POWERGRAMS

Contents HISTORY With the April issue of Powergrams, Alabama Power's magazine for employees and retirees enters its second century of publication. We look back at some of the people and places that have filled thousands of pages since 1920. Page 1 CONSERVATION Renew Our Rivers begins its third decade of employees and volunteers cleaning waterways across Alabama and the South. Starting on the Alabama River in February, there will be more than 30 cleanups that continue through November. Page 6 BLACK HISTORY MONTH Retiree Barbara Curry- Story overcame racial barriers to be the first African American student at Jacksonville State University. She joined Alabama Power as the first black home economist in Eastern Division. Page 8 WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH Females have been valued employees at Alabama Power Company since its beginning but it wasn't until the 1970s that women began to seek and be employed in roles that were traditionally all-male. Page 10 EDUCATION Members of Alabama Power's Linemen, Engineers and Apprentice Programs (LEAP) volunteer throughout each year to share with students some of the career opportunities that are available in technical and skilled trades. Page 13 TECHNOLOGY Unmanned aircra systems are increasingly being used by Alabama Power employees and at sister companies to do jobs that can be dangerous for workers. Drones reach locations that are all but impossible for men and women to reach, and that's just part of the value of the tiny flying machines. Page 14 ENERGIZERS The Energizers annually honor an Alabama Power employee with the Sam Booker Award, indicative of someone going the extra mile to assist the retiree organization. Alex Leonard accepted the trophy for 2019. Page 18 APSO Alabama Power Service Organization members in Greene County frequently volunteer to spend time with prekindergarten through second grade students at Westside Elementary School in Demopolis. Page 20 OUR TOWN There's a new day dawning in Dadeville, a sleepy lakeside town that has been a well-kept secret off the beaten path. In recent years, however, people from across the South have been discovering the Tallapoosa County locale and making it their home. Page 22 AWARDS For the second time in three years, the International Association of Business Communicators has selected Powergrams as the Best of Show during an IABC convention. The magazine has taken the top honors in Kansas City, Missouri, and Houston, Texas. Page 31 RETIREES Page 32 IN MEMORIAM Page 32 THUMBS UP! Page 33 JANUARY - MARCH • 2020 EDITOR Chuck Chandler 205-257-3651 cchandle@southernco.com ART DIRECTOR Jay Parker CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Phil Free W R I T E R S Donna Cope Carla Davis Gilbert Nicholson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Wynter Byrd Chuck Chandler Nik Layman Jay Parker ON THE COVER New meets old when an Alabama Power drone captures an eye-level portrait of Electra. See story page 14. Photo by Jay Parker P OW E RG RA M S © Alabama Power Company 2020 An ultralight sport plane flies past the firetower atop Smith Mountain, near Lake Martin. Photo by Phil Free.

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