SHORELINES

For many people, a day on the river or lake is the best of days – soaking up the sun, playing in the water, fishing or watching birds and animals. When Alabama Power retiree Gene Phifer was a boy, spending days on the river with his father gave him meaningful memories – and eventually helped shape his career and improve the health of waterways across the Southeast. Phifer's appreciation for the state's natural resources and his hometown of Gadsden inspired a local river cleanup in 1999 that has grown into one of the nation's largest campaigns of its kind, Renew Our Rivers (ROR). "It's a movement that's brought on by people who want to make things better," Phifer said. "Yeah, I had the idea, but if it hadn't been for all those people that wanted to do it, too, it never would have gone anywhere – and it's still going today." ROR volunteers have removed millions of pounds of trash and debris from Alabama's lakes and rivers. e campaign has educated thousands of people about the importance of the ecosystem and biodiversity. Phifer said as soon as he was old enough to be in a boat with his father, they spent a considerable amount of time on the Coosa. "I have a real bond with this river system," he said. e memories and experiences on the river shaped Phifer's career from the start. As an undergraduate studying environmental science at Jacksonville State University, he completed one of the earliest water quality studies involving the Weiss and Neely Henry reservoirs. Aer finishing graduate school, he taught at JSU until his wife, Charlotte, accepted a promotion with BellSouth, and they moved to Birmingham. Phifer worked as a research chemist at UAB while continuing his education. A few years later, the Phifers returned to Gadsden, with Charlotte working as an office manager at BellSouth and Gene teaching at Gaston High School. "It looked like my career course was going to be education," Phifer said. en, Alabama Power called. "ey had a position, a chemical technician position, at Gadsden Steam Plant." "I loved teaching, but I also loved the thought of going back home – being here in Gadsden. Also, Alabama Power was part of my life." e company is what brought Phifer's family to Gadsden initially. Start of something special GENE PHIFER'S BOYHOOD ON COOSA RIVER SHAPED HIS CAREER AND LED TO RENEW OUR RIVERS By Erin Harney 4 | 2019 Vol: 1

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