POWERGRAMS

CONTENTS LEADERSHIP Mark Crosswhite marks his fih anniversary as Alabama Power's CEO, taking time to reflect on what the company's employees have accomplished since he succeeded Charles McCrary, becoming the 11th president on Feb. 11, 2014. Page 1 COMMUNITY When disaster struck Beauregard and Lee County on March 2, Alabama Power crews quickly restored electricity to all customers who could receive it at their homes and businesses. Then employees from across the state began helping the victims recover. Page 3 HISTORY Ron Buford was 10 when Birmingham Police Commissioner "Bull" Connor ordered firemen to use fire hoses to aack children peacefully protesting for their civil rights. Buford has gone on to a distinguished career with Alabama Power, today looking out his office windows at Kelly Ingram Park. Page 5 ARMED FORCES DAY Each year, America salutes the men and women who serve to keep our nation and others free from tyranny. Alabama Power retiree Nelson Daughtry, 88, of Greenville, is among the veterans. Page 8 CULTURE & INCLUSION In 2018, the Council on Culture and Inclusion was established at Alabama Power, seeking to identify areas of excellence and opportunities for improving the culture. Council members are actively seeking employee input. Page 9 SAFETY Six friends who are employees and retirees of Alabama Power took a deep- sea fishing trip on Memorial Day 2015 that nearly ended in tragedy for the group. They were all rescued aer their charter boat capsized. Page 11 ENERGIZERS Octogenarian Doug Booth keeps fit by helping his neighbors and church. Twenty-three years aer he retired from a 39-year career at Alabama Power, he's also active in the Jasper Energizers. Page 14 PROFILE Since 1980, Ed Nesmith has been craing lamps out of old electric meters, raising funds for various groups. The retiree has built about 200 of the lamps for Alabama Power employees. Page 17 APSO Leaders of the Alabama Power Service Organization gathered at the annual state conference to plan future projects and salute outgoing and incoming chapter presidents and APSO officers. Page 20 SAFETY Things looked bleak as the Tombigbee River washed away at the riverbanks that supported a 160-foot- tall transmission tower. Alabama Power and Southern Company Services employees from a wide array of locales worked together to solve the problem. Page 22 COMMUNITY Dena Lile dreamed of adding a playground for children with disabilities and rescue dogs to her nonprofit Storybook Farm in Opelika. The Alabama Power Foundation awarded a $17,500 Elevate Grant to make Lile's dream a reality. Page 24 OUR TOWN Clanton is in the geographical middle of Alabama but is best known as being the center of the state's peach production. About 80 percent of Alabama's peach crop comes from farms in and around Clanton, which is a popular stop for beach travelers looking for fresh vegetables and cold ice cream. Page 25 OUR TOWN SIDEBAR Yellowleaf Creek Mill was churning out cornmeal before the Civil War and up to 1990 when the business shut down. Today the completely renovated facility is a popular site for weddings, meetings and parties. Page 33 PROFILE J. Patrick Reed grew up around music and for 10 years he's played in the bluegrass Goat Hill String Band. The real estate specialist has recorded an EP, "About Time," and recently released a single, "I'll Carry On." Page 37 RESEARCH Auburn University and Alabama Power have combined their efforts for a century to increase farm profits and make life more convenient for farmers across the state. The school and the company continue their partnership today. Page 39 HISTORY Gorgas Steam Plant employees helped power Alabama for more than a century before federal regulations forced the closure of the major generating facility near Parrish. Page 41 HAPPY TRAILS Brian Funderburk enjoyed his 27 years repairing cars, trucks and leading other mechanics in keeping Southern Division vehicles running smoothly. He's enjoying himself even more in retirement as Funderburk spends his time drag racing Page 43 INNOVATION STATION Employees and customers looking for a smarter way to finance items or projects ranging from $2,000 to $25,000 have a solution. Whether it's an air conditioning system or energy efficiency upgrades, Smart Financing is available. Page 45 RETIREES Page 46 IN MEMORIAM Page 47 THUMBS UP! Page 48 POSTCARDS TO POWERGRAMS Page 48 MAY-JUNE • 2019 EDITOR Chuck Chandler 205-257-3651 cchandle@southernco.com ART DIRECTOR Jay Parker CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Phil Free WRITERS Donna Cope Carla Davis Whitney Massey Gilbert Nicholson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Justin Averee Bob Blalock Erin Harney Marc Rice CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Justin Averee Billy Brown Dan Bynum Wynter Byrd Mark Jerald Christopher Jones Nik Layman Jay Parker Meg McKinney Chris Prui Ma Uhrig ON THE COVER Jenny Spratlin arranges watermelons and tomatoes for customers of Durbin Farms in Clanton. Photo by Meg McKinney. See the story on Page 25. POWERGRAMS © Alabama Power Company 2019

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