POWERGRAMS

7 to understand Charles McCrary's contributions to and leadership of the Alabama Power Company on the eve of his retirement after 13 years, one must begin with the fact that he was the very first president or Ceo, and so far the only president or Ceo of Alabama Power, who grew up in the company. Families with generations of Alabama Power employees are common in the 108- year history of Alabama Power. But Charles is the only one of these many sons and daughters whose families worked for the company who eventually assumed responsibility for the leadership of the company. to understand Charles' contributions, you have to begin with his father, douglas, for whom Charles had more than the normal respect of a son for his dad. they are very close. Charles' father, douglas L. McCrary, came to work for Alabama Power in 1953 after graduating from Auburn University. A meticulous engineer with a strong work ethic, douglas supervised many significant projects, and he often testified before federal and state regulatory agencies. he was promoted to vice president of construction in 1971. douglas was so fair and honorable in his dealings with construction unions, especially the Pipefitters Union that worked on the Farley Nuclear Plant, that he once held a union membership in the Montgomery Pipefitters Union. Growing up, Charles came to recognize how important and valuable the union people were in the life of the corporation, and this had an influence on one of Charles' greatest successes as Ceo of Alabama Power — developing a close relationship with the international Brotherhood of electrical workers. then, too, Charles' love of motors and machines and his hobbies caused Bill Frederick to once say that the Brotherhood believed Charles related so well to them because of his love for mechanical things and working with his hands. when Charles was 10 years old, every day after school his mother would drop him off at Alabama Power, in the parking lot near his dad's car. Charles would read or do his lessons, perhaps for more than an hour. then he would leave with his father to spend the rest of the evening working on a new house they were building for the family. during these long hours, Charles grew closer to his father, learned about construction and developed a strong work ethic. he came to appreciate clear blueprints, good planning and the satisfaction of a completed project well done. And during this time, he was surely influenced by his father's finely tuned sense of humor. Charles was a preteen when he witnessed some of the civil rights demonstrations in Kelly ingram Park from windows in the Alabama Power building, an emotional experience that he never forgot and one that strengthened his dedication to building a diverse employee base. Charles' first job with Alabama Power was a summer position when he was an engineering student at Auburn. he tested water quality in the rivers where Alabama Power operated hydroelectric dams. this was his first of many environmental assignments, which became significant as environmental regulations increased during his leadership of Alabama Power. After Charles graduated college in 1973, he went to work with the engineering department of Southern Services. A few years later, his father was transferred to head this department, something that was unsettling to each of them. despite tensions, the experience strengthened the bonds between father and son, especially in areas of common interests — working on motors, restoring old juke boxes and all things mechanical. during this time, Charles began to call his father "douglas," because, he explained, "i couldn't call him 'daddy' in a meeting." Charles completed his formal education with a law degree, which proved valuable as federal regulations became more complex. Alabama Power President Joe Farley was another mentor who influenced Charles McCrary's maturity and leadership growth. As a young man, Charles' experiences serving as the assistant to Farley were an important part in molding Charles' attitudes toward executive leadership, increasing his appreciation of the heavy responsibilities that come with the job, and in giving him a broad understanding of Alabama Power and its history. Farley, who joined the Logan Martin law firm when Logan's brother, thomas w. Martin, was president of Alabama Power, spent many years working with tom Martin. A serious man, Farley nonetheless enjoyed sharing stories about "Mr. Martin," stories that usually had lessons and merit beyond the tale. Charles McCrary may be the last assistant to Farley to lead Alabama Power. And if so, that cultural bond of company history that moved from Martin to Farley and then to Charles McCrary would be broken. in 1988, Farley delivered an address to the Newcomen Society on the history of Alabama Power. in that talk, he said: "Corporations, like people, develop through their lives a personality and, indeed, a character that explains much about their actions." in 2006, Charles McCrary spoke to the Newcomen Society on Alabama Power's "Century of Service" to the people of Alabama. Charles appreciated the history of the company. As Alabama Power moved to celebrate its centennial in 2006, he commissioned a history of Alabama Power. A story that told the company's struggles and successes, its leaders and its people through the years, recording memories and history that would never be lost. the timing was right, for in the eight years since the completion of that history, many of the people and leaders who contributed to that history have passed away. As Charles moves into full-time work in his shop at Lake Martin, lazy days with Phyllis and grandparenting "Miss Lucy," he leaves behind a very healthy company that understands itself, a company with good leaders ready to step into responsible roles. the McCrary Years McCrary circa 1985. TRANSITION McCRARY BORN INTO APC FAMILY, FOLLOWED LINE FROM MARTIN TO FARLEY Commentary by Leah rawLs atkins, author of the award-winning Company story, "deveLoped for the serviCe of aLabama" McCrary appreciated the rich history of Alabama Power.

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