POWERGRAMS

7 Cole said. "As I was giving him instructions, he was enthusiastic, agreeing with everything I said about my expectations of him. I was thinking to myself, 'If I help this young man, he may turn out to be one of the best marketing representatives we have.'" Max Alexander, the district manager, soon walked in and asked, "Paul, have you met our new Southern Division Vice President Gordon Martin?" Cole turned to Martin and said, "You're not our new Marketing representative, and I hope you don't fire me." "Everyone had a big laugh, but that was really embarrassing to me, trying to get my foot out of my mouth," Cole said. Later, when Cole aended division meetings with Martin, the then-division vice president would share with the audience the men's awkward introduction. "I'd get up and wave to everyone," Cole said. "It was prey funny. It was a personal thing between us." Martin is now senior vice president of Corporate and Administrative Services. Cole enjoyed his 37-year career at Alabama Power. "I had a good ride," he said. "I had a good career in the military that instills in you the value of doing what is right, and a good career with Alabama Power, which instills in you the Southern Company Code of Ethics. I think that's one reason our company has several managers and top leaders who were in the military. "My career is not too bad for an old poor boy from Carville, Alabama," Cole added, with a laugh. Cole, Martin The Army's 926th Engineer Group afforded Cole opportunities to serve the U.S. and five other nations.

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