41
HAPPY
TRAILS
M A C O N L E A V E S H I G H W I R E S F O R W A T E R W A Y S
Looking back at his 36-year career in Transmission and Distribution
at Alabama Power, Donald Macon said he was always happiest atop a
power pole.
"I loved climbing poles," said Macon, who retires March 31. "I can
remember making the comment that people go to Six Flags to get an
adrenaline rush. But I got paid to do it."
As crew foreman at the Dadeville Crew Headquarters/Warehouse,
Macon mostly remains on the ground these days. Now the danger he
faces is on the road as he drives more than 400 miles a week overseeing
the various jobs underway across his rural Eastern Division territory.
Macon's main responsibility is scheduling the jobs performed by his
crew of 10 employees. He also coordinates preliminary details such as
ensuring utility lines are marked and removing any obstacles in the way
when the crew arrives on the job site.
Macon said the work can be stressful at times. He remembers one
instance when "everything hit the fan" while on storm duty in Atlanta.
Macon's crew had been dispatched to repair a power line that stretched
across a four-lane highway bisected by a Marta track. A pine tree had
fallen on the line, knocking out power to a nearby college. continued
W I T C H I N G L A N E S
