POWERGRAMS

coaches Willie Carl Martin, who moved on to Nick Saban's Crimson Tide staff, and Steve Savarese, who now heads the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The Wildcats have won state wrestling and football championships, and boast a remarkable number of athletes who have played in college and later professionally, including Eric Brock, Rodregis Brooks, Eltoro Freeman, Kendall Graveman, Marquies Gunn, Jim Phillips, Nathan Poole, Scottie Vines, golfer Lee Williams, Martevious Young and Martin. That list doesn't include the most famous Alex City athlete, Terrell Owens, who Howorth notes "blossomed later on" after graduating from Benjamin Russell. Owens is a six-time NFL Pro Bowler who had 1,078 receptions for 15,935 yards and 153 touchdowns during his career. He appeared on "The Celebrity Apprentice," penned a children's book, modeled and, in January, was named a finalist for the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame. Like Howorth, Robinson Iron originated in Selma but has reached an apex in Alex City. The foundry just off U.S. 280 on Robinson Road made parts for General Motors Co. before selling that operation and beginning custom metalwork. Customers now run the gamut of internationally famous facilities including Robinson's work on the U.S. Capitol, White House, National Gallery of Art, Lincoln Cottage, Grand Central Station, Navy Pier and, closer to home, the Alabama Capitol. But the biggest player in Alex City's rebound from Russell's demise has been the auto industry. About 2,000 of the 3,900 local jobs created since 2002 have been auto-related, paced by SL Alabama's 1,000-worker force at its Airport Industrial Park facilities. Alex City native Don McClellan was mayor from 1996 until 2004, serving his city at the height of its crisis. He and other concerned citizens formed the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance in 1998 and he is today its executive director, competing with 400 Alabama cities and 18,000 groups nationwide to attract industries and businesses. He said the alliance took a positive approach from the start, which continues to pay dividends. "The attitude of people in our community, the leaders in our community, is really what saved us. Everyone here is family," McClellan said. "We refused to give in to adversity. We're now more diversified than we've ever been in the past and we will end up being even better than we were with Russell." Laura Bell Oliver is a lifelong resident who teamed with Peggy Jackson Walls to write the Images of America series history book about Alex City published four years ago. She is writing another book about Avondale Mills. Oliver said it is fortunate they were able to include in their book so many pictures of Russell buildings that have since been torn down. It was equally important to include photos of the new look of the historic downtown area. She has been "absolutely" inspired by the spirit of people like Doug and Elizabeth Roberts and so many others helping to revive Alex City. "I love my hometown," Oliver said. "I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world. I'm so proud we're coming back, we're rebuilding and I am so excited about our future." Left: Old-school, hand-painted signage adorns a corner in historic downtown. Right: Inside Carlisle Drug store, patrons find treats near the soda fountain. SL Alabama is now city's largest industry. 22

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