Our annual Spring luncheon is coming up soon on Monday, May 13 at “The Club”. This year we are delighted to have Tom Fanning, Chairman, President and CEO of Southern Company as our speaker who will give us an executive update on the latest happenings within Southern Company and the electric power industry.

Reservations and a reservation fee per person are required. Invitations were recently mailed and should be received by all retirees very soon. Please submit your reservation form and fee to Dora Brandt by April 30, 2019. If you have any questions or do not receive an invitation, please call Dora at 205-956-0502 or send her an E-mail at [email protected]. Cancellations will be accepted up to May 3 by calling Dora.

Schedule:

• Check-in/social time: 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
• Lunch Seating: 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 noon
• Invocation/Lunch: 12:00 noon – 12:45 p.m.
• Speaker’s presentation and Q&A: 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
• Door prizes and adjourn: 1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Meeting location: “The Club” atop Red Mountain in Homewood, in the Ballroom.  The address is:  1 Robert S. Smith Drive, Birmingham AL 35209.

Tom Fanning’s Biography: Tom Fanning has been chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company since July 2010. With more than 38 years of experience at Southern Company, Tom has worked in areas with many of our retirees. Tom served as Chief Information Officer 1995-1997.  He served as chief operating officer 2007-2010, where he was responsible for Southern Company’s generation and transmission, engineering and construction services, research and environmental affairs, system planning and competitive generation business units. He also was responsible for leading Southern Company’s efforts on business strategy and served as a director of Southern Nuclear, Southern Company’s nuclear plant operating company.

Prior to assuming the role of Southern Co chief financial officer in 2003, Tom was president and CEO of Gulf Power 2002-2003. Tom serves as co-chair of the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, which serves as the principal liaison between the federal government and the electric power sector to protect the electric grid from threats that could impact national security, including cyber and physical terrorism as well as natural disasters.

Tom is an internationally respected voice on topics that range from energy innovation and economic growth, to cybersecurity.  His leadership in the cybersecurity area was recognized by the U.S. Senate in 2019 with an appointment to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a group developing a protection strategy for the cyberspace interests of the United States.

Tom holds senior positions in a number of business and public policy organizations. He earned bachelors and master’s degrees in industrial management from Georgia Tech.

Robert Earl “Bob” Dunn, age 92, died peacefully at his home in Birmingham after a long illness on Monday, February 25. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the many friends and caregivers who provided comfort to Bob in the last few years. Bob was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on October 16, 1926, to Arthur Earl and Minnie Lee Nix Dunn. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Anne Williams Dunn, in 2013.

Bob honorably served his country as a member of the United States Army during World War II until his discharge in December of 1946. Bob was a graduate of Auburn University and a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church. He was an engineer at Rust Engineering and Southern Company before his retirement in 1988. He is survived by three children, all of Birmingham: Robert L. Dunn, Paul Dunn (Mimi), and Ginny Dunn Curtis (Scott) and four grandchildren: Mitchell Curtis; Emily, Hunter, and Livy Dunn. Bob donated his body to the UAB Anatomical Donor Program. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers any memorials be made to the charity of your choice.

 

We just found out that our retiree member James E. O’brien, passed away February 9, 2019. He retired from Telecommunications at SCS in 1995. We talked to his wife Margaret about his obituary and it was not announced due to her stay in the hospital and she was not even able to go to his funeral. We told her we were sorry we just found out about his death. Memorials can be sent to Crestway Baptist Church, 6400 Crestwood Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35212.

Update:  The meeting was great!  Here are some pictures from the meeting: Reminder:  Monday March 11, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. Central,  SCS/SNC Retirees meet again at the new Energy Center, 3535 Colonnade Parkway, Birmingham AL 35243.   We are meeting in SOUTH Tower, 1st floor, Auditorium. This is right behind the security desk where you sign in so should be more convenient. NOTE: Please allow ample time as new procedures require that you stop at security guard gate when driving in, to get a parking pass to park in deck.Astronaut Larry DeLucas is keynote speaker.  We also have a brief overview of the new Birmingham Legion Soccer professional team. https://www.bhmlegion.com. SCS/SNC Retirees have a special connection to star player Chandler Hoffman—the first player signed to Birmingham Legion FC. The two-time All-USL standout forward and Birmingham’s native son is the son of Jon Hoffman, manager in Southern Company Services IT SNC Applications group. As those who have children and grandchildren in youth sports can attest, reaching the professional levels is a decades-long grueling process involving the entire family in the exhilaration, discipline, and grit required.  One youth league soccer parent recalled that “Even as a 10-year-old player, Chandler was exceptional, just thrilling to watch.  His parents Jon and Angie were dedicated to developing his athletic skills, but more importantly to guiding his character”.Birmingham Legion FC described Chandler’s soccer career and character thusly for his initial introductory appearance here:  After leading Oak Mountain High School to two state champions (2007 2008), Chandler was standout forward at UCLA from 2009-2011. Hoffman went on to have a stellar professional career, earning a bevy of club and individual honors. The Birmingham native won an MLS Cup with the LA Galaxy in 2014. He has twice been named to the USL All-League First Team (2014, 2017), is the fastest player in modern history to tally 50 USL regular-season goals.Legion FC president and general manager Jay Heaps said “Chandler has played at the highest professional levels in the US. He is not only a proven winner on the field, he is a player with great character. As a captain of his current team, we expect Chandler to be a leader both on and off the field in 2019 and beyond.”The Birmingham Legion’s inaugural game is Saturday March 9 at 6:00 pm at UAB’s BBVA Compass Field versus Bethlehem Steel FC.  Season continues through October 20 , see https://www.bhmlegion.com/schedule-2019 . 

Richard Jerome McRee, age 91, native and life-long resident of the Birmingham, AL area, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2019. He loved the Lord, loved his family, and loved his country. Richard attended Central Park Elementary and graduated from West End High School before attending the University of Alabama Extension Center, now UAB. He retired from Southern Company Services with 31 years in project engineering.

Richard was a member of Riverchase United Methodist Church in Birmingham. He was also active in the NRA, the Black Powder Gun Club, Birmingham Cruising Club, Boy Scouts, and Swinging Stars Square Dance Club, in addition to serving as president of the home owners association where he and Mary Sue resided. Richard’s favorite pastimes included woodworking, carpentry, photography, calligraphy, pen-making, and carving. While Richard was a man of many skills and talents, he took his greatest pride in his family. He and his wife, the former Mary Sue McWilliams, celebrated almost 70 years of marriage. They wed on his 22nd birthday, March 28, 1949. Richard was predeceased by his parents, James Fred McRee, Sr. and Mary Cleveland Anderson McRee. Survivors include Richard’s wife, Mary Sue; two daughters, Vickie McRee Rutherford (Bruce) of Douglasville, GA and Leigh Ann Corvin (Bruce) of Clay, AL; one son, Kent McRee (Laura) of Frisco, TX; and grandchildren, Kimberly Texidor (Manuel) of Conroe, TX, Kristie Hamby (Josh) of Apex, NC, and Nathan Corvin of Clay; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Isaac, and Aaron Texidor, all three of Conroe, and Luke Hamby of Apex. Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, AL, immediately followed by a Celebration of Richard’s Life at 11 a.m. at the funeral home’s chapel. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham. Rev. Nancy Harper will officiate.

Published in The Birmingham News on Feb. 27, 2019