Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1294339
22 experience, Teel last year coaxed a high school friend, Myra Sanders Paerson, into her first lesson. "She wanted to take the flying lesson for her 80th birthday," Teel said of Paerson, who he met at Chilton County High School. Since it was Paerson's first time in a small plane, Teel didn't make any fancy curves or dips through the sky. But he couldn't help but tease his friend. "I told her, 'Myra, the steering wheel is all yours,'" he said. "She was like, 'Don't you dare take your hands off that wheel.' "It was more of flight to break in the ropes for Myra," Teel said. "We did a lile sightseeing. We stayed up for about 20 minutes, which is prey typical for a first flight. "You don't want to make someone sick," Teel said, with a chuckle. "I've had people who froze with fear. Many years ago, I took a guy up and banked the plane just a lile, and boy, was he scared. He said, 'Take me back, take me back.'" A few years ago, Teel shared the basics of flight with his grandson, Cameron Teel, an engineer in Power Delivery Distribution at the Enterprise Office. "Around the time Cameron started college, I gave him some lessons," Teel said. "But he got too busy with school. Maybe one day we'll do it again." Staying active with Chilton County Energizers Shortly aer he retired, Teel began aending meetings of the Chilton County Chapter of the Energizers, the service arm for Alabama Power retirees. He was president twice. "I really enjoyed our breakfast meetings at Shoney's in Clanton," said Teel, whose chapter had one-hour meetings the first Thursday each month, until the pandemic arose. Teel and his wife, Scarle, oen aend Energizers events together. The couple will have been married 60 years on March 12, 2021. The past few years, his Energizers chapter has supported several nonprofits, including Buerfly Bridge, the Senior Connection and the Chilton County Humane Society. "We try to keep retirees informed about the company," Teel said. "I really like socializing and carrying on our fundraising projects." Photos by Phil Free