Published: April 17, 2007 11:31 pm            

Former Eton man helps build 'Extreme' home

A former Eton resident and 1975 graduate of Murray County High School might make an appearance on Sunday’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which will air at 8 p.m. on WTVC Channel 9 in Chattanooga and WSB Channel 2 in Atlanta.

Mike Dooley, who now lives in Lawton, Okla., was one of some 300 to 400 volunteers who helped build a 4,000-square-foot home for Gene Westbrook and his family.

According to television station KSWO in Lawton, Gene Westbrook was paralyzed by a mortar round while serving in Iraq, and last year a car crash left his 9-year-old son James paralyzed.

“It was pretty amazing to watch a house go up in six days,” Dooley said. “It was a great experience getting out there and getting my hands dirty.”

Dooley, the son of Beulah Dooley of Chatsworth and the brother of Joan Dooley of Eton, doesn’t know if he will actually be on air or not.

“I spent about 60 hours out there volunteering,” he said.

Dooley, who lived in Murray County until he joined the Army in 1975, said his “real job” was to find volunteers at Fort Sill, where he now works as a civilian in field artillery. He said he learned how to frame a house, put in insulation and lay brick.

The house will have extra-wide hallways to accommodate two wheelchairs at one time since both the father and son are paralyzed.

“I want everybody out there in Whitfield and Murray counties to watch it,” he said of the show. “For those who know me, we are sending e-mails reminding people to watch it.”

Dooley lives in Lawton with his wife Robin and son Kevin.

        

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