Douglas Langston McCrary was born in Centreville, AL, April 24, 1929. He passed away after a short illness on January 5, 2019. Douglas served in the U.S. Air Force from 1946-1949. He received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1952 and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering in 1953 from Auburn University. He also attended Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program in 1979. McCrary received the Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Alumnus Award from Auburn University in 1988 and was elected to the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. He was a registered professional engineer in Alabama and was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

McCrary was associated with the Southern Company electric system from 1953 when he joined Alabama Power Company to 1994 when he retired from Gulf Power Company. He advanced through numerous engineering, management, and executive positions with Alabama Power Company, Southern Company Services, and ultimately became President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Gulf Power Company until his retirement from Gulf Power Company. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Southern Company as well as served as a member of the Board of Directors for Southern Electric International. Continue reading →

Rhonda Horne Cook, age 60 of Birmingham, passed away on Monday, January 7, 2019. She was born to the late Johnie and Lucille Horne on October 20, 1958. She was a graduate of Auburn University and received the first Computer Engineering degree granted by Auburn. She was a member of 100+ Women Strong and an avid Auburn Fan. Rhonda retired from Southern Company after 31 years of service and was an active member of Robertsdale Church of the Nazarene. Rhonda was preceded in death by her parents Johnie & Lucille Horne, grandparents John William and Mary M. Horne, James Robert and Priesley S. Bailey, sister in law Ginger S. Cook and a host of aunts and uncles. She is survived by her husband Eldridge Cook, brother Ron (Janice) Horne, brother in law M. Paul Cook, niece Bethany (Chris) Miree, nephew David (Kim) Whaley, great nieces Lucy Miree and Madelyn Whaley and great nephews Christian and Grayson Whaley also a host of cousins.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 10, 2019 beginning at 9 am with the funeral service following at 10 am at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood. Burial will follow at 2:30 pm at Garden Hill Cemetery in Opelika.

Our next meeting will be on Monday January 14, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. at the new Southern Company Services/Southern Nuclear offices at the Colonnade in Birmingham.

Our Keynote Speaker will be the 4-term Mayor of Tuscaloosa, Walt Maddox. Mayor Maddox was in office during the April 27, 2011 tornado that devastated Tuscaloosa. He was named Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County for his strong, decisive and comforting leadership. Walt Maddox was the Democratic 2018 Alabama gubernatorial candidate. He has worked to support data-driven economic development efforts, and to promote education. While completing degrees at UAB, Mayor Maddox was a four-year letter-winner on the football team. For more information on Mayor Maddox, link to following website for more information: https://www.tuscaloosa.com/government/mayor

Our Retiree Lifestyle Segment kicking off the meeting is an overview of the new Birmingham Iron professional football team, which begins their season February 10. By the time of our January meeting, the college football champions will have been decided and Super Bowl fever will be under way. Don’t despair, football fans will now be able to continue the mania into the spring, as Birmingham Iron kicks off its inaugural game Feb. 10 at Legion Field against the Memphis Express. Birmingham is one of eight franchises in the Alliance of American Football. Birmingham’s roster includes former Alabama players Blake Sims and Trent Richardson and Chris Davis, Auburn’s Kick Six hero and a Birmingham native. See website https://aaf.com/birmingham-iron/ for more information.

MEETING DETAILS:

Date: Monday January 14, 2019
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm Central
Place: Southern Company Energy Center, 3535 Colonnade Parkway, Birmingham AL 35243
Room: North Tower 6th floor, Room 600 (requires escort to/from room)

Program:
Retiree Lifestyle Speaker- The Birmingham Iron Football Overview
Keynote Speaker- Tuscaloosa’s Mayor Walt Maddox

Please allow ample time to find parking in deck and sign in at the North Tower. Security procedures require that we are escorted up to and from the meeting room, so allow time to gather in North Tower lobby and be escorted up to conference room 600 in groups. Please plan to eat before you arrive (there are many restaurants in the Colonnade) because due to security procedures changes you would need an active employee to personally escort you to eat at the cafeteria in the South Tower, which we are not set up to do at this time. The APCO Credit Union office is accessible on the first floor of the North Tower.

William “Ricky” Ricks, Age 67, passed away on Friday, December 7, 2018. Burial will be in Alabama National Cemetery On December 14, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life at 12:00 p.m. at Christian Life Church (490 Valleydale, Birmingham, Al. 35242.  www.charterfuneral.com

Judy Margaret McCleney Reagan, age 65 of Gardendale, AL was born January 16, 1953 and went to be with her Lord on Saturday, December 8, 2018. She was a wonderful and devoted wife, mother, sister, and friend who was very much loved and will be greatly missed. She was a faithful member of Gardendale’s Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church and was retired from Southern Companies with 42 years of service. She enjoyed reading books, trips to the beach with family and friends, watching TV, especially football games with her son Jonathan, and playing games. Most of all she loved spending time with her family, being a mother, and worshiping her God and Savior. Judy always lived life to the fullest and always strived to be the greatest mother, sister, and friend anyone could ever want. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Michael Reagan whom she married in 1972; her parents, James S. and Louise M. McCleney. Judy is survived by her son, Jonathan Reagan of Gardendale; two sisters, Pat Thomas (Don Thomas) and Carolyn Gregory; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 12th at Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel from 6 to 8 PM followed by Chapel services on Thursday, December 13th at 11 AM. Interment will be in Oakwood Memorial Gardens.