POWERGRAMS

23 "I don't know how in the world they built it," says Wally Gladney, who is the sixth generation of his family to live in Roanoke. "When I bought it, it was a real mess. Nothing in it is original anymore except the outside, floor and canopy." Gladney, 84, spent about $35,000 getting it painted, roofed and drywalled inside, with the thin black lines of the elephant's eye eventually bringing it back to life. He bought a reproduction Sinclair Dino gasoline pump like he remembered seeing there as a kid. He'd only gotten the White Elephant because he was returning home after 55 years in Kentucky and wanted to buy the house behind it, which he says was built in 1846 and is the oldest in town. It was both buildings or nothing, the previous owner said, so Gladney gladly bought both. Last year, the elephant became a coffee shop, which he says did "tremendous" business before problems arose for the person leasing the building. Since then, Gladney has looked at his options, which don't include a white elephant sale, but he thinks it would be a great place for clubs to meet. "I'm not trying to make any money off it," says Gladney, whose great-great-grandfather is the namesake of Gladney Mill Road. "I've had a number of people wanting to rent it again, but I just said it's not worth it to me. Other people want to buy it and tear it down to build something else. "It started off as a tooth for Dr. Giles but it became an elephant, I think, because of Alabama football," he says. "I'm going to keep it an elephant." ALABAMA POWER BUSINESS OFFICE Engineering Supervisor Bud Heard was raised in Oxford but born in Randolph County, where his parents grew up and he spent many weekends visiting grandparents and other relatives. His career with Alabama Power began in 1979 as a junior engineer in Talladega, one week after graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Having always worked in Eastern Division, he has progressed through PD-Distribution, Substation Maintenance, Transmission Lines Maintenance, Industrial Marketing and Regulatory Compliance positions. "I was fortunate enough to transfer to the Roanoke Office in 2006 as the engineering supervisor," Heard says. "My family and I have been blessed beyond measure for the opportunities given to us through working for over 44 years with Alabama Power." Community Development Specialist Breanna Walker grew up in Cragford, near Roanoke. She graduated from Auburn University in Finance. "I had the amazing opportunity to join Alabama Power in 2012," she says, beginning her career as a Customer Service representative in Talladega. She transitioned to Marketing as a technical representative and residential account manager, then became business office manager of Clay County and Roanoke. She now is Community Development specialist for Clay, Cleburne and Randolph counties. Walker is on the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce for the Roanoke District, Leadership Randolph County, Randolph County United Way Advisory Board and the District Level Advisory Council for Career Technical Education of Randolph County. "I have a passion for people and have served as APSO treasurer, vice president and president. It is truly an honor to work with such a wonderful work family and serve my community." Alabama Power opened its Roanoke Business Office nearly a century ago, with the current location opening in 1989. Employees include Crew Foreman Bob Allen; Real Estate Specialist Nick Simpson; Distribution Specialist David Benefield; Engineer Matthew Brown; Materials Coordinator Dennis Buchanan; Distribution Specialist Torey Pollard; General Clerk Lora Jones; Local Operations Linemen Matthew Allen, Brady Crocker and Brandon Gay; Customer Service Representative Sharon Amason and supplemental workers Keisha Boggs and Kendra Burks; and Merchandise Salesman Bryan Scarlett. Employees in the Roanoke Crew Headquarters include Linemen Houston Hudgins, Mitchell Lavender and William C. Oliver; Lead Lineman Brad Whatley; and Lineman Jeromy Woodruff. Employees at Alabama Power's business office on Main Street.

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