POWERGRAMS

Remembering Matt Bowden A caring husband and loving father. A great friend and mentor. A strong but unassuming leader. Intelligent and wise. Loyal and authentic. Not to mention, an excellent lawyer. These are among the words that were shared as friends and co-workers learned that Matt Bowden, Alabama Power's senior vice president and general counsel, had passed away on Oct. 11. Bowden joined Alabama Power in 2009 as vice president of Environmental Affairs and served in that role until last year. He previously worked 17 years at Balch & Bingham LLP. His role changed as he continued to progress, but the positive impact he had on the company, his community and his co-workers remained the same. "Matt's contributions to the company are immeasurable. He played a key role in navigating some of the company's most critical issues over the past 25 years. His leadership and counsel touched the lives of countless employees and customers in positive ways," said CEO Mark Crosswhite. Alexia Borden, vice president of Governmental Affairs, who worked with Bowden at Alabama Power and at Balch & Bingham, captured the sentiment of the co-workers who were fortunate enough to work closely with Bowden. "He taught me plenty about the nuts and bolts of private practice but more about life and how to live it well. In a lot of ways, Matt was the big brother I never had – fiercely loyal and the best mentor I could have asked for," she said. Mike Godfrey, Environmental Affairs general manager, met Bowden 25 years ago and saw what began as a professional relationship grow into something much more personal. "Matt became a great friend, mentor and confidant," Godfrey said. "He pushed you to succeed and seek ways that would make you a better person or employee. He was concerned about you and your family and was one of the truly good guys in this company." Bowden had a special passion for the outdoors and developed strong, positive relationships with many in the conservation community. Among the many organizations that felt his positive impact was the Alabama Wildlife Federation, where he served on the board of directors and as an officer for more than a decade. "We were at home and in heaven around a roaring fire, shoulder to shoulder with our backs against a tree chasing turkeys, in our climbers hunting that next big buck, behind good dogs anticipating the next covey rise or casting in the middle of the night in search of trophy spotted bass on the Coosa River," said Tim Gothard, AWF executive director. "Every one of these memories, and many more, were forged with the outdoors as the backdrop. Our shared passions honed our friendship, our mutual trust and our desire and ability to work together to make great things happen for Alabama and the wildlife resources that were an important part of our lives." Wendy Jackson, executive vice president of the Land Trust Alliance in Washington, D.C., and former executive director of the Freshwater Land Trust in Birmingham, worked often with Bowden for many years on a variety of conservation projects and remembered him for his "intellect, thoughtfulness and quiet strength." "Matt was never the most talkative person in the room, but when he spoke, it was something wise, helpful or insightful," she recalled. "If you didn't know Matt well, you might think of him as serious but perhaps the thing I cherish most about Matt was his wry sense of humor. Matt could whip out a one-liner that would leave you breathless with laughter, often interjecting his dry wit into serious moments that would make everyone pause then collapse in laughter." "First and foremost, Matt was a man of great character and strong conviction to always 'do the right thing.' He truly led by example," said Zeke Smith, Alabama Power executive vice president of External Affairs. "He was authentic and a true friend to me and so many others. His impact on Alabama Power, our employees, allies and customers will be felt for decades. He will be missed. He made a difference." Bowden's most important role was as a husband and a father. He leaves behind his wife of 26 years, Toni, who has been so active over the years in touching the lives of Alabama Power employees and customers. He also leaves behind his two boys, Curtis and Clayton. Curtis will graduate next year with an engineering degree from the University of Alabama. Clayton, currently a freshman at the University of Alabama, is also pursuing a degree in engineering. by Marc Rice 48

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