POWERGRAMS

29 "Because we have so many projects, a lot of them don't easily fit into the annual reports. Our area is probably the one with the most projects in the state. If you can't help your own community, what can you do?" Ala-Tom is one of eight RC&D councils in the state organization led by William Hodge, who is president of the national board of directors. Ala- Tom's Nick Williams is state vice chairman and on the national board. Jennifer Chapman is program manager, Jack Rowe is urban forester and the other 23 Ala-Tom Council members are volunteers. There is a commissioner, Soil & Water representative and member at-large from each of Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Washington and Wilcox counties. One person from each county has voting privileges to decide which projects are undertaken and the budget for each. "They don't get paid to come here, they give of their time to do this, it's in their hearts," Lowder says. Ala-Tom RC&D is funded through grants, USDA contracts, state organizations, workshops and similar means. Its headquarters doubles as a tourism center and art gallery, where Lowder sells local artisans' jewelry, jellies, honey, candles and books by authors like Windham, whose father was president of the old bank. The two-story steel vault is used now for storage and snacks. Lowder thinks her office is the nicest in Alabama RC&D and she is equally proud of the programs emanating from inside those revived brick walls. The SeniorRx program in the past decade has helped elderly Black Belt citizens save more than $13 million on prescriptions, Lowder says. Liberty Learning has taught thousands of students to become "Super Citizens," using American history and the American Dream to promote civics, character, financial stability and career opportunities. "I think it's one of the best programs out there," Lowder says. "It's something that isn't taught a lot anymore." Ala-Tom retains its original mission of nearly 40 years ago to "conserve and develop all resources to enhance the quality of life" but the organization hasn't strayed from helping people be good stewards of the earth. "Our projects touch people across all nine counties," Lowder says. "RC&D has been a well-kept secret for a long time." Thomasville Sports Hall of Fame Charlie Anderson grew up part of local sports royalty. His father's name is on the high school football stadium. His brother is the winningest football coach in Alabama history. Charlie Anderson played three sports at Thomasville High School, baseball at Samford University and coached hundreds of kids the past several decades. He was a natural to be at the helm of a sports museum from conception through inducting its first three classes. "In December 2012, they wanted me to be on the library board but had a specific request for me to establish a sports hall of fame," Anderson says. "I Anderson talks with Ted Cornelius, father of pro baseball player Reid Cornelius, who was among first inductees into the Thomasville Sports Hall of Fame. (Autographed bat and Marlins photograph are on opposite page.)

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