Than a River, Decatur-Morgan County

Transcription

More than aRiver:
ecatu
R
D
PHOTOGR APHY BY DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM
TEXT BY TIFFANY BRIGHTWELL
A publication of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
More than aRiver:
D
ecatuR
A publication of the
Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
HPNbooks
A division of Lammert Incorporated
San Antonio, Texas
✧
Above: The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Building.
Opposite: Decatur Bridge.
Decatur-Morgan County
Chamber of Commerce
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM.
First Edition
Copyright © 2013 HPNbooks
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing
from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to HPNbooks, 11535 Galm Road, Suite 101, San Antonio, Texas, 78254, (800) 749-9790, www.hpnbooks.com.
ISBN: 978-1-939300-06-5
Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 2013932371
More Than A River: Decatur-Morgan County
photographer:
David Higginbotham
author:
Tiffany Brightwell
designer:
Glenda Tarazon Krouse
contributing writers for Decatur-Morgan County partners:
Brenda Thompson, Bob Harris
HPNbooks
president:
Ron Lammert
project manager:
Igor Patrushev
administration:
Donna M. Mata, Melissa G. Quinn
book sales:
Dee Steidle
production:
Colin Hart, Evelyn Hart, Tony Quinn
2 ✦ M O R E T H A N A R I V E R : D e c a t u r- M o rg a n C o u n t y
Contents
4
Chapter 1 Our Heritage
Due in large part to our location on the Tennessee River, Decatur-Morgan County
has a rich history and heritage that is still seen in today’s landscape.
12
Chapter 2 Our Economy
From a strong industrial base to growing areas like tourism, Decatur-Morgan County
features a dynamic business community, ensuring our economic success for the future.
24
Chapter 3 Our Community
A true sense of civic pride is evident in all aspects of life in Decatur-Morgan County.
The quality of life makes this a great place to live, work and play.
46
Chapter 4 Our Way of Life
There is never a shortage of things to do! Decatur-Morgan County boasts
several annual events and celebrations that will keep you coming back for more.
70
Decatur–Morgan County Partners
118
About the Photographer
119
About the Author
120
Sponsors
Contents ✦ 3
1
When land in Morgan County, originally
called Cotaco County for its Cherokee roots,
opened for settlement in the early 1800s, the
Tennessee River delivered settlers to the area
long inhabited by Native Americans. Decatur
was originally settled as Rhodes Ferry in
1820, aptly named for Henry W. Rhodes who
operated a ferry across the mighty Tennessee.
It would later be named Decatur in honor of
Commodore Stephen Decatur—a famous naval
officer killed in a duel in 1820. The city shares
its name with more than forty other communities in the United States, but its namesake never
actually stepped foot in Decatur, Alabama.
✧
The old Morgan County Courthouse in Somerville, Alabama,
was built in 1837 and is still used by the community today.
Heritage
In 1830, the Alabama legislature passed a bill to establish a state banking system—a decision that
would put Decatur on the map. The state chose locations near waterways for easy access, and again
the Tennessee River played a pivotal role. There would be three branches built: one in Mobile near
Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, one in Montgomery near the Alabama River, and one on the
southern banks of the Tennessee River in Decatur.
✧
A view of the changing Autumn foliage
from atop Burningtree Mountain.
Chapter 1 ✦ 5
When its doors opened in 1833, the Decatur
Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama
created a sense of optimism and promoted
growth and development. Though the state
banking system failed and the franchise was
revoked by 1845, the bank had breathed life
into what was once just a village and elevated
Decatur to a leading city in Alabama.
The city saw decades of growth but, like
many of its Southern counterparts, Decatur’s
fate would change during the Civil War as it fell
to the Union Army in 1862. Troops occupied
the State Bank and a handful of homes; these
were the only buildings left standing by the end
of the war. Decatur natives could’ve easily called
it quits and moved on but instead persevered
through war and yellow fever epidemics and
rebuilt their town.
The Tennessee River once again provided
the community with an opportunity for growth
and revitalization as the L&N Railroad expanded farther south, bringing with it wealthy land
speculators from the northeast. Decatur had
become a crossroads for rail and water transportation and these newest residents settled
New Decatur, later to be called Albany. The two
towns functioned as completely separate cities,
divided by one main thoroughfare, from the
late 1880s until 1927 when the two consolidated. Evidence of each town’s commercial areas
can still be seen in the Second Avenue and
Bank Street historic commercial districts.
✧
Opposite, top: The Old State Bank, built in 1833.
Opposite, center: The view down Bank Street shows the
architecture of the storefronts.
Opposite, bottom: The historic train depot in Hartselle is
now home to the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce.
Above: Housed in a historic Carnegie Library building
the Carnegie Visual Arts Center presents local, regional
and national exhibits featuring all mediums of visual art
throughout the year.
Right: St. John’s Episcopal Church, established in 1890,
is one of many beautiful churches in the Decatur area.
Hartselle, Alabama
Chapter 1 ✦ 7
✧
Opposite, above, and left: Homes in Decatur’s two
historic districts are storied and beautiful.
Chapter 1 ✦ 9
✧
Above: A duck glides into the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge on a winter afternoon.
Below: Waterfowl take off in the early morning light at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.
1 0 ✦ M O R E T H A N A R I V E R : D e c a t u r- M o rg a n C o u n t y
Wheeler National
Wildlife Refuge
✧
Right: Sandhill Cranes glide over the public viewing
area at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.
Below: A hen and drake Mallard take off from waters of
the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge just after sunset.
The waters of the Tennessee were untamed and would often
overflow their banks and flood the city. In the early 1930s, the
Tennessee Valley Authority began working on a series of dams
that would control the Tennessee, bring jobs to the area and
provide hydroelectric power to residents all along her banks.
Though its rich history and promising future will forever
wind along the banks of the Tennessee River, Decatur-Morgan
County is a community that is so much more than just a river.
And while it doesn’t define this thriving city’s success, it has
certainly given life to the area’s strong industrial base and rich
recreational and cultural opportunities.
Chapter 1 ✦ 11
2
Economy
Named the No. 1 city in America for business development by Site Selection magazine.
Ranked No. 2 in the state of Alabama for expanding industry investment. Ranked the
No. 2 small market of the decade from Southern Business and Development magazine.
What do all these things have in common? They are all titles that belong to
Decatur-Morgan County.
Home to 157 diverse industries, 17 Fortune 500 companies, and nine Global 500
companies, Decatur-Morgan County is supported by a strong industrial base, while
growing in areas like tourism, ensuring our economic success for the future.
✧
Opposite: Jared Darnell drives a cotton
harvester in Morgan County.
Above: Tugboat pilot Tim Archer looks out
over the Tennessee River while behind the
Port of Decatur
wheel of the Bo Huffman. He and his crew
were working barges in Decatur’s port.
Chapter 2 ✦ 13
✧
Above: Tugboat crews work to manage barge traffic on the
Tennessee River just after sunset.
Left: Ken Winfree pilots his boat during the Decatur Parade of Lights.
Decatur was a natural fit for budding industry
following TVA’s construction of Wheeler Dam on the
Tennessee River. Companies used the system of
controlled reservoirs for convenient and inexpensive
barge transportation for supplies and finished products.
Today, Mallard-Fox Creek Industrial Park is the
primary location for heavy industrial development in
Morgan County and houses thirteen industries within
the 1,000-acre site.
✧
Top: Captain David Cummings in the wheel house of the Pickwick Belle.
Above: A boater heads past the Pickwick Belle paddleboat just before it
embarks on a dinner cruise.
Left: Jimmy Kennedy, Pickwick Belle hospitality director awaits the
arrival of passengers for a late afternoon cruise.
Chapter 2 ✦ 15
✧
A fisherman is silhouetted against the pre-dawn water as
other boats are backed down the ramp at Ingalls Harbor
prior to the start of a Collegiate Bass Tournament.
✧
Opposite, bottom: Boats stage near the ramp at Ingalls Harbor
pre-dawn before the start of the Collegiate Bass Tournament.
Above: Bethel University fisherman show off their catch after a
weigh in at the Collegiate Bass Tournament in Decatur.
According to the late Russian composer
Dmitri Shostakovich, “Soccer is the ballet of
the masses.” And the masses have put DecaturMorgan County on the map as a destination for
soccer players from across the United States.
Approximately 20,000 people travel to the
Jack Allen Recreation Complex in Southwest
Decatur each year to play soccer at the twentyseven-acre complex. JARC boasts ten international regulation fields on three levels and hosts
tournaments for all ages, from local youth
leagues to collegiate and international matches.
Looking to cast a line? Look no further than
Ingalls Harbor on Wheeler Lake. This park,
completed in 2006 to host community festivals
and large-scale events, has launched the boats of
some of the most well-known bass anglers in the
country. With its ten-boat simultaneous launch
capacity and prime location on one of the
Southeast’s best lakes for bass fishing, Ingalls is a
major economic driver for Decatur-Morgan
County bringing in thousands of anglers each
year for nationally televised tournaments such as
the Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW Stren Series.
✧
Austin High School’s Sophie Johnson
during a soccer match at the Jack Allen Complex.
✧ Savannah Sims, left, and Wesley Summerford practice ice skating
at the Point Mallard Ice Complex.
Chapter 2 ✦ 17
✧
Above: Wilson Morgan Park, as seen through one of it’s
six softball fields back stop, hosts many tournaments
and events each year.
Left: A pitch is about to be delivered during a softball
tournament at Wilson Morgan Park.
Opposite, bottom: Nate McCain, Decatur High School’s
Red Raider, leads the cheerleaders and the football
team out on to the field during their annual cross
town match-up against Austin High School.
✧
Left: Austin High School students Forrest
Ford, Winston Rhoden and Andy Hampton
cheer on the Black Bears at Ogle Stadium.
✧
Right: Austin High School’s Jacob Stewart (41) celebrates
a win with his team at Ogle Stadium during their annual
game with cross town rival Decatur High School.
Chapter 2 ✦ 19
✧
C. F. Penn Hamburgers has been a part
of Decatur and Morgan County since 1927.
✧
Louise Terry, an on-and-off employee of C. F. Penn Hamburgers
for over thirty years, is part of the personality that
has made Penns a local favorite for years.
C. F. Penn
Hamburgers video
Chapter 2 ✦ 21
One thing is for sure—Decatur-Morgan County is on the rise when it comes
to retail growth with numerous business and retail announcements bringing
new jobs for the workforce and new opportunities for local consumers.
The Decatur Mall provides shoppers with a strategic, high-traffic retail area
of over fifty national, regional and local retailers and eateries. The intersection
of U.S. Highway 31 and Beltline Road is the busiest in the county and is a
prime location for major retailers as well.
What was once old is new again! The streets of Decatur’s historic downtown
area received a facelift thanks to grant funding from ALDOT and leadership
from the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Streetscape projects
along Bank Street and Second Avenue enhanced the aesthetics of the area with
new pocket parks, landscaping, signage and pedestrian crosswalks.
Downtown became a hotspot for economic growth on the heels of the
construction of the Alabama Center for the Arts, a fine arts school collaboration
between Calhoun Community College and Athens State University. Students
create increased foot traffic during the week, and business owners were quick
to capitalize on the potential customers. Shoppers will find an eclectic mix of
specialty stores downtown, and sidewalk dining gives patrons the opportunity
to dine outdoors at their favorite restaurants.
✧
Opposite, clockwise, starting from the top, left:
The City Cafe’s “Eat” sign is a fixture for anyone driving near the
frequented eatery at the corner of First Avenue and Moulton Street.
Construction on the new Mellow Mushroom restaurant
continues at the corner of Moulton Street and Second Avenue in
Decatur, Alabama.
Big Bob Gibson’s is an award-winning staple in the Decatur
and North Alabama region and is know around the world
for it’s Bar-B-Q.
Kate Wenzler (16), her brother Davis Wenzler (14),
and Katie Crowley (17) sit in the outdoor dining area of
Vittone’s Pizzaria and Ristorante on Second Avenue.
Below: The Alabama Center for the Arts.
Alabama Center
for the Arts
Chapter 2 ✦ 23
3
Community
✧
Opposite, top, center: Burton Marsh
drives his 1924 LaFrance firetruck
during the Veteran’s Day Parade.
With him is a Dalmatian named
Fireball. The truck was the first
motorized firetruck for the
City of Athens.
Opposite, bottom: Matt Forbes
salutes the colors as they pass in the
hands of a JROTC student during
the Veteran’s Day Parade on
Second Avenue in Decatur.
Left: LaJayln Fletcher swings high on
the swing set at Rhodes Ferry Park
which borders the Tennessee River.
When thinking of the composition of a community, you may think of many things—geographical
borders, historic landmarks, business and industry, and so on. But the true definition of the word
mentions none of these things. Merriam-Webster defines the word community as a unified body of
individuals with common interests living together within a larger society.
Chapter 3 ✦ 25
Decatur-Morgan County embodies this definition; we are a true community in every sense
of the word. We are individuals who unite to
give and to see this place we call home grow
and thrive. Giving back is a big part of what we
do. According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy,
Alabama ranks third in the nation in charitable
giving, with households contributing an average
of 7.1 percent of their annual income. Morgan
County residents give on average 7.8 percent,
well above the national average of 4.7 percent.
✧
Above: Cronan Connell, with Valley Rubber, volunteers
at a Habitat for Humanity home on Olive Street in Decatur,
Alabama. This is the group’s sixty-fourth home in the area.
Left: Greg Ethridge, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, helps
measure during construction of the home on Olive Street.
✧
Above: Participants in the annual
“Taste of the Valley” event sample
foods from local restaurants.
Many of our largest community events
are led by non-profit agencies and charitable organizations. These annual staples
have become a way of life and are designed to give back. Each year, you’ll find
thousands of people at Pancake Day—an event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Decatur.
Since 1967, the group has been serving up pancakes to raise money for Morgan County charities.
Left: Three-year-old Reed Burleson
enjoys a large bite of pancakes
while enjoying the Kiwanis Pancake
breakfast at Decatur High School
with his dad Mark Burleson.
Chapter 3 ✦ 27
✧
Above: Special Olympian Brig Spearman
pauses between practice laps at the
Aquadome Recreation Center.
Below: Special Olympian Trevor Davis
practices at the Aquadome Recreation Center.
✧
✧
ing the Relay for Life
ry Shannon walk dur
Above: Sandy and Ter
bor.
Event at Ingalls Har
Meghan Sherrill releases a paper lantern in memory of her “Nana” Ruth Beasley
during the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event.
Chapter 3 ✦ 29
✧
Jeffrey Sherrill cooks chicken wings for local BBQ team
“Spoonin’ and Forkin’” at Riverfest at Ingalls Harbor.
✧
Chad Martin lets the smoke vent from his grill during Riverfest.
For nearly twenty years, the Decatur Jaycees have hosted Riverfest. The annual Alabama
State Championship BBQ contest and music festival draws hundreds of competitive cooking
teams and raises money for various charities including Habitat for Humanity of Morgan
County. Combine these events with countless others and you’ll see the truly generous spirit
of the people who call Decatur-Morgan County home.
✧
Soul singer Marc Broussard fills
the river air with music during
Riverfest at Decatur’s Ingalls Harbor.
Chapter 3 ✦ 31
✧
Fireworks explode over the Spirit of America
stage as a Miss Point Mallard contestant participates
in the evening gown portion of the competition.
This exposure was taken once during the fireworks
show and then again once the pageant had resumed.
✧
Above: Miss Point Mallard 2011 Meredith Ervin
is crowned by the 2010 winner Haley Bagwell.
Below: Elizabeth Wesson, Miss Point Mallard 2012,
is a native of Hartselle.
Chapter 3 ✦ 33
✧
Above: The dance of hula girls is blurred in it’s motion
during the annual Luau at Point Mallard Aquatic Center.
Left: Tiffani Kenney (far right) dances the hula with
other girls during Point Mallard’s Luau.
✧
Contestants during the
Miss Point Mallard Pageant.
Chapter 3 ✦ 35
✧
On the dance floor at The Priceville Palace.
✧
Julia Lovvorn dances
the night away at The
Priceville Palace.
✧
Above: One of the many faces of
Lacon Trade Day.
Left: Lillian Coggins stands behind the
counter at C. F. Penn Hamburgers
If you venture to some places often enough you will certainly see the same familiar faces—as
notable as some landmarks. Shopping in historic Downtown Hartselle, Rachel Slate of Holladay
Antiques will not only help you find the perfect antique piece to add to your collection—she might
even help you coin a slogan. In the 1970s, Slate was credited with coining Hartselle as “The City of
Southern Hospitality.” C. F. Penn Hamburgers is a Decatur fixture and so is Lillian Coggins, who has
been serving up their famous burgers for forty years. It’s people like Slate and Coggins that tell the
stories of our community best. They’ve witnessed more historical moments than could ever be captured within the pages of a book.
where she has worked for forty years.
Below: Three-year-old Terry
Hunkeapillar, helps his granddad
Andy Chambers mind their store
at the Decatur Farmer’s Market.
Andy Chambers is with the Chambers
Farm in Holly Pond, Alabama.
Chapter 3 ✦ 37
✧
Above: Runners in the Hospice of the Valley’s Celebrating Life 5K
move past a mural of Decatur’s landmarks.
Left: Left to right, Jordan Powell (14) puts up a shot over the defense
of Kurtis Wheat (12), and Kevin Veal (17). The trio, along with a court
full of others, were playing basketball on the courts at Delano Park.
Opposite: A runner moves past the Grant Street Church of Christ,
built in 1925, during the Hospice of the Valley Celebrating Life 5K.
Chapter 3 ✦ 39
✧
Above: Duncan Nettles runs laps as part of training at the Decatur Youth Services Boxing Club and Training Facility.
Opposite: Josiah Vega, age 8, poses in the corner of the boxing ring during his work out at the Decatur Youth Services Boxing Club and Training Facility.
Chapter 3 ✦ 41
Perhaps there are none that give back to a community more than our educators.
Teachers in three public school systems, as well as several private and parochial schools,
serve the children of our community. Public systems include Decatur City Schools,
Hartselle City Schools and .Morgan County Schools.
✧
Above: The Austin High School JROTC marches during the 2011 Veteran’s Day Parade on Second Avenue in Decatur.
Opposite, top: Participants in the Crestline Elementary School Fun Run get off the blocks for the start at the school in Hartselle.
Opposite, bottom: The Decatur High School dragon boat team awaits the start of their race during the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation’s
Dragon Boat Race and Festival.
Chapter 3 ✦ 43
✧
Stormy Watson holds her granddaughter
Katie Gray as she gets kisses from Duchess,
owned by Charles Clemons of Hartselle,
as they attend the weigh in at the 2012
Southern Collegiate Bass Fishing Series
at Ingalls Harbor.
While the Tennessee River will always
be a constant feature of Decatur-Morgan
County, it is people that define who we
are as a community. And just as strong
and steady as the river itself, our community—our unified body of individuals—
presses on toward a future full of promise.
✧
Above: Kate Vickery Peek, left, and
her sister Morgan Vickery Coulter,
paddle along with the rest of the
Decatur First United Methodist
Church team.
Left: Kay Suggs South paddles during
the Decatur General Foundation
Dragon Boat Races. Her team,
Boat Legged Women, were one of
fifty-five teams to race in the event.
Chapter 3 ✦ 45
4
✧
In honor of the Fourth of July
flags line Main Street in Hartselle.
In Decatur-Morgan County, there is never a
shortage of things to do! With several annual
festivals and celebrations that will keep folks
coming back for more, residents and visitors
can step back in time or take a walk through
another culture.
The community’s rich history is on display
with free tours available of the Old State
Bank, where marks from Civil War musketfire damage can still be seen on the building’s
exterior. This is the first stop on the self-guided
Civil War walking tour, but a visit to the
Decatur-Morgan County Convention and
Visitors Bureau will help you coordinate any
Way of Life
itinerary. The Old Decatur and New Albany Historic Districts boast the largest concentration of
“Painted Ladies” in the state of Alabama. The term was coined for the ornate and brightly colored
exteriors of these Victorian homes. A visit to the area should also include a stop in historic
Hartselle—named one of the 100 Best Small Towns in America. Nearly every inch of Main Street is
lined with antique and specialty shops where you’re sure to find something unique.
✧
Recreational fisherman take
advantage of the last bits of daylight
at the Decatur Boat Harbor.
Chapter 4 ✦ 47
People from across the Southeastern
United States travel to Decatur-Morgan
County to take part in annual festivals and
events. Each Memorial Day weekend, more
than sixty hot-air balloon pilots take to
the skies for the Alabama Jubilee. The
Independence Day holiday brings to life the
Spirit of America Festival, one of the largest
of its kind in the state. And September plays
host to the Decatur Jaycees’ Riverfest, a
music festival and BBQ competition, as well
as Historic Hartselle’s Depot Days and Eva
Frontier Days. Other annual events include
the Wet Dog Triathlon, drawing approximately 600 athletes from across the country.
✧
Above: Balloons glide away from the launch field
at Point Mallard during the Alabama Jubilee
Hound and Hare Race.
Right: Alabama Jubilee pilots take off in
Decatur during the annual event.
✧
Balloons launch from Point Mallard
during the Alabama Jubilee Hound
and Hare Race.
✧
Alabama Jubilee guests enjoy fireworks to
close out the Memorial Day weekend event.
Chapter 4 ✦ 49
✧
Right: Zoe Spargo, pets a dog who was
taking a rest on the shady side of the
street during the Hartselle Depot Days.
Below: Loyel Gray, from Punkin
Center, plays the fiddle during the
Hartselle Depot Days.
✧
Right: Hartselle Depot Days is an
annual event that draws thousands
from around the area. It has been a
fixture in the city for over thirty years.
Below: The view from above at
Hartselle Depot Days.
Chapter 4 ✦ 51
✧
Amy Hanson, with Pennylane Farms in Kentucky, poses with her horse prior to the
Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show at The Celebration Arena in Priceville, Alabama.
✧
Right: A young cowboy gets his hat put
back on after it flew off during a swift ride
prior to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Rodeo
at the Celebration Arena in Priceville.
✧
Left: The Morgan County Sheriff’s Rodeo
takes place at The Celebration Arena.
Below: The Morgan County Sheriff’s Rodeo
opening ceremony participant takes a few
minutes alone prior to the start of the event.
Chapter 4 ✦ 53
✧
Above: Wet Dog Triathlon participants line up at the swim portion of the event at the Point Mallard Aquatic Center.
Below: John Parker exits the swim portion of the Wet Dog Triathlon and heads towards the bike portion.
Opposite: A participant in the Wet Dog Triathlon enters the swim portion of the event.
Chapter 4 ✦ 55
Thanks to large industry partners like
Daikin America, the Japanese culture plays an
important role in our community. Each year,
Daikin hosts a free festival for citizens. The goal
is to teach locals about Japanese culture and
heritage, all while providing free food, fun and
entertainment. The community also borrows
from Japanese culture for a Dragon Boat Race
and festival that hosts over fifty teams who
race their dragon boats along the banks of
the Tennessee River to raise money for charity.
✧
Opposite, top: The Decatur Morgan County balloon rises above
the Morgan County Fairgrounds during the Daikin Festival.
Balloons that are in town for the Alabama Jubilee are on hand
to give tethered rides to those attending this annual festival.
Opposite, bottom: Daikin employees entertain the crowd with
Japanese drums at the Daikin Festival.
Above: Olga Pastukh takes photographs from a tethered hot air
balloon during the Daikin Festival at the Decatur Fairgrounds.
Daikin Festival
Chapter 4 ✦ 57
✧
Above: The Princess Theatre.
Opposite, top: The Decatur Dixie Darlings
perform their annual recital at the Ingalls Pavilion.
The non-competitive baton group has been a part of
Decatur Parks and Recreation since 1973.
Opposite, bottom: Dorothy (played by Maddie Grace
Giers) and the Tin Man (played by Sarah Walker)
during “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by the College
Street Players at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center.
For those who prefer to appreciate rather
than participate, the Princess Theatre and the
Carnegie Visual Arts Center offer a variety of
shows, musicals, concerts and art exhibits
throughout the year. The Hartselle Fine Arts
Center also offers a variety of arts and entertainment throughout the year, all while preserving
the F. E. Burleson building, one of Hartselle’s
historical landmarks. Make sure to stop and
smell the roses—or whatever else may be in
bloom—at the Delano Park Conservancy’s Rose
Garden in Albany’s Delano Park. The garden
is the historic WPA Rose Garden and was
reconstructed in recent years according to its
original plan by the Conservancy.
Chapter 4 ✦ 59
✧
Cherry blossoms frame one of the waterside
walkways at Rhodes Ferry Park in Decatur
as a couple takes an afternoon stroll.
✧
Inset and below: Cherry blossoms
at Rhodes Ferry Park.
Rhodes Ferry
Park
✧
Left and below: Concerts by
the River at Rhodes Ferry
Park bring out music fans
of all ages and genres.
✧
Above: A couple of miniature dachshund puppies
get a ride near the Point Mallard bike trails.
Right: Rhodes Ferry Park is a popular place to
enjoy views of the Tennessee River.
Chapter 4 ✦ 61
✧
Below: Brooks Walker Pratt stands in awe of a hot air balloon flame that was part of the Decatur Christmas Parade.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TAMMY PRATT.
Opposite, top: Mike Porch “Santa Claus” is one of the first to enter the water during the Polar Bear Plunge at
The Decatur Boat Harbor on New Year’s Day.
Opposite, bottom: The Parade of Lights illuminates the Decatur Boat Harbor every year prior to Christmastime.
Chapter 4 ✦ 63
✧
Steve Armstrong kicks up a wake while riding his
PWC (personal watercraft) on the Tennessee River.
✧
Dustin Robbins surfs a boat wake just after sunset on the Tennessee River.
Chapter 4 ✦ 65
✧
The Hartselle Aquatic Center.
✧
Above: Thirteen-year-old Adrian Flores of Decatur
slides into the pool at the Hartselle Aquatic Center.
Below: A diver takes the plunge at
the Hartselle Aquatic Center.
Chapter 4 ✦ 67
✧
Above: An overview of the Point Mallard Aquatic Center.
Sara Beth Curtis, (back of the float), with her friend Erin Holley, enjoying the Point Mallard Aquatic Center.
Take in the great outdoors with one of many
recreational opportunities. Reel in the big one
on Wheeler Lake, a prime sport fishing spot
on the Tennessee River. Wheeler continues to
host major bass tournaments, including the
Bassmaster Elite Series and the FLW Stren
Series. Get up close and personal with the
river on the Pickwick Belle, an authentic paddlewheel riverboat offering a variety of river
cruises. On a hot Alabama summer day, Point
Mallard Park gives visitors a respite from the
heat by cooling off in the nation’s first wave
pool. The park is great for all ages and offers
fun for the smallest of splashers and the more
seasoned swimmer.
✧
Clay Wilson, age 14, flips off of a
diving board at Point Mallard Aquatic Center.
✧
Right: Steven Curtis Chapman fans sing along with the Christian artist
during his headlining set at Soul Stock held at Point Mallard Park.
Below: Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman’s shadow
is cast on the back screen of the stage at Soul Stock.
Soul Stock is a Christian music event that
spans two days in Point Mallard Park.
Chapter 4 ✦ 69
✧
Above: Decatur High School’s drumline gets ready for pre-game activities during the Austin High School/Decatur High School football matchup at Ogle Stadium.
Below: Young people stroll through the Rose Garden at Delano Park.
D
ecatuR
Partners
Profiles of businesses, organizations, and families
that have contributed to the development and
e c o n o m i c b a s e o f D e c a t u r- M o r g a n C o u n t y
R o p a k M a n u f a c t u r i n g C o m p a n y, I n c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2
Joe Wheeler EMC ............................................................................76
Decatur General
Parkway Medical Center
Huntsville Hospital Health System ...........................................80
City of Hartselle .............................................................................84
Daikin America, Inc.........................................................................86
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge ......................................................88
Alabama Center for the Arts .............................................................90
The Port of Huntsville ......................................................................92
P ro g re s s B a n k a n d Tr u s t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 4
MarMac Real Estate .........................................................................96
Morningside of Decatur ....................................................................98
Nucor Steel Decatur .......................................................................100
Holiday Inn & Suites Decatur ..........................................................102
Vi l l a r re a l P i z z a I n c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 4
3M ..............................................................................................106
Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic ...........................................108
BP America, Inc. ...........................................................................109
D e c a t u r- M o r g a n C o u n t y C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0
City of Decatur .............................................................................111
Decatur Utilities ...........................................................................112
Decatur City Schools ......................................................................113
Morgan County Economic Development Association
D e c a t u r- M o r g a n C o u n t y P o r t A u t h o r i t y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 4
International Paper .......................................................................115
Plastic Recyclers Southeast, Inc. ......................................................116
Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority ......................................117
SPECIAL
THANKS TO
Joe Wheeler EMC
D e c a t u r- M o rg a n C o u n t y P a r t n e r s ✦ 7 1
ROPAK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
✧
Clockwise, starting from the top:
Matthews Machine Shop, 1950s.
Ropak Model I.
had been part of public works projects, but his
real talent was working in automation. So in
April 1949, Arthur opened the doors to his
50’x50’ wooden building and began Matthews
Machine Shop.
Owning a business while cultivating a family
farm required hard work, but Arthur was prepared with four sons who could lend extra hands.
His third son, Ernest, was a student at Decatur
High School when the machine shop opened.
Ernest enjoyed working with his hands and was
a natural fit in his father’s business. While still
in high school, Ernest enrolled in the school’s
diversified occupations program. This meant he
could work in the machine shop and receive
course credit toward his high school diploma.
If you have recently salted your fries from a
fast food restaurant, sweetened your tea with
sugar or an artificial sweetener, or added a
powdered flavoring to your bottled water,
chances are that product was packaged using a
machine made in Decatur, Alabama, by Ropak
Manufacturing Company.
Ernest Matthews, lathe shop, 1950s.
Ropak Manufacturing Company, Inc. is located in the heart of the River City and has been a
leader in flexible packaging technology since
1985. But the story does not begin there. It goes
back to 1949 when Arthur Matthews opened his
own business on old US Route 31 just across
from his sixty acre family farm. Arthur was what
one might refer to as a “Jack of All Trades.” He
had worked as a machinist for the railroad and
Upon his graduation in 1952, Ernest began
working full-time for his dad in the family business. It was during this decade that many large
industries began locating along the Tennessee
River in Decatur. And though he had no formal
education beyond a high school diploma, word
spread quickly through Decatur’s industrial
base of Ernest and his abilities as a machinist.
He soon became a machinist of choice, building
machines and performing maintenance for
several companies.
In the early 1970s a small packaging company located on Bank Street used two machines
to package sugar at the rate of just 200 packs
per minute each. Their machines were very
labor intensive and expensive to maintain,
and the business owners found that Ernest
could help them by repairing or duplicating
broken parts. Ernest began to think that there
could be a better way to produce sugar packets,
so in his spare time he began working on a
prototype packaging machine. He enlisted the
help of his younger brother, Ralph, and the two
devoted every available minute designing a new
machine. After the first two designs succeeded
but did not quite achieve what the brothers
wanted, they started from scratch and came up
with a third design they aptly named the
“Ropak III” (“Ropak” is a contraction of the
words “rotary packaging,” which describes the
machine design.)
They knew the machine had the ability to
package sugar at a rate not yet accomplished by
an existing machine, but they needed a way to
accurately test its abilities. And what better way
to perform such a test than by using the actual
materials? A fellow church member employed
by the paper company that supplied the
material to other firms agreed to give them
rolls of the paper used to package the sugar, but
they needed the sugar as well. Ernest made a
phone call to the Savannah Sugar Refinery in
neighboring Georgia and made a request for
1,000 pounds of sugar. This refinery contact
questioned Ernest’s need for such a large
amount of the raw product. Ernest proudly
explained that he had built a machine that
would package 2,000 packets of sugar per
minute. The refinery contact agreed to supply
the sugar, telling Ernest there would be no
charge for the product if he would allow him to
see the machine in action. A few days later the
sugar arrived in Decatur. The refinery contact
later told Ernest that he could not imagine why
a man in Decatur, Alabama, would call him
asking for such a large amount of sugar.
Thinking the Matthews brothers were moonshiners who were up to no good, he admitted,
“I just knew you had a still out back!”
A couple of weeks later, Ernest called his
contact at Savannah Sugar and told him to come
see the machine in operation. The next day
twelve men chartered a plane from Savannah,
Georgia, and came to Decatur to watch the
Matthews brothers’ machine operate. The men
were so impressed with its speed and efficiency
that they tried to purchase the design on the
spot. Ernest refused their offer and instead
✧
Clockwise, starting from the top:
Ropak Model II.
Ernest Matthews, 1974 operating the
Ropak Model III.
Ropak Model III.
✧
Ropak Expresspak Liquid Machine.
accepted a two year packaging contract with the
company. For the next two years, the Matthews
brothers received a truckload of sugar each
week from the Savannah Sugar Refinery,
packaged it in boxes of 2,000 packets, and
shipped it back across the Georgia line. When
the contract expired, the refinery bought the
first production Ropak III, adding it to their
existing ten machine production line and
doubling their production capacity. The next
year they purchased the second machine and
scrapped the older, slower machines.
In the late 1970s, Arthur Matthews sold his
business, now called Matthews Industries, to
his four sons. The youngest son, Ralph, then
purchased the entire company from his three
older brothers and became the sole owner.
Ernest, however, continued to work for the
family business. From the original success of
the Ropak III, Matthews Industries sold about
thirty-five rotary packaging machines through
word of mouth. They did not spend time
marketing their rotary packaging machines
simply due to their already heavy load of work
for local industries.
By the mid 1980s the economy was picking
up speed. President Ronald Reagan was beginning his second term in the White House and
the nation had a new sense of confidence.
Across the country, packaging companies
were beginning to upgrade their facilities
and machinery. Ernest knew many of
these companies could benefit from their
rotary packaging machines, but that type of
machine was not the primary
focus of Matthews Industries.
So in January 1985, Ernest and
Ralph decided to split the
packaging side of the business
from Matthews Industries. They
bought the design from the
parent company and formed
Ropak Manufacturing Company,
Inc. Ralph, in turn, purchased
a Ropak machine to see if he
could drum up some packaging
business for himself—a venture
that led to the formation of a
new Decatur-based company
named National Packaging
Company, Inc.
The fruits of Ernest’s labor can
now be seen worldwide. Ropak
Manufacturing has built rotary
packaging machines for businesses on every continent except
Africa and Antarctica. Their
machines package a wide range
of products including powdered
headache formulas, sugar, artificial sweeteners, ground and
instant coffees, dairy creamer,
salt and pepper, chemical
products used in water purification. Ropak’s rotary packaging
machines can package products
in sizes ranging from one inch
squares to six inch squares.
A different machine design;
purchased and upgraded in
the early 1990s, give companies options for packaging
ketchup, salad dressings and
cake frosting—up to one gallon of liquid in each pack!
Ropak incorporated a new
machine design into their
already successful line around
2000 when they were able to
improve upon an Italian
design stick packs, which are
used for products like powdered instant drink mixes.
With this type of design, a
Ropak machine also became
the first American-made
machine to fill stick packs
with a liquid. Ropak partnered
with a British company and
now has the ability to fill
stick packs with milk for
coffee, which saves space and
creates less waste than traditional liquid coffee creamers.
At the end of 2011, Ernest
purchased Ralph’s stock and
became the sole owner of Ropak
Manufacturing, where he and
his two sons work to continually improve the machines.
Ropak machines help businesses run more efficiently by
increasing production speeds.
One consumer products company recently
replaced thirty-two packaging machines with
just three Ropak designs, saving eighty-five percent in production costs in just the first year.
Other companies report savings from reduced
maintenance and changeover time, as well as
flexibility to do multiple sizes on the same
machine with minimal cost.
Just as Ernest was driven so many years ago
to make his designs the most efficient machines
available, Ropak Manufacturing’s team of more
than forty full-time employees still strives
to design and build higher-speed machines,
helping businesses around the world work
more efficiently.
Ropak Manufacturing Company, Inc., is
located at 1019 Cedar Lake Road Southeast in
Decatur, Alabama, and at www.ropak.com.
✧
Above: Ropak StikPak Machine.
Left: Ropak 3000 Hi-Speed Packager.
JOE WHEELER
EMC
For anything to stand, it must be built on
a firm foundation. Much of Joe Wheeler EMC’s
success can be credited to our humble beginnings and the dedication and determination
of our founding members. Many years have
passed since electricity was first brought to
rural Morgan and Lawrence Counties, and
much has changed. We look to the future as we
pay tribute to our past.
Before the formation of Joe Wheeler EMC,
private power companies supplied electricity
to a few towns and heavily populated communities. But due to an implied financial risk,
these private power companies would not build
lines to the sparsely settled rural areas of
Morgan and Lawrence Counties. However, the
people who lived in these areas were the very
people who could benefit most from electricity.
They needed electricity to help do everyday
chores like boiling water, unloading cottonseed, and washing their clothing. They needed
to be members of an electric cooperative. The
opportunity came on March 23, 1937, at an
organizational meeting held in Hartselle. Little
did they know, it was only the beginning.
On April 14, 1937, the Joe Wheeler Electric
Membership Cooperative was formed. Bylaws
were adopted and W. T. Price was elected
president. Preparation was soon made for a
power contract between the Tennessee Valley
Authority and the cooperative.
Other founding board members were Joe
Wheeler Smith of Mount Hope; D. H. McClellan
of Decatur; L. E. Fields of Danville; G. E. Beall
of Eva; Homer Stewart of Joppa; A. M. Ellis,
L. W. Gentry and E. L. Drinkard, all of Moulton;
A. B. Young of Landersville; J. P. Hodges and
J. F. Hodges, both of Hartselle; J. F. Huey of
Town Creek; and W. A. Toms of Courtland.
When seeking a name for the newly formed
cooperative, the first directors suggested honoring Civil War hero Joseph Wheeler, former Major
General of Cavalry of the Confederate western
Army, the Army of Tennessee. Following the
Civil War, Wheeler settled near Courtland where
he studied law. After passing the Alabama Bar
Exam, he became an attorney for the Tuscumbia,
Courtland and Decatur Railroad.
Though naming the co-op for Wheeler was
meant to be an honor, the general’s daughter,
Miss Annie Wheeler, was not so receptive to the
idea. But Mount Hope resident Joe Wheeler
Smith—one of the men determined to bring
electrical power to rural homes—proposed
naming the company after himself, thus
avoiding Miss Annie’s concerns. With time, the
name became widely associated with General
Wheeler. Years later, the board of directors
honored Miss Annie Wheeler and stated that
it was the co-op’s intent to name the company
in her father’s honor.
Operations began on October 1, 1937, with
only 190 miles of line and 900 members.
Total consumption was less than 5 million
kilowatt-hours and the cost per kilowatt-hour
was $0.225 (residential only).
Our greatest growth occurred between 1947
and 1952. With the end of World War II and
the availability of many new electrical appliances, the demand for electrical service grew
tremendously. Over 1,500 miles of electrical
lines were installed in JWEMC’s membership
area during those four years and membership
rose from 3,469 to 10,490.
Every decade has presented a different challenge for the co-op named for General Wheeler.
In the 1940s, Joe Wheeler EMC survived with
few customers and supplies because of World
War II. The 1950s brought territory battles with
Decatur Utilities, and there was an eight month
strike in the 1960s when a union organized.
Growth dominated the 1970s before another
strike in the following decade.
Today, Joe Wheeler EMC is recognized as one
of Alabama’s most efficient and progressive
cooperatives. We serve nearly 35,000 residential
customers and more than 8,000 business and
industry customers. We have received the
Alabama Rural Electric Association’s safety
award year after year and are known as one of
the forerunners in technological advancement
within the body of Alabama electric cooperatives. Our dedication to community service,
honest and dependable employees and visionary
management have set us apart as a caring
member of the Morgan and Lawrence County
communities for over seventy-five years, and
we are determined to continue and expand the
great relationship we have with our membership. We are just as proud of our past as we
are of our goals for the future, and know that
together Joe Wheeler EMC and our members
can make things even better for the people of
North Alabama in years to come.
Our most powerful resource does not
come from power lines or substations; the
most powerful resource we have comes from
communities all over Lawrence and Morgan
Counties. Our most powerful resource is our
people. As a cooperative and as individual
employees, we at Joe Wheeler EMC work
every day to improve the quality of life for our
members. Whether it is becoming a corporate
sponsor for the American Cancer Society’s Relay
for Life or simply donating time to educate
local students about forestry, we are making a
difference in our communities.
Joe Wheeler EMC believes that our children
are our most valuable resource, and that it is
our responsibility as a member of this community to encourage and educate them about what
we know best—electricity! We also support our
children by working closely with schools to
deliver effective electrical safety presentations,
as well as providing educational and scholarship opportunities and contributing to our local
school systems. Our Youth Tour is a scholarship-based program in which high school
juniors from Morgan and Lawrence Counties
visit Montgomery for three days to learn about
leadership skills, our government and our
state’s history. Students selected for Youth Tour
receive the trip with all expenses paid and
in addition receive a $500 scholarship to be
used at the school of their choice.
We are proud to be a partner in Operation
WARM, a limited-area energy program offered
through Community Action Partnership of
North America providing assistance on a
one-time basis to persons who are elderly,
handicapped or in health crisis situations.
Funding is provided by residents of Morgan
and Lawrence Counties through donations of
$1.00 or more above their monthly electric
bills. Whether it is a young family struggling
with unemployment or a senior adult living
on a meager income, families all over our
area can have hope—and heat—through
Operation WARM.
Last year, our generous members donated
over $13,000 to Operation WARM—that’s
almost forty percent of the program’s annual
budget. Your donations helped keep the electricity on for 241 families, affecting 640 people.
Joe Wheeler EMC is committed to providing
efficient, reliable utility services that enhance
the lives and businesses and exceed the expectations of members and customers in Lawrence
and Morgan Counties and surrounding communities. We are neighbors serving neighbors,
and we are committed to improving the quality
of life through the services we deliver.
For more information regarding our services,
please visit us online at www.jwemc.org or call
us at 256-552-2300.
DECATUR
GENERAL
PARKWAY
MEDICAL CENTER
HUNTSVILLE
HOSPITAL
HEALTH SYSTEM
For more than ninety-seven years, Decatur
General has been meeting the health and
wellness needs of those we serve. It all began
in 1888, when the Ladies of the Benevolent
Society came together to care for members of
the community affected by the Yellow Fever
epidemic. When the epidemic passed, the need
for a hospital was clearly evident and the Ladies
began selling surplus supplies to raise the necessary funds. In 1915, Decatur General opened
its doors and began caring for patients.
The hospital known today as Parkway Medical
Center also has a long history of care in Morgan
County. Parkway Medical Center opened its
doors to the public in its current location in
1974, but its origins date back to the Great
Depression when Dr. W. P. Baugh opened his
medical practice on Grant Street. He was later
joined by Dr. J. B. Wiley, Sr., and Dr. J. T. Smith, Jr.,
and the practice became known as Baugh Wiley
Smith Hospital. In 1969 the hospital was purchased by Hospital Affiliates, Inc., and plans
were made to move the facility to its current
location on Beltline Road.
Both hospitals have seen growth and expansion over the years. Decatur General grew into
a 273 bed acute care hospital with an additional 64 bed behavioral health facility, with a
medical staff of more than 200 physicians and
more than 1,000 employees. Parkway Medical
Center, also an acute care facility, became
licensed for 120 beds, with a medical staff of
175 physicians and more than 400 employees.
Each hospital is accredited by The Joint
Commission and together serve more than
250,000 people in five counties. Despite this
growth, in early 2012, it became clear that there
was a need for one unified, not-for-profit
healthcare delivery system in Morgan County.
Huntsville Hospital System, purchased Parkway
Medical Center, and later entered into a lease
arrangement with Decatur General to form
Decatur Morgan Hospital. The entity currently
has four locations in Morgan County—the
Decatur General Campus, Parkway Campus,
West Campus and the Danville Road Campus
and there is room for continued facility
growth. The goal is to provide the best,
most effective healthcare that meets the needs
of our community while reducing duplication
of services. As the organizational structure
continues to evolve, one thing is certain; our
customers can rely on the same high quality
care and services that they have always known.
Decatur Morgan Hospital Specialties/Services
include:
• Emergency Services at two convenient locations offering a Certified Primary Stroke
Center, Accredited Chest Pain Center and
an Accredited Heart Failure Center
• General and acute inpatient care
• Two OB-GYN Practices, Monarch Women’s
Health and Parkway Women’s Care
• Numerous surgical specialties
• Behavioral Medicine including inpatient
programs for adults, adolescents and senior
adults
• Sleep Disorders Center including pediatric
sleep studies
• Breast Health Services including digital
mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy,
and ultrasound
• Outpatient Services including Lab, Radiology/
Imaging Services, Nuclear Medicine, and CT
• Inpatient and outpatient physical therapy,
occupational therapy and speech therapy
• Women’s Services including Urogynecology
• Labor and Delivery
• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Respiratory Therapy
• Wound Care
• Urology
• New Vision—medical stabilization for adults
with drug, alcohol and related health issues
• Senior Services, Lifeline and Volunteer Services
• Community outreach and education
• Health and Wellness Center
Even though the delivery of healthcare has
and will continue to change, our mission has
not. We are committed to caring for our
patients. With the help of our physicians,
nurses, healthcare professionals, and volunteers, we will continue to deliver the highest
quality and most compassionate health
services for our community. Caring for you is a
privilege we take seriously. Thank you for your
continued support of Decatur Morgan Hospital
and the Huntsville Hospital Health System.
CITY OF
HARTSELLE
✧
Above: Hartselle’s Main Street
decorated for the Christmas season.
Below: Hartselle boasts two National
Blue Ribbon Elementary Schools, as
well as a brand new high school.
Affectionately known as “The City of
Southern Hospitality,” Hartselle, Alabama,
began as a small cotton town that sprang up
alongside the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
line in 1870. The city, named for early pioneer
George Hartsell, was incorporated in 1875.
Early settlers took the initiative to secure
land on the east and west sides of the rail line—
the land to the east of the railroad became
a bustling residential area and by the early
1900s, the land to the west was the hub of the
business district.
A glimpse into the past provides a colorful
history for Hartselle, one that includes the
misspelling of the city’s name due to a post
office error and a fire that could very well
have been the end of Hartselle altogether. In
August 1916 the entire business district was
decimated by a fire that consumed all twentyone buildings. Water was drawn from the
town’s well but the hand bucket brigade was
ineffective against the massive fire as it rapidly
destroyed the wooden buildings. The city
quickly came back to life as property owners
began rebuilding their businesses, this time
using brick. Many of these structures still stand
today and line Main Street, which is known
throughout the southeastern United States as a
destination for antique shopping.
Ten years later, Hartselle landed on the
front pages of newspapers across the nation as
fifteen armed bandits took the city by storm. In
the wee hours of the morning on March 15,
1926, the outlaws arrived at the telephone
exchange and cut the lines and all communication linking Hartselle to the outside world. A
short time later, eight blasts of nitroglycerin
rocked the sleeping city as the criminals blew
open the safe in the Bank of Hartselle. Many
town leaders were held captive as the thieves
stripped the bank of all its cash, gold and
some silver coins. The villains got away with
nearly $15,000 and were never identified
or apprehended.
The 1890 Census gave Hartselle credit for a
population of 596 people. Throughout the
years, the city has seen its largest population
growth as a result of extensive expansion of
neighboring cities Huntsville and Decatur.
Today Hartselle’s approximately 14,000 residents are attracted to a leisurely way of life
with a short commute to Redstone Arsenal and
surrounding areas.
Hartselle City Schools are among the best
in North Alabama and the nation, giving students the opportunity to
excel in both academics
and exceptional extracurricular activities. With the
highly anticipated 2013
opening of the new stateof-the-art Hartselle High
School, the city will boast
a system comprised of
a high school, junior
high school, intermediate
school, and three elementary schools—two of which
are designated as National Blue Ribbon
Elementary Schools.
Hartselle is located in close proximity to
several excellent hospitals and is served by
an abundance of quality physicians and
dentists. Industry is attracted to Hartselle due
to its proximity to the “new railroad”—
Interstate 65—as well as existing rail services.
The city’s location on the I-65 Corridor gives
Hartselle an advantage for future growth and
expansion. Sonoco Baker Industries and Cerro
Wire & Cable are two of the top industry
employers in Hartselle, and more are sure
to follow with the addition of Morgan Center
Business Park—a 127 acre development
geared toward light manufacturing, office and
logistics facilities.
Hartselle residents work hard and play
hard. The city has top notch youth sports
and recreation facilities, including parks, a
soccer complex, and a new outdoor aquatic
center. Hartselle is also home to SNAP, a
premiere special needs accessible playground
and splash pad facility, allowing all children
to enjoy a playground regardless of their
physical abilities.
✧
Left: A Bradford Pear tree in
full bloom near the Purple
Heart Memorial.
Hartselle, Alabama, has been named one of
the “100 Best Small Towns in America” and
has a rich history and a bright future. Come to
Hartselle and see for yourself why it truly is
“The City of Southern Hospitality!”
Below: Children enjoy playing on
Hartselle’s SNAP, a premier special
needs accessible playground.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DONA BONNETT,
A DIGITAL REFLECTION PHOTOGRAPHY
AND VIDEOGRAPHY.
DAIKIN
AMERICA, INC.
When Daikin Industries, originally founded
in Osaka, Japan, sought to build a chemical
manufacturing plant in the United States, one
location stood out from the rest. With easy
access to interstate highways, as well as water,
air and rail transportation, a skilled workforce
and low tax base, Decatur was the clear choice.
Daikin America, Inc., was founded in November
1991 with an initial investment of $150 million
in the original plant. Under the leadership of
Decatur Mayor Bill Dukes, Senator Tommy Ed
Roberts, Morgan County Commission Chairman
Larry Bennich, and Mr. Minoru Yamada and Mr.
Noriyuki Inoue of Daikin Industries, the plant
broke ground in 1991 and opened for production
in August 1993. Since initial construction, Daikin
America has undergone multiple expansions
adding several lines of chemical production.
Daikin America’s chemical division produces
tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), hexafluoropropylene
(HFP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), ethylene
tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Unidyne, and Fine
Chemicals (OpTool).
Most of us likely use PTFE every day in our
home. It is used as a non-stick cookware coating.
Other major uses of fluoropolymers are within
the fields of medical devices, automotive parts,
aerospace, and computers and cell phones.
Daikin supplies PTFE to customers who use
the product to waterproof and chemical-proof
garments. PTFE is used in the chemical industry
as gasket material and as lining inside pipes and
storage tanks because of its chemical resistance
and durability. Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) is
produced as a byproduct during the production
of TFE Monomer. This HCL is sold to other
industries to be used for everything from treating
steel to processing food. Daikin America also
produces OpTool, which is used to coat eyeglasses, Smartphone and tablet screens to make
them scratch and smudge resistant.
In 1994 the plant announced a $60 million
expansion, and in 1995 began production of
FEP and ETFE. Ten years after the founding of
Daikin America, Unidyne production began in
Decatur. Daikin America manufactures Unidyne
for textile companies worldwide. Unidyne makes
materials soil, stain and water resistant and is
commonly used in carpeting, textiles, and in
paper products used in the food industry.
Daikin’s solar energy generation facility,
which became operational in Decatur April 2012,
is the largest such commercial installation in
Alabama and has the annual capacity to provide
250,000 kWh of clean electricity. This is just the
beginning of developing nearly-Zero-Energy
Buildings (nZEB) in the foreseeable future.
Daikin America holds firm to the belief that
an industry should give back to their community.
As part of their grand opening in 1994, they
held their inaugural Daikin Festival on facility
grounds. The festival was meant to share the
wealth of Japanese culture and show appreciation
for the local community Daikin now calls home.
Approximately one thousand people attended
the first festival, but throughout the years it has
grown in attendance to more than 20,000. By
2002 the free community festival was so popular
that attendance could no longer be accommodated onsite and was moved to the Morgan County
Fairgrounds to allow for a larger crowd.
In an effort to create a lasting, memorable
experience with the Japanese culture, Daikin
America started a high school Homestay
Program in 1994. The goal was to give local
students the experience of total immersion in
Japanese life and culture. Every summer since
1994, thirteen local students and two educators
travel to Japan and spend time living with
Daikin employees and their families. This program includes students from every public high
school in Morgan County, as well as Lawrence
County High School and East Lawrence High
School. In addition to the Homestay Program,
Daikin America funds annual scholarships for
minority college students from Morgan County.
The Decatur-Morgan County community
benefits tremendously by Daikin America’s continued support of the local United Way. In 1996,
Daikin American began the United Way Charity
Golf Tournament. The tournament is supported
by Daikin’s vendors, many of which are not
located in the area, who purchase sponsorships
and teams. And because Daikin pays all the
tournament costs, all monies raised are given
directly to the United Way. In 2011 the Daikin
American United Way Charity Golf Tournament
raised seventeen percent of the total UW
campaign in Morgan County. Daikin employee
pledges, which are matched by Daikin America,
combined with proceeds from the tournament,
produces annual funding for the United Way
of Morgan County, accounting for around
twenty-five percent of the total campaign.
Through 2011 the golf tournament itself has
raised more than $3.2 million for United Way
of Morgan County and the agencies it supports.
Daikin America is dedicated to a corporate
tradition of building long-term relationships
with our customers and communities, and we
are proud to call Decatur-Morgan County home.
For more information on Daikin America, our
products and Daikin worldwide, please visit
www.Daikin-America.com.
✧
Daikin Charity Golf Tournament
check in the amount of $303,000
presented to United Way of Morgan
County, 2012.
WHEELER
NATIONAL
WILDLIFE
REFUGE
The word refuge literally means a safe place,
shelter or protection. When President Theodore
Roosevelt designated Florida’s Pelican Island
as the first national wildlife refuge in 1903, he
was creating a safe place for America’s natural
resources through conservation, management
and restoration of fish, wildlife and plants.
In 1934 the Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA) began purchasing land as a bed and
buffer strip for what would become Wheeler
Reservoir. In 1936 the river was impounded for
flood control and to produce hydropower to
meet the growing area’s needs.
Located along the Tennessee River between
Decatur and Huntsville, the 35,000 acre
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was
established by Executive Order of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt in July 1938 and became
the first Refuge to be overlain on a hydroelectric reservoir. This was a new concept and
its success was questioned from the beginning.
Its purpose would be to determine the possibility of attracting migratory waterfowl.
Indeed, Wheeler NWR’s success can be
seen in the some 50,000 ducks, 3,000 geese
and 12,000 Sandhill cranes that call it home
during winter months. Although designated
as a waterfowl refuge, the Refuge hosts a wide
spectrum of wildlife including 115 species of
fish, 74 species of reptiles and amphibians,
47 species of mammals, 285 species of birds,
and is home to 10 federally-listed endangered
or threatened species.
One reason for this success comes from a
practice called impounding, which was done to
control mosquito populations. Decatur’s human
population had fallen victim to yellow fever epidemics in the late 1800s. Hoping to avoid future
outbreaks, TVA began pumping shallow backwater areas of the reservoir dry in the spring and
summer. This eliminated mosquito breeding
habitats and as a beneficial side effect, these
areas produced some of the Tennessee Valley’s
best agricultural crops and vast quantities of
natural waterfowl foods. When winter rains reflooded the impoundments, the Refuge became
a magnet for migrating waterfowl. In addition to
the impoundments, Wheeler NWR showcases a
great diversity of habitats such as bottomland
hardwoods, wetlands, pine uplands, agricultural fields and backwater embayments.
Wheeler NWR is dedicated to protecting
North Alabama’s natural resources, and that
same dedication can be seen in the history of the
Refuge staff. Thomas Atkeson began his career
at Wheeler NWR as a junior biologist in 1939.
Feeling called to serve his country; he left
Wheeler in 1941 and joined the U.S. Army.
Atkeson was seriously injured in 1942 during a
mine explosion that left him blind and without
hands. After many years of recovery, he returned
to Wheeler in 1945 where he served as Refuge
Biologist until being named Refuge Manager in
1962. Before accepting the position, he promised his superiors he would resign if a time ever
came that he could not perform his duties. That
time never came. Atkeson served as Refuge
Manager until his retirement in 1987. He was
the longest serving staff member, remaining at
Wheeler NWR for forty-eight years.
Today, the Refuge welcomes almost 650,000
annual visitors who come to fish, hunt and
observe wildlife in its natural setting. Free activities and programs are available for groups of
all ages and sizes. Resources include the 10,000
square foot Givens Interpretive Center, which
offers a variety of displays depicting area wildlife
and habitats, a 126 seat auditorium, an educational classroom, the Atkeson Cypress Trail, and
a wildlife observation building. This building
offers a large, glass-enclosed room with bleachers and spotting scopes for viewing waterfowl
and wading birds in the observation pond.
The Refuge System maintains the biological
integrity, diversity and environmental health of
our natural resources for the benefit of present
and future generations of Americans. We invite
you to visit Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
and take advantage of the natural beauty
North Alabama has to offer. To learn more or
schedule a group visit, please visit us online at
www.fws.gov/wheeler or call (256) 350-6639.
ALABAMA
CENTER FOR
THE ARTS
Ask any Decatur resident about the historic
Princess Theatre and an image of its neon
marquis instantly comes to mind. The Princess
is a landmark in downtown Decatur, but there is
a new landmark directly across the street that is
getting the attention of students and educators
from across Alabama and the Southeast.
Formerly the site of the Bailey-Robinson
Building, 133 Second Avenue has a new lease
on life as the Alabama Center for the Arts
(ACA) bringing with it a renewed vision for the
downtown area.
In December 2010 a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the site that would become
the location for a collaborative academic effort
unlike any other. Crews spent weeks taking
down the historic 1913 building piece by piece,
reclaiming brick and timbers that would go on
to be used in other local construction projects.
With support from the City of Decatur and the
Morgan County Commission, as well as the
Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority,
this partnership joins Calhoun Community
College and Athens State University together
championing the arts.
The Alabama Center for the Arts serves students from Calhoun Community College and
Athens State University, as well as individuals
and groups from the surrounding community, as
✧
Left to right, Athens State President
Bob Glenn, Decatur Mayor Don
Stanford, Downtown Decatur
Redevelopment Authority Executive
Director Rick Paler, Calhoun
President Marilyn Beck, Alabama
Community College System
Chancellor Freida Hill, Morgan
County Commission Chairman Ray
Long, former State Board of
Education member Mary Jane Caylor,
Calhoun Dean Kenneth Anderson,
and Athens State Dean Ron Fritze.
a working arts and design facility, exhibition,
meeting, and performance space. The ACA is
located in the heart of Decatur’s historic downtown shopping district and houses a fine arts
studio and art history courses, as well as faculty offices, galleries, and community spaces.
The Alabama Center for the Arts provides
state-of-the-art instructional classrooms, making it the region’s premier art center and degree
program. The project continues a long-standing
collaborative academic effort between Calhoun
and Athens State and will serve as a model of
academic institutional cooperation for the
state. The Center will become a venue for
cultural events and activities and will enhance
our students’ appreciation of art and promote
opportunities for creative expression for our
residents throughout the region.
“With the construction of this new fine arts
center, we build on this partnership as we and
others in the community join to make the
dream of so many a reality,” says Dr. Marilyn
Beck, Calhoun Community College President.
Athens State President Dr. Bob Glenn adds,
“By collaborating with our sister institution
Calhoun and the municipalities and organizations that will assist us in maximizing our
impact, we set the perfect stage for what can
only be envisioned as a fine arts incubator.”
Athens State University offers students
Bachelor of Arts degrees in Studio Arts,
Computer Graphic Arts and Art Education
leading to K-12 teacher certification, as well as
theatre courses with the intent to establish a
drama major for future students. Plans for the
Center include a performing arts center, a black
box theater and the offering of degree programs
in music and performance.
Calhoun Community College offers
Associate of Science and Associate of
Applied Science degree options in
several areas within the College’s Fine
Arts Division which include Art;
Graphic Design, Computer Graphics,
and Graphics Animation; Music
Education, Church Music and Music
Industry Communications; Theatre;
Music Industry Communications; and
Photography and Film Communications.
Athens State Dean of Arts and
Sciences Ron Fritze states, “The spirit
of cooperation between the Calhoun
and Athens State faculty on this project
has been absolutely inspirational. Once
the new building starts to operate,
things are going to be a lot livelier in
downtown Decatur.”
Kenneth Anderson, Calhoun’s Dean for the
Humanities and Social Sciences division, also
remarks, “The creation of this new Fine Arts
center will provide a myriad of educational,
training and continuing education options for
our community, all under one roof. We are
extremely excited about all of the opportunities
that will be offered through this unique educational and community partnership.”
✧
Above: South view of the center.
Below: North view of the center.
THE PORT OF
HUNTSVILLE
✧
Above: Providing air, rail and
highway transportation at one central
location since 1986, the International
Intermodal Center continues its
successful role as the “global
connection” for area industries with
a multitude of services including
two 45-ton gantry cranes utilized for
movement of rail and highway freight.
Below: Huntsville International
Airport serves an eighteen county
region with more than 1.2 million
The Port of Huntsville, situated on nearly
7,000 acres of land, is an inland port comprised
of the Huntsville International Airport (HSV),
International Intermodal Center, and Jetplex
Industrial Park, and provides quality multimodal
transportation services to a diverse regional customer base and stimulates economic development throughout the Tennessee Valley Region.
“The Port of Huntsville is poised to take on
the next economic growth leap in the Tennessee
Valley,” said Betty Fletcher, Port of Huntsville
board chairman. “With visionary leadership
guiding us since 1963, the Port of Huntsville
continues to be a major economic engine for the
region, providing a transportation facility that
includes passenger service, air cargo and rail
cargo with runway access, and an industrial park
all located together. We have continued to invest
in our infrastructure—modernizing our facilities
and services thereby offering our customers a
level of value and quality in one unique complex
that is a model for other communities striving to
enhance their transportation services.”
As a result of the success of the Port of
Huntsville, the complex’s economic impact
includes 7,692 direct jobs with multiplied
employment impact at 24,293. Direct payroll is
$474 million with a total multiplied payroll of
$942 million.
Huntsville International Airport serves an 18
county region, which encompasses 12 counties
in North Alabama and 6 counties in South
Central Tennessee. Passenger service is provided
by four commercial airlines with more than
seventy-two flights per day and nine nonstop
destinations. Over 1.2 million customers are
served annually. Huntsville International is in its
final phase of a five year, $92 million capital
customers flying annually. Passenger
service is provided by four commercial
airlines with more than seventy-two
flights per day and nine
nonstop destinations.
improvement plan with construction of baggage
claim expansion and renovation concluding
soon. Completed projects include a new
checkpoint security area, public waiting area,
flight information display systems, concessions,
a 1,300-space parking deck expansion and a
new baggage claim area.
International Intermodal Center was opened
in 1986. The International Intermodal Center
provides a single hub location that delivers
world class, multimodal services and facilities.
Air, rail, and motor carrier terminals are
equipped with two 45-ton overhead Gantry
cranes and dedicated stack train service via
Norfolk Southern. Air cargo at the Intermodal
Center continues to meet the diverse and
growing needs of business and industry in the
Tennessee Valley. Huntsville’s International Air
Cargo Center consists of nearly 300,000 square
feet of building space, including more than
16,000 square feet of cold storage, and one
million square feet of ramp area. One 100,000
square foot air cargo building has several
carriers and freight forwarders, including UPS
Supply Chain Solutions, UPS, FedEx and
CEVA Charters. Another 100,000 square foot
building is leased to Panalpina, an international
freight forwarding company based in Basel,
Switzerland. The third air cargo facility boasts
92,493 square feet and is occupied by SES for
support testing, maintenance, repair, and
overhaul of Army Rotary and fixed wing aircraft.
HSV features two parallel runways—12,600
feet, which is the second-longest runway in the
Southeast U.S., and 10,000 feet. The runways
are Group VI aircraft capable with Boeing
747-8 international air cargo flights landing
regularly. Direct Panalpina international 747 air
cargo service is available
to South America, Europe
and Asia, as well as
Mexico. Huntsville is the
only airport in the state
with nonstop international
air cargo service by
Panalpina. The Intermodal
Center services include
two hour turnaround time
for wide-body freighters;
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection port inspectors,
✧
Left: Jetplex Industrial Park is one
of the fastest growing global logistics
high technology communities in the
U.S. with more than sixty companies,
including Navistar, located there.
Below: Huntsville International
Airport is in the final completion of
a five year $92 million capital
improvement plan, which included
a baggage claim expansion and
USDA inspectors, freight forwarders and customs brokers on site; access to the Interstate
highway system; and container depot service.
The Jetplex Industrial Park is one of the
fastest growing high technology communities
in the U.S. From this strategic southeastern
location, the 4,000 acre Jetplex Industrial Park
offers a rare combination of air, rail and truck
transportation. This Park is home to more than
sixty companies from seven countries, including
The Boeing Company, Navistar, Northrop
Grumman and LG Electronics. The Jetplex
Industrial Park is divided into six regions that
meet diverse business requirements.
renovation. Passengers are now
greeted with three state-of-the-art
baggage carousels, expanded rental
car offices, a Huntsville community
mural, new tourism and information
booth, two jumbotrons and other
numerous amenities.
PROGRESS BANK
AND TRUST
✧
Progress Bank, 225 Grant Street in
Downtown Decatur.
With so many banks and financial institutions in today’s market, you might make the
mistake of thinking all banks are created
equal. But one local bank has set itself apart
from the competition by using a technique
often thought of as a thing of the past: personalized customer service.
At Progress Bank and Trust, each client
represents a long term relationship worthy of
personalized service and attention. Being a
locally owned and managed community bank
with main offices in Decatur and Huntsville,
Progress strives to serve the financial needs of
the community while generating superior long
term value for shareholders.
During 2006 and 2007, the Morgan County
banking industry saw mergers, consolidations
and buyouts involving several larger regional
banks. In 2007 a group of senior banking
officers and bank investors felt the timing was
right to form a community bank offering high
touch personal service supported by high tech
service delivery systems. They chose five local
individuals to lead their team. David L. Nast was
named president and CEO, and Bruce W. Pylant
and Lee R. Hoekenschnieder were chosen as
the Decatur and Huntsville market presidents,
respectively. In addition, Dabsey Maxwell was
named CFO and J. E. P. Buchanan was chosen
as chief credit officer.
On November 16, 2007, Progress completed
one of the most successful bank stock offerings
in Alabama state history, attracting more than
$30 million from local investors which was
used as capital for the new bank. On February
4, 2008, Progress received regulatory approval
and opened the doors for business as the
only state-chartered, FDIC insured community
bank headquartered in Madison and Morgan
Counties and, in eight months, reached $100
million in total assets.
“The combination of local ownership and
local management allows us to serve the
needs of our customers in a manner that
makes banking a pleasurable and uncomplicated experience. At Progress Bank, customers are
not just an account number. We know our
customers, take time to listen to their needs
and each customer represents an opportunity
to develop a long term relationship based on
quality service and mutual trust,” said Pylant.
Progress Bank and Trust offers traditional
loan and deposit banking services, mortgage
banking and investment services delivered
by experienced and professional employees.
Progress has invested in cutting edge technology that allows customers to bank in any manner
they choose and enables employees to do their
jobs more efficiently.
With a business model based on local ownership, prompt local decisions and superior
customer service with a personal touch, Progress
has grown to over $400 million in total assets
and is one of Decatur-Morgan County’s largest
community banks in deposit market share.
✧
Above: Progress Bank and Trust
founding directors: Larry Weaver,
John Eyster and Roger Pangle.
Left: Progress Bank and Trust’s
original Decatur employees: Left to
right, Donna Hensley, Beth Dillard,
Lauren Roberts, Rhonda Sneed,
Bruce Pylant, Randy Tidwell,
Cereta Hollingsworth, Rhonda
Peebles, Claudia Compton and
Don Chittam.
MARMAC
REAL ESTATE
✧
Above: Mark Moody.
While most children were dreaming of
growing up to be professional athletes or
astronauts, ten year old Mark Moody knew
he wanted to help people buy and sell homes.
It all began when his parents decided to sell
their home. Mark recalls following their real
estate agent around, helping hold a tape
measure and asking questions. “I don’t
remember ever wanting to do anything else,”
he says. “From that point on, I knew I wanted
to be in the real estate business.”
And it did not take him long—Mark claimed
his first real estate success when he was just
sixteen. Although he had to leave the actual
transaction to the professionals, he scouted
homes and found a property for his parents,
which they purchased. He was even late for a
date because he went to see the house.
Mark was still in high school when he
purchased his first home with a little help
from his grandmother. Then on his nineteenth
birthday, he bought his first investment
property. At the age of twenty-one, Mark
officially entered the world of real estate as
an agent with a Decatur firm. He would spend
the next twenty-five years helping countless
people buy and sell homes and properties.
After several years in the business, Mark
began to wonder what was next for his career.
“I had achieved every goal I could achieve as
an agent,” he says. “I knew I had a lot to
offer to other agents. I had encountered nearly
every real estate problem or situation there was,
and I knew I could help teach other agents how
to overcome challenges.”
Mark took a chance and stepped out on his
own as a broker in 2007 and MarMac Real
Estate was born. In a time when other real
estate firms were losing agents and transactions
due to a rough economy and so-called “housing
bubble burst,” MarMac was off and running.
As MarMac Real Estate continued to grow, the
next few years saw banner production for
Mark and his agents, and MarMac was showing
the community their slogan—There’s no place
like home—was a true statement. Closing 719
transactions in 2011, he had proven that buyers
and sellers could depend on MarMac Real
Estate to help give them the confidence to buy
or sell a home.
Mark and MarMac Real Estate are committed
to be the real estate company of choice for
buying or selling your most expensive
asset. Even in a down market, MarMac has
the resources to help make a move
possible. “I’m from Decatur and I know this
community inside and out. My goal is to
have the most experienced agents in North
Alabama because the most experienced agents
provide the best service for our customers,”
says Mark.
MarMac Real Estate is a full service real
estate agency offering comprehensive service
for buyers and sellers of residential,
commercial, land, foreclosures and HUD
properties throughout North Alabama. Their
highly trained and experienced real estate
agents and office staff are committed to
working hard to exceed the expectations of
buyers and sellers.
Nothing is more important than serving
the community in which we live. In 2009,
MarMac Real Estate founded MarMac Charities,
which in turn opened Hope Home Thrift Store,
a nonprofit organization whose profits go
to local charities in need. With a great deal of
support from Hope Home Thrift Store, MarMac
Charities supports local nonprofit organizations
located throughout Morgan County.
Please visit www.MarMac.us to learn
more about MarMac Real Estate and find
houses for sale in Decatur, Huntsville,
Hartselle, Cullman, Moulton, Madison,
Florence, Muscle Shoals, Athens and the
surrounding areas. With four offices in North
Alabama, MarMac agents are always close
by to meet all your personal and commercial
real estate needs. MarMac invites you to let
their agents work to make your real estate
dreams come true.
MarMac Real Estate—there is no substitute
for quality!
MORNINGSIDE
OF DECATUR
We all want the best for those we love. When
living alone is no longer an option for a special
senior in your life, discover all that Morningside
Assisted Living of Decatur has to offer!
Morningside Assisted Living of Decatur is
a community of neighbors, each with a lifetime
of experiences to share. It is more than a
place to live—it is a place for living! We offer
assisted living services in a gracious homelike setting, combined with individualized
assistance and care.
Located on the outskirts of historic Decatur,
Morningside Assisted Living of Decatur has
provided state-licensed assisted living services
since 1999. Our licensed professional associates provide excellent resident satisfaction,
vibrant programming and care, which the
community has come to know and trust.
For seniors who need some level of daily living assistance, Morningside offers a customized
lifestyle, complete with compassion and care
that consistently exceed expectations.
Morningside is centrally located in North
Alabama, just thirty minutes from Huntsville
and a short drive from major cities like
Birmingham and Nashville. We are just minutes
from the neighboring towns and cities of
Moulton, Athens, Madison, Hartselle, Falkville,
Trinity, New Hope, Florence, as well as the
Bankhead National Forest and the Tennessee
state line.
Morningside of Decatur is owned by Five
Star Senior Living—a healthcare and senior living services provider that operates independent
and assisted living facilities, skilled nursing
facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, institutional
pharmacies, and outpatient health
rehabilitation clinics throughout
thirty states.
At Morningside of Decatur, we
understand the unique needs of our
residents. Whether it is cream in
your coffee, or matters of a more
serious nature, we provide the
services that you want and need.
Assisted living provides residents
with supervision or assistance with
the activities of daily life. Assisted
living residents are those who do not
need skilled nursing care, but may
need assistance with some aspects of
daily life such as assistance with
medication, meal preparation and
coordination of services with outside
healthcare providers.
We offer an array of social and
recreational activities, a choice of
floor plans, coordination of any
health services you may need, and
much, much more. With just fortynine apartments in our community,
our staff is able to get to know each
resident individually, yet there are
enough residents that you can enjoy
getting to know a variety of people.
Our assisted living residents live
in their own private apartment
within our community so that they
have the support and services they
need, while continuing to be as
independent and active as possible.
At Morningside of Decatur, we
give you and your family peace of
mind, letting you enjoy the worryfree lifestyle you deserve.
A Respite Stay is a wonderful
opportunity to try life at Morningside.
You will enjoy the same Five Star
service and amenities as our residents, and
with no minimum stay, you can join us for a
weekend, a few days or even a few weeks.
We can also help you prepare to return home
after a hospital or rehabilitation stay, providing
the assistance you need while encouraging
your independence. It is also perfect for the
times when your family is going on vacation.
A Respite Stay lets you enjoy a vacation, too,
surrounded by friends, exciting activities, delicious food, and the support of our caring staff.
We understand how important it is to find
the place that is just right for you or your loved
one. Schedule a tour to visit us and see how we
can be the perfect fit for your assisted living
needs. To learn more about Morningside, please
visit www.MorningsideOfDecatur.com or call
(256) 350-0089.
✧
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF DERRICK LOVETT
DBA STUDIO 7 PHOTOGRAPHY.
NUCOR STEEL
DECATUR
This is the story of the little steel company
that could. Proving we could take “mini”
technology and use it to become the nation’s
largest steel producer, Nucor has redefined the
rules on how steel is made. Using scrap as
our primary feedstock, our production capacity
exceeds 26 million tons, making Nucor the
largest producer of steel in the United States.
But more than a steel maker, we are the world’s
foremost steel recycler. Our philosophy is to
think small—while most of America’s steel
manufacturers clung to old production methods, Nucor pioneered new roads with electric
arc furnaces and mini-mills. Mini-mills are
based on the recycling mentality, making the
world cleaner by reusing scrap steel taking up
room in the junk yards. This unconventional
thinking has produced unconventional results,
generating unmatched profitability records for
our industry.
As one of Alabama’s largest recyclers, we will
recycle over 2.5 million tons of car bodies,
washers, dryers, oil filters, and similar scrap this
year. We place high value on our employees and
we have had no layoffs due to a reduction in
work since 1966.
1 0 0 ✦ M O R E T H A N A R I V E R : D e c a t u r- M o rg a n C o u n t y
Nucor’s impact on the community is undeniable.
• 700 teammates are employed by Nucor Steel
Decatur LLC;
• Total wages for the plant are $59 million annually;
• The average wage per teammate is $84,000;
• Over $15 million per year is spent on teammate benefits;
• The plant’s planned capital investment for
2012-2017 is over $109 million;
• From 2007 to 2011, Nucor contributed over
$875 million to the local economy through
local vendors;
• Nucor pays the State of Alabama approximately $3.6 million in taxes per year; and
• Nucor pays the City of Decatur approximately $5.6 million in taxes per year.
These facts quantify the impact Nucor Steel
Decatur has on the community. Although these
are important, our greatest impact comes from
the personal commitment and involvement each
person brings to the community from
their participation in schools, churches, civic organizations and other
responsibilities. Money helps to build
infrastructure for a community to
exist but people make a community.
On April 27, 2011, an F5 tornado
narrowly missed Nucor Steel Decatur.
The tornado was one of a series of
storms that took nearly 200 lives
across the Southeast. The storm left
the Decatur mill without power for
more than a month. With the mill on
shutdown, the teammates immediately shifted their focus to the community, assembling several teams outfitted
with pickups, trailers, Bobcats, chainsaws and tools. As Decatur teammates
reached out locally, sister mills as far
west as Arkansas and as far north as
Indiana jumped into action to help
their fellow teammates and the stricken communities. Even though the
mill was without power to melt steel
for twenty-seven days, Nucor Steel
Decatur met every shipping deadline for our
customers during this recovery time. Nucor’s
three other sheet mill sister divisions produced
and shipped every Decatur ordered ton so our
customers could keep their commitments to
their customers.
No aspect of our business garners greater
focus at Nucor Steel Decatur than safety.
Nothing is more worthy of our time and
attention than the safety of our team members.
In addition, we are known for our lean
management structure, and a non-union workforce, which is focused on teamwork, safety
and an entrepreneurial spirit. Each teammate is
compensated based on his or her performance
and production. Nucor has only four levels of
personnel at each site: team member, supervisor, manager and general manager.
Nucor is proud to be part of the Decatur
community and our goal is to take care of our
customers. We will do this by being the safest,
highest quality, lowest cost, most productive
and most profitable bar mill in the world.
We are committed to doing this while being
the cultural and environmental stewards in
the communities where we live and work. The
corporation is known for being one of the
leaders in the United States steel industry.
Nucor Steel Decatur is no exception.
To learn more about our company, our
practices and careers, visit us online at
www.Nucor.com.
D e c a t u r- M o rg a n C o u n t y P a r t n e r s ✦ 1 0 1
HOLIDAY INN &
SUITES DECATUR
Holiday Inn & Suites Decatur is located at
1101 Sixth Avenue, Northeast. The Holiday
Inn & Suites Decatur is the largest hotel in
Morgan County and the only full-service hotel.
In addition to offering 205 guest rooms and
suites, the hotel has a restaurant, lounge, and
8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space
in six rooms. There is also an indoor/outdoor
swimming pool, video arcade and game area.
The mission statement of Holiday Inn &
Suites Decatur and its parent company, Cooper/
CSS Hotels, is to excel as a hotel company
and as a business for the benefit of those we
serve…guests, employees and property owners.
In 1972, Irby Cooper, a partner in Memphis,
Tennessee-based CSS Hotels, had discussions
about expanding his hotel company with his
longtime friend Kemmons Wilson, founder of
Holiday Inns, Inc., in Memphis. In September
1972, CSS Hotels (as the company was known
then) purchased the eight year old Holiday Inn
Decatur Downtown, located at 1101 Sixth
Avenue Northeast, from Holiday Inns, Inc., and
its legendary founder. CSS Hotels immediately
began renovations to the 102-room Holiday Inn
hotel, making it the premier lodging establishment in the area. It was the first and today is
still the only full-service hotel in Decatur.
In order for CSS Hotels to obtain funds for
the hotel’s expansion during difficult economic
times, the city of Decatur issued industrial revenue bonds in 1985 that resulted in a complete
transformation of the hotel. A new building, or
“tower” with 125 guest rooms, was constructed
on land adjacent to the original hotel building.
It also included a new restaurant and meeting
and banquet facilities. The original Holiday Inn
building was completely reconstructed, and its
large courtyard was covered to create a 10,500
square foot Holidome Indoor Recreation Center
surrounded by guest rooms. The number of
rooms was increased to 227. Virtually every
important event or business gathering was held
in the new event facilities, which were then
and remain today Decatur’s largest. The new
indoor/outdoor pool in the Holidome was the
first in any area hotel. In 1986 alcohol sales
were legalized and the hotel’s Louie’s Restaurant
was divided to create Sade & Dora’s Lounge.
In another “first” for the area, the top (fifth)
floor of the tower building was converted to a
limited-access Executive Floor, with a private
lounge serving drinks and hors d’oeuvres
Monday through Thursday evenings.
In 1996 a major renovation began which
included the conversion of rooms located overlooking the Holidome Indoor Recreation
Center to twenty spacious, two-room suites—
the first in the area. The suites offer separate
sleeping and living/kitchen areas, complete
kitchens and service ware and a wet bar. The
Holiday Inn Decatur then became the Holiday
Inn & Suites, with 205 rooms and suites. An
exciting new “Cyberarcade” addition made
the Holidome a popular attraction for hotel
guests and local game-lovers as well. Also
that year, the Holiday Inn Decatur hosted the
Olympic Torch overnight on its coast-to-coast
relay trip to the Atlanta games. The torch was
accompanied by an entourage of 180 medical
personnel, state troopers, business sponsors
and Olympic officials.
Continuous renovations, to keep the hotel
current, were made to two floors of the hotel
in 2003, and to keep the entire hotel up-to-date
and the leader in the Decatur marketplace,
another major renovation took place from 2005
until 2006. It included all public areas, meeting
rooms, the restaurant and lounge and the hotel’s
twenty suites. The indoor pool was resurfaced
and a new whirlpool was installed just before the
renovations began. The year 2006 also brought
the retirement of Texanna Davis, a room attendant for thirty years. One of the hotel’s suites was
named the “Texanna Davis Suite” in her honor.
While lodging is the hotel’s primary business, meetings and social events are also important services offered to the residents of Decatur
and Morgan County. In addition, the hotel’s
Louie’s Restaurant and Sade & Dora’s Lounge
are essential for hotel guests, but they are
also very popular with local residents who
seek high-quality food and entertainment. The
restaurant’s lunch buffets are a tradition for
many people and the happy hour specials in the
lounge continue to draw crowds.
A convenient Avis Car Rental office is located
in the hotel lobby. Guests enjoy the complimentary business center and fitness facility along
with the indoor/outdoor pool, whirlpool and
games in the Indoor Recreation Center and
complimentary wireless high-speed Internet
access throughout the hotel.
Among the many activities and organizations
the hotel and its staff support, it is a “Partner in
Education,” having adopted the Decatur High
School Developmental Program several years
ago. The hotel also supports various events
such as Riverfest, Alabama Jubilee, Taste of the
Valley, Point Mallard Luau, and several charity
golf tournaments held throughout the year.
In April 2011, when tornadoes ravaged the
Tennessee Valley near the hotel, catering director Jennifer Long decided to assist survivors
with a canned food drive at the hotel. She
noticed that the Cullman Food Bank was low
on food, so she put the word out on the hotel’s
Facebook page that donations were needed.
Donors could drop off food in the hotel lobby
and receive an entry in a giveaway for a
“Summer Splash Package” at the hotel. Over
1,800 pounds of food were contributed by the
community, and another 400 cases of food were
donated by Halsey Food Service.
Since 1972 the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn
& Suites Decatur have employed hundreds of
Decatur area residents. Currently, the hotel has
seventy-five team members. The most senior
team member is Kitchen Manager Willie Bell,
who began his career at the original Holiday
Inn in 1969.
Since it opened, the hotel has served as home
away from home for many prominent guests
including Werner Von Braun, George Wallace,
Art Linkletter, Gene Stallings, Governor Bob
Riley, Lynard Skynard, TV and movie celebrities
Sally Struthers and Kirk Cameron, Wally Amos
(Famous Amos Cookies) and General Chuck
Yeager, the first man to break the speed of sound.
Yet another multimillion dollar renovation is
being planned for the Holiday Inn & Suites
Decatur beginning as early as 2012. This renovation of the hotel will ensure that it continues
to be the premier hotel in Decatur, an even
more modern, technologically advanced and
comfortable Holiday Inn & Suites for visitors
and the local community.
For additional information, reservations or
directions, visit www.hidecaturalabama.com.
VILLARREAL
PIZZA INC.
When he was just fifteen years old, Andy
Villarreal started working at a popular national
fast food chain in Biloxi, Mississippi. By his
senior year in high school, he had been
promoted to assistant manager.
It was 1981 and Andy was working as
the general manager for a different fast food
corporation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast when
he noticed a new pizza delivery restaurant that
had come to town. He was intrigued by their
offer of pizza delivery in thirty minutes or
less or the product was free. After trying the
product several times, Andy was impressed and
wanted to learn more about this company—
Domino’s Pizza.
After some research into the Domino’s business model, Andy learned that after serving
for one year as a general manager with the
corporation he could become eligible to own a
franchise. Andy discussed this with his wife
Belinda and though they had been married less
than a year, the couple decided this could be
a wonderful opportunity for them. Andy was
hired by the local franchisee but was told
he would have to work his way up, which
is exactly what he did. He started out as a
delivery driver for Domino’s in May 1981 and
by August of the same year was offered a
✧
Andy and Belinda Villarreals’ opening
team members from the first location
opened in Decatur in 1983.
general manager position at a brand new location that would soon be opening in Oxford,
Mississippi, at the University of Mississippi.
Andy and Belinda worked quickly to move
to Oxford, hired and trained a staff, and opened
the new location just in time for the new semester. It was not long before Andy got a call from
the franchisee telling him the Oxford location
had broken national sales records for any store
in the first week of operation. Just one year from
the time he started working as a delivery driver,
Andy was promoted to a store opening specialist, traveling across the state of Mississippi with
a five-person team to open new stores. His team
opened five stores in one year, setting even
more national records with their success.
At the ripe age of just twenty-two, Andy and
Belinda, along with their two small children,
decided it was time to pursue their own
Domino’s franchise. They scouted out several
cities across the country before being granted
their franchise in Decatur, Alabama in 1983.
Andy attributes some of his early success to
the generosity of Tom Monaghan, the owner of
the Domino’s Pizza Corporation, who started
his own leasing company to help out young
entrepreneurs. Monaghan would lease all the
equipment needed to open a franchise so that
young owners would not have to struggle when
opening a new store. So with a $7,500 loan
from his parents and a little help from his
brother Rick, Andy opened their first Domino’s
franchise in Decatur in 1983, followed by a second location in 1985. He won the prestigious
Southeast Regional Manager of the Year Award
and was nominated for National Manager of
the Year in 1983 after opening and operating
his first franchise. Throughout the years,
Andy and Belinda would become the owners
of Domino’s franchises in Decatur, Hartselle,
Muscle Shoals, Athens, and even Chicago.
They currently operate
seven franchise locations
in north Alabama and are
partners in four locations
in Hilton Head, South
Carolina, and seven
locations
throughout
Montgomery, Wetumpka
and Prattville.
Andy and Belinda
have made it their goal to
not only offer a great
product and great service, but also to give back
to the communities in
which they do business.
Along the way they have helped four of their
general managers pursue their dreams of
becoming Domino’s Pizza franchisees. They
have served on numerous boards for community organizations. Andy has also served on the
Franchise Advisory Council, Domino’s Food
Distribution Board, as well as vice president
of the Southeast Region Franchise Association.
Villarreal Pizza Inc. and their partnerships
employ over 325 people with annual sales
exceeding $10 million. Andy and Belinda are
looking to open additional locations in the
coming years.
✧
Above: Andy Villarreal (right) won
the prestigious Southeast Regional
Manager of the Year Award and was
nominated for National Manager of
the Year in 1983. He is shown here
with Tom Monaghan, owner of
Domino’s Corporation.
Below: Andy and Belinda Villarreals’
company Villarreal Pizza Inc.
operates seven locations in north
Alabama and has partnership in
eleven other franchises in
the Southeast.
3M
For more than a century, innovation has
been the hallmark of 3M’s growth, reflecting
a culture of shared ideas and technology.
3M Innovation enables 3M to continuously
deliver practical and ingenious solutions to
everyday problems around the world on a
daily basis.
In 1902, five industrious Minnesota businessmen set out to mine a mineral deposit
for grinding-wheel abrasives. But the deposits
proved to be of little value. So they shifted
their focus to sandpaper products and
persevered, turning their investment into the
lucrative venture known as Minnesota Mining
& Manufacturing Company or 3M.
Today, 3M is a global innovation company
that never stops inventing. Over the years,
innovations have improved daily life for hundreds of millions of people all over the world.
3M products have made driving at night easier,
made buildings safer, and made consumer
electronics lighter, less energy-intensive and
less harmful to the environment. 3M even
assisted to put a man on the moon. Every day
at 3M, one idea always leads to the next,
igniting momentum to make progress possible
around the world.
With global sales of $30 billion and
operations in more than sixty-five countries,
3M employs 84,000 people around the world.
The 3M Decatur facility consists of three
operating plants, opened in 1960 and employs
more than 850 people.
3M is responsible for innovations such as the
world’s first waterproof sandpaper, which
reduced airborne dusts during automobile
manufacturing. A major milestone occurred in
1925 when Richard G. Drew, a young lab assistant, invented masking tape—an innovative
step toward diversification and the first of many
Scotch® Pressure-Sensitive Tapes. In the following years, technical progress resulted in Scotch ®
Cellophane Tape for box sealing and soon
hundreds of practical uses were discovered.
Throughout the decades, 3M innovations
have included: Scotchlite™ Reflective Sheeting
for highway markings; magnetic sound recording tape; the Thermo-Fax™ copying process;
Scotchgard™ Fabric Protector; videotape;
Scotch-Brite™ Cleaning Pads; overhead projection systems; Post-it® Notes; Scotch® Transparent
Duct Tape; optical films for LCD televisions;
Scotch-Brite® Cleaning Products; just to name a
few of its over 60,000 products.
3M values:
• Act with uncompromising honesty and integrity
in everything we do.
• Satisfy our customers with innovative technology and superior quality, value and service.
• Provide our investors an attractive return
through sustainable, global growth.
• Respect our social and physical environment
around the world.
• Value and develop our employees’ diverse
talents, initiative and leadership.
• Earn the admiration of all those associated with
3M worldwide.
3M vision:
• 3M technology advancing every company.
• 3M products enhancing every home.
• 3M innovation improving every life.
ALABAMA JUBILEE HOT-AIR BALLOON CLASSIC
In the annals of wacky ways to promote
your city, owning a hot-air balloon is one of
the wackiest. Yet that is what normally calm,
conservative Decatur did in 1977.
The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of
Commerce purchased a balloon with “Decatur”
on one side and “Point Mallard” on the
other. Designed to promote Decatur and its
new wave pool park, the balloon was inspired
by Bob Woodruff, a cannon crafter who had
moved to the area and owned his own balloon
embellished with a picture of a cannon.
Woodruff arranged for the purchase of the
Decatur balloon, which would be one of the
first modern balloons to promote a city. It was
only natural, upon its arrival in 1978, to invite
his flying buddies from Louisville, Kentucky,
and Atlanta, Georgia, to come to Decatur for a
weekend of ballooning.
That was the first Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air
Balloon Classic, with seventeen balloonists lodging with host families. Journalist Chris Bell came
up with the name. He envisioned a Dixieland
band that would accompany the balloon at
appearances and play the well-known tune.
The Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic
now includes around sixty-five balloonists
from across the United States. It is one of the
few balloon rallies that is free to the public.
Visitors also enjoy the Decatur Art Guild’s
arts and crafts show, live music, the Southland
Flywheelers’ antique tractor show, and Point
Mallard Auto Expo’s antique and classic car
show that pre-dates the Jubilee.
Decatur residents take pride in the hot air
balloon that has become the city’s symbol.
Around 80,000 people attend the annual event,
which takes approximately thirty volunteers a
full year to plan.
The popularity of the Alabama Jubilee prompted the Alabama Legislature to designate Decatur
as the “Hot Air Ballooning Capital of Alabama.”
The Alabama Jubilee has also been named a
“Top 20 Tourism Event” in the Southeast for May
by the Atlanta-based Southeast Tourism Society.
For directions, schedules, special events and
much more; visit www.alabamajubilee.net.
Located on approximately 1,000 acres in
Northern Alabama, the BP Decatur chemicals site
began operations in 1965 and produces the building blocks for thousands of essential daily items,
from plastic water bottles to flat-screen televisions.
Using feedstock delivered by rail and barge,
BP Decatur manufactures purified terephthalic
acid (PTA) and its raw material, paraxylene
(PX). Invented by BP, PTA is used in everything
from drink bottles to fabrics.
BP Decatur is also the world’s only commercial manufacturer of naphthalene dicarboxylate
(NDC), a chemical used in new-generation
polyesters and resins to make items such as
LCD flat-panel television displays, ultra-thin
data storage tape and high-strength tire cord, to
name a few.
BP Decatur’s chemicals, in the form of small
white pellets, are delivered by truck and rail and
ship to manufacturing sites around the world.
BP AMERICA,
INC.
BP Decatur is one of four chemicals sites in
BP Western Hemisphere Aromatics. Decatur,
together with sites in Cooper River, South
Carolina; Texas City, Texas; and Geel, Belgium,
Europe produce over 4 million tons of petrochemicals a year—roughly one-quarter of the
world’s PTA and all of its NDC.
Today the site employs approximately 440 BP
and 200 resident contract workers. BP Decatur and
its workforce value community, nature, and neighbors. They live these values in a number of ways.
BP Decatur maintains an award-winning, 530
acre wildlife habitat site, featuring the Wetlands
Edge Environmental Center. Through a partnership with Decatur City Schools, Wetlands Edge
provides hands-on, environmental education
programs for students of all ages and wildlife
tours for the public.
If there is a need in
the community, BP Decatur
responds with volunteer time
and donations. The United
Way of Morgan County,
Northern Alabama schools,
local chambers of commerce
and numerous nonprofit
organizations are just a few
beneficiaries. BP Decatur is
also focused on developing
our future workforce and
leaders, reaching out to local
colleges and universities for
candidates for our co-op and
intern programs.
To learn more about
BP America or BP Decatur,
please visit www.bp.com.
DECATURMORGAN COUNTY
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
When business and industry need a collective voice, they turn to the Decatur-Morgan
County Chamber of Commerce. Founded
in 1931 by the late Barrett C. Shelton, the
Chamber’s mission is to promote business and
serve as an advocate for our more than 1,000
investors through volunteer leadership in
economic, political and social development.
The Chamber provides needed resources
for our members and the community through
retail recruitment, education and workforce
development, leadership skills training and
quality of life issues. We also serve as the
hub for connecting business professionals in
Decatur-Morgan County and surrounding areas.
Since its humble beginning in 1931, the
Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
and our community have seen many changes.
Though Decatur was once a rural area focused
on agriculture, the creation of the Tennessee
Valley Authority in 1933 paved the way for a
controlled waterway and the perfect setting for
business and industry to thrive. Throughout the
decades, the Chamber has remained a constant
supporter of the local business community—all
with the success of our members in mind.
The Chamber has served as a launch pad
for other area organizations including the
Decatur Morgan County Convention and
Visitors Bureau, the Morgan County Economic
Development Association, and the Decatur
Downtown Redevelopment Authority.
We invite you to join us in our goal to
make Decatur-Morgan County a better place to
live, work and play! For more information
about the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of
Commerce, visit our website www.dcc.org or
call (256) 353-5312.
Decatur’s richly storied past of opportunity,
prosperity, diversity and determination has
shaped the city that we are today—a Grand City
on a Charming Scale.
From families whose ancestors first settled
this fertile river valley to newcomers who move
to the area because of our progressive business
environment, our City’s welcoming spirit and
sense of community are what make Decatur
home to a diverse group of people. Our awardwinning schools, family-friendly, safe neighborhoods, and advanced healthcare services make
Decatur a great place to raise a family.
ways we build a strong community is providing
wonderful city parks and recreation facilities.
Point Mallard Park features 750 acres for
recreational use with year-round activities,
including the J. Gilmer Blackburn Aquatic
Center, golf course, indoor ice rink, hiking/
biking trails by the river, sports fields and
campground. The Jack Allen Sports Complex
is our new seventy-seven acre park that provides thirty acres of laser-graded and irrigated
soccer fields.
Festivals throughout the year bring our
citizens and neighbors from around the region
together to celebrate with music, balloons,
food and fun. Other ways to have fun in
Decatur include the North Alabama Birding
Trail, Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Princess
Theatre Center for the Performing Arts,
Riverwalk Marina, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge,
two historic districts, and unique shopping and
dining experiences.
With a rich heritage and dynamic future,
Decatur will continue to pursue the economic
prosperity, cultural diversity, and community
spirit that make this a Grand City on a
Charming Scale.
CITY OF
DECATUR
✧
Left: Decatur knows how to put on a
party that celebrates community
spirit, American pride, and our city’s
heritage. All through the year, we
combine music, food, entertainment of
all kinds, and spectacular fireworks
shows for citizens and visitors alike.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TOM CHAPPELL.
Below: Parks and playgrounds are at
the center of Decatur’s neighborhoods.
We also have trails to fit every
passion: walking, biking, birding,
Civil War, and historic districts.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF
MCWHORTER COMMUNICATIONS.
Decatur’s business climate is as progressive as
it is diverse. We are home to industrial giants
such as United Launch Alliance, Nucor Steel,
Daikin America, and 3M as well as awardwinning small retailers like Big Bob Gibson’s
Barbecue and Morgan Price Candy Company.
Outdoor recreation is a year-round staple in
Decatur. Folks take advantage of our location
on the Tennessee River for boating, waterskiing,
and fishing from the first warm days of spring
through those late, lazy fall days when the sun
on the water beckons. In Decatur one of the
DECATUR
UTILITIES
The history and heritage of the City of
Decatur and of Decatur Utilities (DU) are long
and proudly linked.
During its early years, Decatur consisted of a
small area, bordered generally by the Tennessee
River on the north, Lafayette Street on the south,
what is now Ferry Street on the east and Canal
Street on the west. In later years, the town of “New
Decatur” changed to Albany, grew up to the south
of Decatur. Gradually the two communities grew
together and, in 1927 were merged into one city—
Decatur. Frequent flooding of the Tennessee River
was an ongoing problem for Decatur until the
early 1930s and the harnessing of the Tennessee
River by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
As the TVA electric power generating
capacities became
accessible to areas in
north Alabama in the
late 1930s, forward
looking leaders of
Decatur recognized
the opportunity—
and advantages—of
assuming the role
of utility supplier
for citizens in and
around Decatur. Thus, on
March 3, 1939, at the
request of Decatur’s City
officials, the Alabama
Legislature created the
Municipal Utilities Board
of the City of Decatur,
Morgan County, Alabama
(DU). Designed to insure
its independence from political pressures, with
three members, serving staggered nine year terms,
the initial DU Board consisted of three highly
respected community leaders, each with many
years of successful business management. This
model and standard for the selection of members
to the DU Board has been continuously and rigidly applied for the past seventy-three years; and has
proved to be a formula for management excellence. By the terms of the Act creating the DU
Board, the Legislature gave it these instructions:
“Should the city of Decatur in the future purchase,
construct, or acquire a municipal Water System, a
municipal Gas System, or any other public utility,
the Board created by this Act shall control, manage, and operate such municipally owned utility.”
Within three months after the DU Board was
created, Decatur purchased the water and sewer
treatment facility theretofore operated by Alabama
Water Service Company and began to provide the
public water supply for Decatur. With electric
power service rapidly expanding throughout North
Alabama and made available by TVA, DU and the
city undertook to purchase the electrical distribution facilities that had previously been operated by Alabama Power Company in the Decatur
area and by 1940, DU had become the sole supplier of electric power in the city. Throughout
the 1940s and 1950s, DU replaced the Alabama
Tennessee Natural Gas Company as the natural
gas provider for Decatur area customers.
Presently, DU operates an electrical distribution
system of approximately 592 miles of power lines
and serves approximately 26,000 electric customers, residential, commercial and industrial. DU’s
gas system requires 414 miles of mains and serves
approximately 13,700 customers. Currently DU’s
water and wastewater system supplies service to the
entire city and serves more than 25,000 customers.
The plants and facilities of the electrical distribution system, gas distribution system, water and
wastewater system are all state-of-the-art facilities
and are constantly being upgraded to insure that
they continue to be of unsurpassed quality.
While the physical facilities and assets are
essential to DU’s mission of providing quality
utility services, it has another asset of greater
value—its dedicated employees. Presently DU has
approximately 165 employees, all highly trained
to provide dependable utility services of the highest quality. Although frequently faced with natural
challenges that inescapably interrupt utility services, DU’s record for providing reliable service
and restoring interrupted service is unsurpassed.
While the DU Board and its employees will
always strive to provide utility services at the lowest
and most efficient rates practicable, they are equally
focused on insuring that their services are safe, reliable and designed to serve the citizens of Decatur
not only today but for the foreseeable years ahead.
The DU family, its Board and employees, have
no mission or master other than to provide quality utility services to the citizens of Decatur, our
neighbors and friends. If you would like to know
more about us, visit www.decaturutilities.com.
Decatur City Schools, one of the most
respected education systems in Alabama,
is recognized by SchoolMatch as an outstanding
system, serving nearly 9,000 students in
twelve elementary, three middle and two
high schools. Student test scores are above
the national average and over seventy
percent of our graduates go on to postsecondary education.
Decatur City Schools provide educational
opportunities not found in other local public
education systems. All fifteen K-8 schools are
certified as Alabama Reading Initiative sites. As
part of the Third Grade Violin Program, each
third grader receives ten free violin lessons.
Students have access to hands-on environmental education through the Wetlands Edge
Environmental Center, a partnership between
DCS and BP Corporation, as well as K-12 engineering and Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Math (STEM) programs.
DCS students can enroll in the International
Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, which is
offered for juniors and seniors. The IB Programme
provides highly motivated, college-bound students
with the opportunity to pursue an internationally recognized comprehensive curriculum.
DCS also offers the IB Primary Years and Middle
Years programs, making it the only system in
Alabama to offer K-12 IB programs.
Decatur’s two high schools are the only
schools in Morgan County to be part of the
Alabama Engineering Academy Initiative.
Students at both high schools can take part in
the Engineering Academy, which will prepare
them for college-level programs through the
integration of technical and academic skills
focused on careers in engineering.
The Decatur-Austin Robotics Coalition
(DARC) is a robotics program formed as a
partnership between DCS’s two high school
programs. DARC utilizes the talents of students
from both schools and continues to impress
in competitions nationally and worldwide,
finishing second at the World BEST Robotics
Competition in 2011. To prepare middle
school students, DCS has created a middle
school engineering team as well.
DECATUR CITY
SCHOOLS
In 2007, the DCS system was chosen as the
U.S. pilot project for The Leader in Me, implementing the principles of 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People into the schools. The program
is designed to teach students and faculty
to become proactive, results-oriented and to
understand the value and synergy of teamwork.
We are Decatur City Schools and we invite
you to join us as we empower students through
education. To learn more, visit www.dcs.edu.
MORGAN COUNTY
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION
DECATURMORGAN COUNTY
PORT AUTHORITY
Morgan County’s position on the Tennessee
River and proximity to raw materials and
transportation make the area a prime location
for industrial development. Originally incorporated as the Industrial Development Association
in 1969, the Morgan County Economic
Development Association is a membership-based
association located in Decatur and was created
to serve, to stimulate, promote and assist in the
development of new industry and to aide in the
expansion of existing industry located in Morgan
County. MCEDA works daily to provide a forum
for communication and networking within the
business community that helps encourage new
investment and the local growth of existing
industry. MCEDA, in conjunction with the
Decatur-Morgan County Port Authority, also
oversees the operation of the Morgan County
public port terminals.
The Decatur-Morgan County Port Authority
was incorporated in April 1982 with the purpose of developing property along the Tennessee
River for industrial use. The Port Authority has
the power to buy, equip and fund industrial
developments within Morgan County. In
September 1982 the Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA) conveyed 450 acres of riverside land to
MCEDA. This land, transferred to the newly
formed Port Authority, would be the beginning
of Mallard-Fox Creek Industrial Park and Port.
Hispan, now Hexcel, was the first industry to
locate there in 1988. Mallard-Fox Creek now
exceeds 1,000 acres and is currently home to
thirteen industries and serves Morgan County
and the surrounding area by providing approximately 1,838 full-time jobs.
In 2009 the Port Authority, along with the
Morgan County Commission and the seven
municipalities in Morgan County, broke
ground on Morgan Center Business Park,
a multiphase development located in the
heart of Morgan County. The development is located adjacent to Interstate 65
in Hartselle and provides excellent transportation access and location opportunities for light manufacturing, office and
logistics facilities. This high end campusstyle development offers a first-class
setting and high visibility with easy
access for customers and employees.
Morgan County is a consistent leader
in Alabama in existing industry expansion and is currently home to 157 industries, including several Fortune 500 and
Global 500 companies. For more information about MCEDA or the Port Authority,
visit www.mceda.org.
INTERNATIONAL
PAPER
Imagine for a moment a world without
paper. It would be difficult for each of us to
function within our daily lives without a book
or handy notepad on our desk, the boxes for
dry goods at the grocery store or something
as simple and necessary as bathroom tissue.
While the credit for the invention of paper goes
to the ancient Chinese, it has been an integral
part of society from that point on.
Just as paper products are a vital strand
woven into the fabric of everyday life, so has
International Paper been woven into the local
business community.
Incorporated in Albany, New York, in 1898,
International Paper was formed through the
merger of seventeen pulp and paper mills. With
facilities strategically placed in more than
twenty four countries around the world, IP is
dedicated to enhancing people’s lives by using
renewable resources to make products people
depend on every day.
The IP Decatur facility opened in 1969
and is an industrial packaging/container plant.
IP is the premier manufacturer and exporter
of corrugated packaging products—we make
boxes to ship, store and sell liquid or dry goods.
Products range from boxes designed to protect
consumer goods during transportation and
delivery, to produce boxes designed for the
refrigerators that keep them fresh. We also make
custom containers including industrial boxes,
bins, retail displays, craft paper bags, shipping
containers for durable goods, and other packaging for perishable items for the food industry.
At International Paper, we are dedicated to
the communities we serve and the world in
which we live. It is our vision to be one of
the best and most respected companies in the
world by keeping our promises and delivering
results. It is our passion and commitment to
deliver the products our customers want
while ensuring responsible stewardship of
natural resources today and for generations to
come. For more than 110 years, our company
has been one of the most environmentally
responsible companies in the world.
To learn more about International Paper, our
products and careers, visit www.ipaper.com.
PLASTIC
RECYCLERS
SOUTHEAST,
INC.
✧
Above: Company President
Henry Bragg.
At Plastic Recyclers Southeast, Inc., we provide custom recycling and warehousing services, based on our customers’ manufacturing
processes, and have been doing so since 1991.
Current Company President Henry Bragg
started the company with a $6,000 loan, two
employees and 7,000 square feet of leased
warehouse space. Initially created to recycle and
trade post-consumer PET and Polyethylene, our
business quickly transitioned into primarily
servicing the post-industrial sector. Within three
years, Plastic Recyclers had outgrown the small
lease and moved into our current headquarters
on Church Street in Decatur.
While helping several local companies with
their recycling needs, we noticed the growing
need for large scale, off-site warehousing. In
1998, Plastic Recyclers purchased several
acres in the neighboring town of Trinity and
constructed 80,000 square feet of warehouse
space. As our company has continued to
grow and meet increasing warehousing and
distribution needs our staff has expanded and
we have invested in information technology
programs that help us provide solutions for
almost any warehousing issue our customers
may encounter.
Today, Plastic Recyclers has over 400,000
total square feet of operational and warehousing space. The staff has grown to more than
thirty-five employees and the company is
continuing to expand within the recycling and
warehousing sectors. With our continued
growth, we strive to provide the best possible
service for our customers.
Every customer is unique when it comes to
their recycling or warehousing needs. For this
reason, we work closely with each customer to
develop customized programs. By listening to
our customers and understanding their goals,
we have been successful in providing unique
solutions. If we can be of service to your
company, or you have questions regarding our
services, please contact us at (256) 351-2469 or
visit us online at www.prsei.com.
DECATUR
DOWNTOWN
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
The Decatur Downtown Redevelopment
Authority (DDRA) is dedicated to the redevelopment, revitalization and economic growth of
the downtown area of Decatur, as well as our
entire city and Morgan County. With this growth
comes an enhanced quality of life and broader
opportunities for our citizens. We believe the
best way to accomplish this is through partnerships with businesses, industry, government,
civic organizations and individual citizens.
Through education and bridge-building, we
have forged relationships, which give our partners a vested interest in the downtown area. The
spirit of partnership has given us opportunities
to assist business owners in starting and growing their businesses. It has also allowed us to
provide incentive grants to business and building owners for property improvements. We are
currently working to provide direction and
create easier avenues for owners and developers
to build and remodel in the downtown area.
The DDRA was established by the city of
Decatur in conjunction with the Decatur-Morgan
County Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and
charged with putting the Envision Decatur plan
into action. After much planning and organization,
Rick Paler was named executive director of the
authority in November 2007. In 2008 the DDRA
office opened at 110 Second Avenue Northeast,
next door to the historic Princess Theatre.
In 2009, DDRA began a funding campaign
with the initial goal of raising $2.5 million. The
economy had just taken a drastic downturn and
we were unsure of our ability to raise anywhere
near the funding needed, but we pressed forward
with much support from local community
leaders. While our work is not yet complete, we
have exceeded the initial goal. We will continue
to pursue partnerships, funding and cooperation
within the community to grow our economy,
enhance the aesthetics of the downtown area
and provide a “sense of place” for our citizens.
We held an integral role in the partnership
formed between Athens State University and
Calhoun College to bring the Alabama Center
for the Arts downtown. We actively support
the Decatur Downtown Merchant and Business
Association, the Morgan County Economic
Development Association, and the DecaturMorgan County Entrepreneurial Center, as well
as the activities of the Princess Theatre and the
Carnegie Visual Arts Center.
We encourage you to learn more at
www.decaturdowntown.org.
About the Photographer
DAV I D H I G G I N B O T H A M
David Higginbotham has worked as a professional photographer for over fourteen years.
His career began in photojournalism at the Athens News Courier and then at The Decatur Daily.
He continued on to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center where he spent eight years creating images
that helped record our country’s space program. He specializes in commercial, executive portraiture,
weddings and events and has worked all over the United States and internationally as well. David’s
eye for detail and his passion for creativity can be seen in his work. He has been featured in Popular
Science Magazine, Popular Mechanics Magazine, Aviation Week, Delngenieur Magazine, Geo Magazine,
Professional Photographer Magazine, Tech Directions, Radar Magazine, Mobile Bay Bride Magazine
and Southern Bride Magazine. When not working David enjoys spending time with his wife Anna
and his yellow Labrador Wilson. David’s recent work can be found by visiting his website at
www.davidhphotography.com.
About the Author
TIFFANY BRIGHTWELL
Tiffany Brightwell joined the Chamber staff in 2008, having previously worked as the special
events director for the Decatur Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau. In 2005, Tiffany
graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Alabama with a degree in
Communications. In addition to coordinating the Chamber’s communication efforts, Tiffany is also
responsible for working with the Chamber’s Cornerstone Investors and the Total Resource Campaign.
About the Author ✦ 119
Sponsors
3M ..............................................................................................106
Alabama Center for the Arts .............................................................90
Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic ...........................................108
BP America, Inc. ...........................................................................109
City of Decatur .............................................................................111
City of Hartselle .............................................................................84
Daikin America, Inc.........................................................................86
Decatur City Schools ......................................................................113
Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority ......................................117
Decatur General
Parkway Medical Center
Huntsville Hospital Health System ...........................................80
D e c a t u r- M o r g a n C o u n t y C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0
Decatur Utilities ...........................................................................112
Holiday Inn & Suites Decatur ..........................................................102
International Paper .......................................................................115
Joe Wheeler EMC ............................................................................76
MarMac Real Estate .........................................................................96
Morgan County Economic Development Association
D e c a t u r- M o r g a n C o u n t y P o r t A u t h o r i t y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 4
Morningside of Decatur ....................................................................98
Nucor Steel Decatur .......................................................................100
Plastic Recyclers Southeast, Inc. ......................................................116
P ro g re s s B a n k a n d Tr u s t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 4
R o p a k M a n u f a c t u r i n g C o m p a n y, I n c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2
The Port of Huntsville ......................................................................92
Vi l l a r re a l P i z z a I n c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 4
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge ......................................................88
$34.95
LEADERSHIP SPONSORS
ISBN 978-1-939300-06-5

Than a River, Decatur-Morgan County

Transcription

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