meet Tyler Buckwell
04:30 Heart of the K-Town Connection Theme
05:15 Welcome to Episode 7
07:23 “Today I Give My All for Kannapolis”
10:53 Family Roots: Dad Chip, Grandma & Kannapolis Schools
14:17 Growing Up in Kannapolis
17:15 Downtown, the Mills & Watching the Town Change
21:35 Creating Buy-In for the Next Generation of Wonders
25:18 Coaching, Film & Football Season Realities
28:19 Tyler’s Path into Coaching & Media
38:33 The Earnhardt Fabric of Kannapolis
40:51 Wonders, NASCAR & What Binds the Community
45:59 Media, Graphics & Putting A.L. Brown Kids in the Spotlight
49:42 Every Student a Wonder – Building Friday Night Culture
52:56 Setting the Standard for Young Kannapolis Kids
54:21 The 40-Year Buckwell Impact
55:24 Final Thoughts: Why Telling These Stories Matters
57:17 Closing & Outro – Three for Dale

Hosts: Chris Hughes, Ryan Dayvault, and Chuck Irvin (Dr. Dave)

If you love real Kannapolis stories about coaches, families, and the next generation of Wonders, hit subscribe, share this with a fellow K-Towner, and keep the conversation going. This is our town.

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Hardee’s Biscuits Got Him Inside the Mills: Chad Mitchell’s Untold Story | Ep 75

In Episode 75 of the K-Town Connection, lifelong Kannapolis photographer and artist Chad Mitchell opens his archive of more than 25,000 photographs that document the demolition of Cannon Mills — the place that built this town. As the massive mill complex disappeared, Chad decided someone had to record what was being lost. What began as a personal mission became one of the most important visual records of Kannapolis history ever created. He takes us inside the abandoned buildings, shares how he gained access (Hardee’s biscuits helped), and reveals the stories behind some of his most powerful images — including the fall of the iconic water tower, a once-in-a-lifetime balloon ride over the complex, and the unforgettable photograph of his late father standing in the partially demolished mill, looking out at the rubble of the place where he had worked for decades. Chad also looks back at an incredible creative career that includes photographing Appalachian State football during its national championship years, serving as team photographer for Kannapolis professional baseball, working with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, and creating artwork connected to Dale Earnhardt. His guiding philosophy has always been simple: Tell as much of the story as possible in one shutter click. Today, as a new generation grows up in a Kannapolis that looks nothing like the mill town their parents and grandparents knew, these photographs have become even more valuable. They don’t just preserve buildings — they preserve the people, the work, the memories, and the identity of a community that was forever changed. This episode is exactly what the K-Town Connection is about: preserving Kannapolis history by telling the stories of the people who lived it. 📸 Browse and purchase Chad’s photography and artwork: ChadMitchell.com 📍 Filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis, North Carolina 🎙️ Hosted by the #RoughTalkCousins Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault, along with Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin and David Steele Chapters 0:00 – Intro & Local Updates 5:32 – Welcome to Episode 75 5:52 – Introducing Chad Mitchell 7:02 – Growing Up in Kannapolis 12:00 – How Chad Began Documenting the Mills 14:00 – Getting Access with Hardee’s Biscuits 17:18 – Inside the Abandoned Mill Buildings 19:24 – Over 25,000 Photographs 25:10 – The Darkest Place in the Mill 27:20 – “Lifeline” – The Railroad Light Painting 37:15 – Where to See & Buy the Photos 38:21 – Kiln-Dried Maple Floors & the Sign 39:49 – Baseball Photography Years 43:45 – The Dale Earnhardt Artwork 46:06 – The “Quality Work Means Job Security” Sign 53:45 – The Balloon Ride Over Cannon Mills 56:15 – The Photograph of Chad’s Father 59:48 – Closing Thoughts & Thank You

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