If you missed the January meeting, you missed this man of many rings. To find out who he is, be sure and read the next Retirees Newsletter.

Wilbur Clemmer “Clem” Matlock, 72, Born May 2, 1945, a long-time resident of Clay, Alabama and member of Clay United Methodist Church went to be with our Lord on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. He grew up in Palmerdale, AL and graduated from Tarrant High School in 1963. He was preceded in death by his wife Joan, his parents, Wilbur and Irene Matlock and his sister Myra Lee Adams. He is survived by his children, Jane (Derek), Jimmy (Janet), and Jennifer (David), his grandchildren Kyle (Whitney), Nicole, Ryan, Noah, Daniel, Rachel, and great-granddaughter Madison. He is also survived by his sister Ruth (Milton) and a host of nieces and nephews. Clem loved his family, his church family and his work family. Next to his family and friends, work was his passion. He truly loved his job. He worked for Southern Company Services as a Mechanical Design Engineer from the time he was married in 1965 until he retired in 1999. After 2 years of retirement, he went back as a contract worker. He was loved and respected by all he worked with, as a person and for his amazing knowledge and ability for his job. When he was finally unable to work in 2016, he greatly missed being able to do the job he loved so much. Services will be held on Friday, January 26, 2018 at 12 PM at Clay United Methodist Church, visitation will be from 10 AM to 12 PM with services to follow. Graveside service will be immediately following the service in the adjoining cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Clay United Methodist church in his memory.

Check out our new Gallery Page now included on the web page menu. In it you will find some fascinating old departmental photographs from the past.

Select the Gallery menu option above or click here to view the Gallery.

Thanks to John Brandt for scanning these old photographs!

Robert Harold Jackson Sr., 77, died Tuesday, January 16th, 2018 at his home in Oneonta, Alabama. Bob was born on August 2, 1940, to John L. and Ona (Maxwell) Jackson in Iuka, Mississippi. He graduated from Sheffield High School in Sheffield, Alabama, and attended Florence State College (UNA) on a football scholarship. He later earned an MA in Education from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from the University of West Florida. Bob was a decorated Army officer, an airborne ranger who earned a silver star, six bronze stars (two for valor), a purple heart, and many other military awards. Bob served three combat tours, first in the Dominican Republic, where he helped start a church that exists to this day, and then twice in Vietnam. Because of Bob’s exceptional leadership and his company’s outstanding combat record, journalist John Lawrence was embedded with him during his second Vietnam tour, filming the 1970 CBS Emmy Award Winning Documentary, The World of Charlie Company. Eight years later, reporter Bruce Morton followed up with a sequel, Charlie Company at Home. Bob was also featured in John Lawrence’s 2002 bestselling memoir, The Cat from Hue.

Bob medically retired from the Army in 1976. After treatment and convalescence, he began a second career with Southern Company at Gulf Power in Pensacola, Florida. He moved to Birmingham in 1995 and provided executive leadership in the Human Resources area for 15,000 Southern Company employees. A life-long faithful Christian, he was a member at Lester Memorial Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School and served terms both as a trustee and chairman of the trustees. Bob is survived by his wife Betty (Grissom) Jackson, son Robert Harold Jackson Jr. and Julie (Webb), daughter Joshilyn (Jackson) Winn and Scott, and grandchildren John Daniel Jackson and Claire (Hovater) Jackson, Erin Virginia Jackson, Samuel Jackson Winn, and Maisy Jane Winn. He was preceded in death by his brother, John Michael.

A memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 20th, at 3 PM, at Ridout’s Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL. The family will receive visitors there from 2 PM until the time of service. Bob will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Army Emergency Relief Fund and Scholarship America

Our next meeting will be on Monday January 8, 2018. Our speaker will be Coach Jack Crowe, currently working with UAB and former coach at Jacksonville State, Arkansas, and Auburn.  

TOPIC:   What makes a Winning Program/Character, with UAB Football update.   He will emphasize how we retirees can influence the younger generations to be winners with good character.

MEETING DETAILS:
When: Monday, January 8, 2017
Where: Inverness Building 42, Room 130

Board Meeting: 11 a.m.
Lunch in the Cafeteria at Noon
General Meeting and Presentation: 1 p.m.

See you there!