POWERGRAMS

15 Howard is beginning his 51st year with the company. A fter 51 years at Alabama Power, Willie Howard has become somewhat of a legend in Phenix City. "Willie is 73 years old and never calls in sick. He works 30 to 50 hours overtime on his on-call weeks and you have to make him take vacation," said Jason McVey, field service supervisor, Phenix City Crew Headquarters. Along with his commitment to the job, the Phenix City local operations lineman is perhaps more legendary among his co-workers for his prowess in the kitchen. Before the pandemic, Howard cooked bacon, eggs and all the trimmings every Friday morning for more than 15 years for employees at the Phenix City Office and often for those at the warehouse. His spareribs are part of the menu anytime there's a special employee event. "His cooking is awesome," said Kathleen Mitchell, staff accounting assistant, Phenix City Office. "Since we've been working at home, we've been texting each other to say, 'I sure do miss Mr. Howard's breakfasts.'" Howard has also become an "unofficial" one-man welcoming committee. As soon as he drives his pickup truck into the Phenix City Office parking lot every morning, he starts honking his horn and waving at everyone he sees. "Willie is always in a good mood and always speaks when he sees you," said Phenix City Supply Chain Management Operations Team Leader Lisa Thompson. "He is a great guy to work with and is always willing to lend a hand when you need help. He has always seemed to love what he does and enjoys spending time with his co-workers." James Morgan agrees. He has been best friends with Howard for more than 60 years – long before the two began working at Alabama Power. "Willie tries to make friends with everybody he knows," said Morgan, who retired in 2014 as materials coordinator at the Phenix City warehouse. "He's a nice, easy-going guy who doesn't get mad. He's the same every day and doesn't change because something happens." A LINEMAN THROUGH AND THROUGH Howard has definitely earned his stripes in the trenches. After graduating from high school in 1965, Howard worked at Eagle and Phenix Mills and then joined the Army where he was deployed to Southeast Asia five times in two years as part of a technical escort unit. In 1969, Howard went to work for Alabama Power, starting as a laborer (now known as a utilityman). He split his days between the Phenix City Office and warehouse, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors, vacuuming and picking up trash. HOWARD HAS BEEN ON THE JOB SINCE 1970 LOL LEGENDARY PROFILE Howard served in the U.S. Army in the 1960s. PHOTOS THIS ROW BY BILLY BROWN

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