Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1181510
17 Call him the "daddy" of Alabama Power retirees. As a Human Resources coordinator, Bob O'Daniel made friends with employees and retirees. For the past 21 years, 14 of them as state president, O'Daniel has worked closely with retirees as a guiding force for the 1,500 members in 11 Energizers chapters. Energizers was formed in 1996 as a nonprofit charitable arm for retirees. Thanks to O'Daniel's leadership since 1998, members are well-known for helping their communities, having served or donated to more than 120 charitable groups. Energizers is the nation's largest supporter of Project Lifesaver International, which supplies free life-saving bracelets to people with cognitive disorders who are prone to wandering away from home. Throughout the years, O'Daniel has been known for his people skills and outgoing personality. When Don Franklin became Energizers coordinator in 2004, he was nervous to meet the "larger than life" leader. "I'd been in my job for a lile over four weeks. At a meeting, I went up to Bob and said, 'I've been hearing about all you do, and you're making my job rough. The bar is set so high for Energizers now – I don't know whether to hit you or to shake your hand,'" Franklin said with a chuckle. O'Daniel shared wisdom, helped prepare new leader This year at the Energizers Oct. 25 state board meeting in the Clanton Business Office, O'Daniel passed the leadership baton to Becky York. The longtime Energizer and former president of the Western Division Chapter will take the state reins in January 2020. The news brought surprised gasps from Energizers chapter leaders. With his usual dry wit, O'Daniel explained, "I have a lot to do. And I know that you'll all keep Energizers going. But my farm in Eclectic is keeping me real busy. I'm going to take time to enjoy life, and time with my family." Aer he provided so many years of leadership, chapter leaders agreed that is only fair. As state president, O'Daniel sometimes drove more than 1,000 miles a month to support the chapters, as well as fundraising and special events. During the past year, O'Daniel introduced York to Energizer leaders, showing her the ropes as they aended different chapter meetings. "I joined Energizers in 1998. I thought I could help the retirees, and there were things I wanted to do," O'Daniel said. "I'm proud of what we've done for Alabama residents by donating to Children's of Alabama, Camp ASCCA and so many other nonprofits." Legacy of caring for lost loved ones While Energizers has supported charities for 23 years, Project Lifesaver is nearest to O'Daniel's heart. Energizers cemented that organization as its state project from 2012 to 2019. The group donated O'Daniel stepping down aer decades; moving to consultation role with board ENERGIZERS O'Daniel Photo by Donna Cope