President: Connie Marine

Connie Marine of Panola, the daughter of Clyde and Bee Marine, is active in her community and jobs. A graduate of Aliceville High School, U of Montevallo, and U of West Alabama, she was an educator at Pickens Academy, where she taught senior high English and served as assistant headmaster until 2001. During that time, she received numerous awards: Fulbright Teacher Memorial Scholarship for study in Japan, ALFA Teacher of the Month, AISA Teacher of the Year, and SUPER Teacher with Alabama Humanities Foundation. Currently she is an adjunct English instructor at Bevill Community College. Connie joined West Alabama Bank in 2002 as a Loan Officer. She is a graduate of the 2006 Class of Alabama Banking School for which she served as secretary. Currently she is both a loan officer and the Director of the GOLD CLUB, the bank’s travel organization. Connie’s favorites include family activities with her four grandchildren: Reagan and Clay Gibson and Anna and Martin Sanders; traveling for pleasure (to Italy, Germany, and England and in the US), for education (for studies in Oxford, England and Japan), and for teaching (at Hong Kong Jockey Club in Hong Kong); and reading, especially Southern writers.

President-Elect: Milton Noland

Milton is owner of Martin Truck & Tractor of Aliceville. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Aliceville. He is Past President and current Board member of Southern Equipment Dealers Association. Milton was named the 1995 Aliceville Citizen of the Year by the Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Jerry Cockrell

Jerry was born and reared in Aliceville. He graduated from Aliceville High School in 1959 and from the University of Alabama in 1963 with a B.S. degree, a major in English and a minor in social studies. He worked for the Rockdale County (Ga.) Board of Education for 30 years, teaching ninth grade English and in various positions at the central administrative level, including Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance. He came out of retirement in 1994 and worked for two years as an Associate Superintendent for Operations. He became a consultant for the Georgia State Department of Education in the area of Technology from 1996 to 1998, and then followed that up by doing consultant work in the Georgia school system. He returned to live in Aliceville in November 2000 and is enjoying a new business venture with his wife of 30 years, Jeanne Underwood Cockrell; they are resident owners of Myrtlewood Bed and Breakfast. They have two children, Deborah Jeanne, a troubleshooter for Sprint, and Alex Kipling, a civil engineer for Clark Construction Co.

Randy Coshatt

Randy is a graduate of Aliceville High School; received his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-med in August 1972 from the University of Alabama; and his B.S. degree in physiological optics in 1974 and his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1976 from UAB. He has been in private practice in optometry since 1976 (with his father for 13 years and in solo practice since 1989). He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Alabama Optometrice Association (serving on its board of directors). He is a member of First United Methodist Church of Aliceville, where he is a lay leader, member of several committees and a Sunday school teacher. He has served on the Pickens Academy Board of Directors, was a member and past president of the Aliceville Lions Club until it disbanded, and served on the Boy Scouts Local Steering Committee. Dr. Coshatt is currently a member of the Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce, Pickens County Historical Society, Pickens County Tourism Association, Aliceville Friends of the Library, Aliceville Little Theatre and Aliceville Museum Board.

Charles Davis

Charles was born in Union Chapel, Ala.; he attended Carrollton High School. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1970 with a BS degree in Industrial Management/Accounting, and was Outstanding Management Student for the School of Business and Commerce in 1970. Charles was Plant Manager at Master’s Carpet in Chattanooga, Tn. He moved to Aliceville in 1974 and was employed in management at Huyck Felt until 1977. He was employed at Pickens County Medical Center as Materiels Manager, Member of the Board (and Secretary/Treasurer) of the Pickens County Medical Center, Member of Board of Shared Services Health Care Inc., Atlanta, Ga., past President of Society of Materiel Managers in State of Alabama, Outstanding Materiel Manager of the Year in Alabama. Charles is a past President of Aliceville Rotary Club, past President Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce, an Elder at First Presbyterian Church, PCA, of Aliceville, and a member of the Water and Sewer Board City of Aliceville.

Irvin Eatman

Irvin is manager and shareholder of Duckworth-Morris Acordia, an independent insurance agency. He is an elder of First Presbyterian Church of Aliceville and is immediate past president of the Aliceville Rotary Club. He is a past director of West Alabama Bank & Trust and a past participant in the Agri-Forestry leadership program. After graduation from Auburn, he spent three years in the US Air Force. He is married to Virginia Eatman, and they have two children--Cheryl and Curt.

Carolyn Fikes

Carolyn was born in Reform, Ala. She moved to Aliceville when she was two years old. She attended schools in Aliceville and graduated from Aliceville High School in 1961. She attended the Shelton Board of Cosmetology, graduating in 1962. She owns Illusions Hair Studio. She has been active in Aliceville Little Theatre and attended Leadership Pickens. She is active in the Aliceville First Methodist Church and sings in the choir. She is married to Jimmy Fikes, and they have three children and four grandchildren.

Larry Gibson

Larry is a native of Aliceville and graduated from Pickens Academy and Mississippi State University. He owns and operates Gibson Forest Management, Inc. He and his wife Suellen have one daughter Reagan and one son Clay.

Mark J. Gilliam

Mark was born and reared in Carrollton. He graduated from Pickens Academy in 1982 and from Mississippi State University in 1989. He has been with West Alabama Bank & Trust since 1995 and is a Loan Officer and Assistant Vice President. Mark has served in the following positions: Aliceville City Council, Aliceville Lions Club (past President, past Secretary, past Treasurer), Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Children's House Montessori School Board of Directors (past President). He currently serves on the Aliceville Public Library Board as Secretary. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Aliceville. He serves on the Board of Deacons and has been a Sunday school teacher. He is married to the former Alicia Owens since 1987, and they have three children, Katherine, Rebecca and Mark Everett.

Shirley Griffin

Shirley was born July 7, 1940 in Pickens County. She is a graduate of Aliceville High School. She married Ronald Kirk Griffin Jan. 26, 1962, and they moved to Birmingham where she was employed by Birmingham Trust National Bank and Exchange Security Bank for a total of 11 years. They moved back to Pickens County in 1973 where she was employed with First National Bank of Central Alabama; she has now been at the bank for 32 years. She has a daughter Stacy Griffin Jones, Carrollton; and a son Stephen Kirk Griffin, Birmingham; and four grandchildren--Charli Anne Jones, Casey Griffin Jones, Andrew Kirk Griffin and Aaron Philip Griffin. Shirley is a member of First Baptist Church of Pickensville where she serves as teacher of the Women II Sunday School Class; member of the Finance Committee; member of the choir; and Chairman of the Managerial Committee.

Emmett Gunnells

Emmett was born in Bessemer, Ala. He is a graduate of Bessemer High School, the University of Alabama and the UAB School of Dentistry. He served in the U.S. Navy in Hawaii for two years. He practiced in Prattville before moving to Aliceville in 1976. He joined the Aliceville Rotary Club in 1977. He and his wife Cathy have two sons, Ross and Luke.

Alan Harper

S. Alan Harper was born and raised in Northport, Ala. and attended Tuscaloosa County public schools. Harper is a 1986 graduate of the University of Alabama and was selected as a 2001 Alumnus of the Year from the School of Communication. He has spent almost his entire career in public service working to better the communities in which he has lived and worked. Harper’s career path includes working in local government, public education, the banking industry and primarily in economic development. He served almost a decade with the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority (TCIDA) working to bring numerous companies and jobs (ZF Industries, Johnson Controls, Delphi, ICS, Recticel, Mercedes-Benz expansion) to Tuscaloosa County. In April 2005 Harper was hired by the City of Aliceville as the Director of Economic Development. In 2006 he offered himself as a candidate for the Alabama House of Representatives District 61 seat and won the general election in November. He and his wife Jean make their home in Aliceville, Ala. Harper has two sons, Brant and Sam.

Joe Horton

Joe was born in Aliceville. He graduated from Aliceville High School, Mississippi State University with a B.A. degree, and the University of Georgia with an M.A. degree. He worked for Rockdale County Board of Education in Conyers, Ga. for his entire career; he was employed as a teacher, Director of Transportation and Facilities and Assistant Superintendent. He retired in 1993 and returned to Aliceville in 1995. He married Martha Archer of Shelbyville, Tenn., and they have two children and two grandsons. He is a third generation Rotarian, and was a long-time treasurer of the club.

Tom Kay Jr.

Tom was born in Richmond, Va. He got his Bachelor of Arts degree from Belhaven College, his Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Theology from the Christian Bible College. He is currently serving as the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Aliceville. He is married to Connie Gibson Kay, and they have three sons,Tommy, Tim and Drew, and three granddaughters, Hannah, Rachel and Maggie. Tom is a Past President of the Aliceville Rotary Club. He served the Presbyterian Church in America as the Chairman of the Board of the Presbyterian Church in America Foundation. Three times, he has traveled to Africa to preach and teach at the African Bible College in Malawi.

Marsha Kilpatrick

Marsha was reared in Sumter County, Ala., a graduate of Livingston High School and Mid-South Business College. Her professional background is in banking and community relations. She is presently the Community Relations Coordinator for Pickens County Medical Center. Marsha and her husband Marvin are members of Carrollton Baptist Church where she teaches Sunday school. She has two sons, Scott Sullivan, and Johnny, both of Auburn, and three grandchildren. Marsha and Marvin have been going on North American Mission trips every year since 2001 and also were part of an international mission trip to the Ukraine. She loves to work with the PCMC Foundation to help raise money for the hospital. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking and visiting her family in Auburn.

Bill King

Bill was born in Tuscaloosa. He is a graduate of Aliceville High School, the University of Alabama and the Cumberland School of Law and is currently practicing law in Pickens County. He is a registered land surveyor and real estate broker. He was a member of the Rotary Group Study Exchange Team to England in 1979. He is a Past Attendance Chairman of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club. He is also Past President, Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of the Aliceville Rotary Club. He was Sub-District Liaison Officer for the Rotary District Governor. He is married to Virginia Kimbrough King, and they have three children.

Warren Lavender

Warren is owner and operator of Lavender Funeral Service.

Dean Lewis

Dean was born in Aliceville and graduated from Aliceville High School and the University of Alabama with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management. He is a past President of the Aliceville Rotary Club, past President of the Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce, past Chairman of the Board of Directors at Pickens Academy, past Vice Chairman of the Boy Scouts of Aliceville, retired LTC in the Army Reserves. He is partner and operates Lewis Brothers Lumber Co. He has served on the Alabama Forestry Association Board of Directors 1995-1998, President-elect 1998-1999 and was the 51st President in 1999-2000. He is an active member in the Aliceville First Baptist Church, and was the Chairman of Deacons. Dean and his wife Jean have five children, Rusty, Mike, Jeff, Joe and Paige; and seven grandchildren.

Kathy Marine

Born in 1954, Kathy was raised in Panola, Alabama as a daughter of Clyde and Bee Marine. A graduate of Pickens Academy, Auburn University and the University of Alabama School of Law, she has practiced law in Pickens County since 1988. Kathy specializes in real estate and mineral law as well as serving as City Judge in three towns and as Assistant District Attorney. She and her husband Doug Lewis are the proud parents of Clint Lewis and spend time following his academic and athletic endeavors. With a strong love for travel, she and her family have visited several foreign lands and almost all of the states of the Union. She is a member of the Panola United Methodist Church, the Aliceville Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama, Mississippi and Pickens County Bar Associations and the Black Warrior Petroleum Landmen’s Association. Kathy is President of the Aliceville Rotary Club, past President of the Board of Trustees of Pickens Academy and past Chairman of Leadership Pickens.

W.C. (Bill) Martin

Bill was born Aug. 7, 1923 in Aliceville. He graduated from Aliceville High School and attended Auburn University. He owns Martin Truck & Tractor Co. an IH dealership. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Central Alabama. He is a U.S. Army Artillery veteran. he is Past President of the Aliceville Rotary Club and has been a member since 1947. He is Past President of the Aliceville Chamber of Commerce, and Past Chairman of the Gas Board for 52 years. Bill is Past President of the Alabama Farm Equipment Dealers and served on the Board of Northern American Equipment Dealers Association from 1973-1986; he was elected its President in 1985. He is an Elder in the Aliceville First Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Jean live on Pine Hill Drive in Aliceville. He has three daughters, Rebecca Sanders, Mary Louise Noland and Susan Martin; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Tony McDaniel

Tony is a 1993 graduate of Pickens Academy. He attended the University of West Alabama on a baseball scholarship and graduated from UWA in 1998. He is married to the former Robin Hankins of Vernon. They have three girls--Elizabeth, 7; Juliana, 5; and Olivia, 3.

Billy McKinzey

Billy was born in Aliceville and graduated from Aliceville High School and from the University of Alabama with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management. He is Past President and Bulletin Editor of the Rotary Club, Past President of the Aliceville Country Club, Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pickens Academy, and Past President of the Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Aliceville City Council for 13 years and is currently in his third term as Mayor of Aliceville. He owns and operates M&M Printing and The Shoppers Guide. He restored and operated Myrtlewood Bed and Breakfast. He is a member of Aliceville First Baptist Church and serves on the Finance Committee. He and his wife Johnie have two children, Bill McKinzey and Susan Milner, who live in Aliceville and work with him, and three grandchildren, Caroline and Katie, and Anna Rose Milner.

Donna Nance

Donna is a 1980 graduate of Carrollton High School. She attended Brewer State (now Bevill) Community College in Fayette and later attended MUW. She is a 2007 graduate of the Samford University Community Banking School and has 25 years of banking experience. Donna is a Loan officer/Vice President at West Alabama Bank in Aliceville. She is married to Jeff Nance, and they have two sons--Will, 22, and Shane, 18. She is a member of Carrollton Baptist Church where she serves as treasurer for the Seekers Sunday School Class. Her hobbies include riding motorcycles, fishing, spending time with her family and friends.

Everett Owens

Everett was born January 1942, graduated Aliceville High School in 1960 and from Auburn University in 1966. He has been in the farming and dairy business since 1966 and is currently in the turf grass business. He is married to Jamie Summerville and they have three children--Alicia, James and Bob and three grandchildren. He is an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Aliceville.

James Owens

James is a 1995 graduate of Auburn University in Forest Resources. He is a Registered Forester and is co-owner of Vienna Sod. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Aliceville.

John Paluzzi

John was born in Joliet, Ill. He is a graduate of Bristol High School in Tennessee, the University of Tennessee, Georgia State University and the Cumberland School of Law. He is currently practicing with the firm of Kirksey and Paluzzi in Pickens County. He serves as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Aliceville and the Town of Carrollton. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Aliceville and is past Secretary and Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He is a member of the Alabama Bar Association, Pickens County Bar Association, Birmingham Bar Association and Municipal Judges Association. He has been a member of the Aliceville Rotary Club since 1991. He is a Past President and Director, Founder and Chairman of the Annual Aliceville Rotary Rodeo. He is Chairman of the Pickens County Medical Center Foundation board, the Pickens County Boy Scouts, Black Warrior Council Annual Fund, Pickens County Juvenile Association, Pickens County Heart Association, and Aliceville Public Library Board (serving as Chairman). He is married to Mary Bess Kirksey Paluzzi, and they have a niece Mary Rainey Wetzel, whom they love like a daughter. He is the Probate Judge of Pickens County, winning the Democratic nomination in June 2006.

Mary Bess Kirksey Paluzzi

Mary Bess is a native of Aliceville and holds a B.A and an M.L.S. degree from the University of Alabama. From 1973 until 1991, she worked for the Birmingham Public Library. In 1991 she and her husband John Paluzzi returned to Pickens County. Her father Robert H. Kirksey wanted to retire and John joined his father-in-law in the general practice of law under the firm name of Kirksey and Paluzzi, Attorneys in Carrollton. From 1991 until 1996, Mary served as the Billups-Garth Archivist at the Columbus-Lowndes County (Miss.) Public Library. In March 1996, she became the Executive Director of the Aliceville Museum. Since returning to Aliceville, Mary Bess has been active in civic organizations. She has served as the President of the Pickens County Historical Society, Regent and Registrar of the Pickens County Chapter DAR, Registrar of the E.D. Willet UDC Chapter, a Director of the Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce, and numerous other positions. In 2001, she was named Aliceville’s Citizen of the year. She became the City Manager/City Clerk for the City of Aliceville in 2004, but she returned as the executive director of the Aliceville Museum last year.

Drew Powell

Drew Powell is a banking officer in the Aliceville office of First National Bank of Central Alabama. A native of Macon, Miss., he is a graduate of East Mississippi Community College where he was on the Mississippi Junior College All-State and All-Region baseball teams. He is a 2006 graduate of The University of Mississippi with a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in banking and finance. At Ole Miss, he was a member of the Southwind Covinites Social Club where he served as treasurer and a member of the Ole Miss Financiers Club. He currently lives in Aliceville.

Billy Joe Reece

Billy Joe was born in Palmetto and graduated from Pickens County High School. He has owned and operated Aliceville Body Shop since 1979. He is an active member of West End Baptist Church where he is a Deacon and a Sunday school teacher. He is married to Sarah Heritage Reece, and they have one daughter and three grandsons.

Donny Sanders

Donny was born in Columbus, Ga. on Aug. 21, 1946. He is a graduate of Aliceville High School and Auburn University. After a three-year career as a Research Engineer with the U.S. Forestry Service, Donny and his wife Becky Martin Sanders moved back to Aliceville in 1974, where he was employed in the family business, Martin Truck & Tractor Co., Inc.; presently he serves as President. He and Becky have two sons, Martin and Matthew. Donny has served as President of the Rotary Club, Chairman of the Pickens Academy Board, President of the Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce, and is presently an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Aliceville.

Doug Sanders Jr.

Doug is Editor and Publisher of the Pickens County Herald. He joined the Rotary Club in the mid-1990s and has served as Secretary and Bulletin Editor since 1997. He is a 1975 graduate of Pickens Academy and a 1978 graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.A. degree from the School of Communication. After working as a reporter and editor of the Pickens County Advertiser, he joined the Herald in July 1982. He lives in the Benevola Community with his wife Teresa and is a member of Forest Baptist Church where he serves as Clerk and Treasurer. Doug is the grandson of former Aliceville Rotarian, the late Dr. Robert K. Wilson Sr.

Carey Shelfer

Carey retired from the Eutaw Housing Authority in 2000 after serving as Executive Director for nine years. Previously, he was owner/operator of the Boligee Mercantile Co. Inc. and was employed by American Can Company in industrial paper sales for 16 years. Carey graduated from the University of Alabama in 1962 with a B.S. in marketing. He also served six years in the Marine Corps and Reserve. He and his wife Gail (also a Rotarian) have been married since 1962 and have three children--Carey Bryan, John Ashley and Mary Elizabeth--and have five grandchildren.

Gail R. Shelfer

Gail is the retired director of the Pickens County Department of Human Resources, a post she started in October 1996. She received her B.S. degree in education in 1962 and her Master's degree in social work in 1987 from the University of Alabama. She was an elementary school teacher in Dallas, Tex. and New Orleans, La. between 1962 and 1970, was a realtor in New Orleans for seven years, and owner and operator of the Boligee Mercantile Co. Inc. for four years. Gail worked for the Greene County DHR as a social worker and service supervisor between 1982 and 1991. Prior to moving to Aliceville, she worked for the Alabama DHR as a welfare supervisor and was State Coordinator of the Independent Living Program. Gail also serves as Chairman of the Pickens County Family Resource Center. She and her husband Carey have three grown children, Carey Bryan, John Ashley and Mary Elizabeth.

Ronnie Snelgrove

Ronnie was born March 23, 1946 in Jasper (Walker County), Ala. He attended Thach Junior High School, then Curry High School, graduating in May 1964. On July 20, 1964, Ronnie began his life-long career with Alabama Power Company, working in the construction department, the Prattville line crew, local lineman in Camden and manager in Aliceville and Demopolis, where he retired April 1, 2008. He has served as President of the Aliceville Rotary Club, current (and past) President of the Aliceville Country Club, Aliceville Chamber of Commerce Director, President of the Demopolis Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Directors of the Demopolis Country Club. Ronnie is an active member of the Aliceville First Baptist Church. He married his high school sweetheart Linda Shaw in June 1966. They have one daughter Rhonda Fleishmann, son-in-law Stephen and grandson Jack who reside in Metairie, La.

Jack Somerville

Jack has been Revenue Commissioner of Pickens County since 2003. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1978 with a B.S. degree in Commerce and Business Administration; and from U.S. Army Engineer Officer Basic School in 1979. He served 10 years as an officer in the Alabama National Guard and Army Reserve; and was Assistant Cashier and Security Officer for Aliceville Bank & Trust from 1978 to 1982. He owned and operated Jack’s Hardware in Aliceville from 1982 to 2002. He is Vice Chairman of the Pickens County Water Board; Chairman of the Pickens County Industrial Development Authority; and Secretary of the Pickens County Camp of the Gideons International. An Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Aliceville, Jack is married to the former Alma Ford, and they have two children--Mary Frances Pickett and Bob Somerville--and one grandchild.

Charlie Wilson

Charlie is the pastor of Aliceville First Baptist Church. He came to Aliceville in 2004. Prior to that, he ministered in Hartwell, Ga. where he was active in the Rotary Club and served as its President in 1999-2000. Charlie is a gradate of The University of Alabama and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He sights reading, golf, family time and Alabama football as his main interests. He is married to the former Jill Kizziah of Pensacola, Fla. They have two children--Allie (b. 2000) and Charlie Pierce (b. 2002). Charlie is the grandson of former Aliceville Rotarian, the late Dr. Robert K. Wilson Sr.

Dave Wood

Dave is a native of Stansel. He is a 1987 graduate of Pickens County High School. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve in Operation Desert Storm with Fleet Hospital 15 in Jubayl, Saudi Arabia. He is employed with Alabama Power as an Operations Supervisor. Dave's wife Melanie Powell Wood is a native of Aliceville. He and Melanie have one daughter Anna who is a student at Pickens Academy. They are members of Carrollton Baptist Church and live in Stansel.

Becky York

Becky is a native of Greensboro. She graduated from Greensboro High School and Judson College. She is a Certified Professional Manager and a Certified Energy Manager, and Becky is the Manager of Alabama Power Company in Pickens County.. She is a member of the Aliceville Industrial Development Board, Pickens County Industrial Development Board, Aliceville Museum Board (where she serves as Chairman), Aliceville Gardeners (as Vice President), Bureau of Prisons Committee, Alabama Power Company LDA and APSO, the Pickens County Wellness Committee (as Chairman) and the Aliceville Presbyterian Church. Becky and her husband Mark Thrash have a poodle named Penny, and she enjoys working on her house, needlework, golf and her three brothers.

Jo Anne Young

Jo Anne was born May 21, 1957 in New Orleans, La. She moved to Aliceville with her parents Claude and Ruth Robinson when she was one year old. She is a graduate of Aliceville High School in 1974 and attended Mississippi University for Women. She married Bill Young in 1977, and they have two sons, Will and Hank. She has been employed as an insurance agent for State Farm Insurance Companies for the last 16 years. She is a member and past President of the Chapter One Junior Women's Club. She was the first woman president of the Aliceville Area Chamber of Commerce and is a past director. She was in the group of the first four women members of the Aliceville Rotary Club.