Alabama ONE celebrates 75 years with $750 donations
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Alabama ONE Credit Union’s Rockford branch celebrates with a $750 donation to the Coosa County Training School/J.D. Thompson Alumni Association. Credit union and association representatives pictured from left are Sara Strickland, Tonya McCain, Mamie Ellis, Alumni Association president JoEtta Maxwell, Shirley Jennings, Katurah Lewis, and Sarah Angle. Photo by Christa Jennings
Alabama ONE’s Goodwater branch celebrates with a $750 donation to the Goodwater Disabled Veterans Organization. Pictured from left are Stephanie Galloway (treasurer), branch manager of Alabama ONE Goodwater Jordan Eason, Wade McElrath (commander), and Carla Bolden (secretary). Photo by Lydia Waters
Refreshments were prepared for guests attending the celebrations. Photo by Christa Jennings
Jared Kirby, area executive for East Central at Alabama ONE, speaks to guests at the celebration at the Rockford branch. Photo by Christa Jennings
Alabama ONE CEO Whitney Oswalt, left, and Sara Strickland, Alabama ONE market manager for Rockford, speak during the celebration. Photo by Christa Jennings
The youngest door prize winner, Liam, shows off his new cap. Photo by Christa Jennings
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Alabama ONE Credit Union is celebrating 75 years of service this year with celebrations at its various branches while making donations to nonprofits in the communities, including Rockford and Goodwater.
Earlier this month Alabama ONE representatives visited the Rockford and Goodwater branches to celebrate with the communities with refreshments and door prizes. The credit union also made two $750 donations to celebrate its 75 years.
In Rockford, that donation was made to the Coosa County Training School/J.D. Thompson Alumni Association.
Jared Kirby, area executive for East Central at Alabama ONE, welcomed guests to the celebration and spoke of his familiarity with the community, having initially been with First Bank since 1997. He thanked everyone for coming to the celebration and for their business with the credit union.
Sara Strickland, market manager of Alabama ONE in Rockford, spoke about the celebrations across the state representing 75 years of service for the credit union. She mentioned the $750 donations being a part of that and announced that for Rockford they decided to give the donation to the Coosa County Training School/J.D. Thompson Alumni Association.
“They restore historical buildings in our community, and they’re also fantastic members with us,” Strickland said. “So we have a great relationship with them.”
Strickland also recognized and expressed appreciation for others in attendance for the celebration. She also recognized her team members at the local branch, including Tonya McCain, Katurah Lewis and Sarah Angle.
Whitney Oswalt, CEO of Alabama ONE, also spoke to attendees about the history of the credit union, from its humble beginnings in 1951 as the TRW (Tire and Rubber Workers) Federal Credit Union with $35 in a cigar box and being renamed to the BF Goodrich Employees Federal Credit Union in 1973, to now having 32 locations and $1.5 billion in assets.
Oswalt spoke about plans for growing Alabama ONE’s presence across the state and continuing to help people in communities such as Rockford.
JoEtta Maxwell, president of the Coosa County Training School/J.D. Thompson Alumni Association, thanked Alabama ONE for the donation and spoke about the nonprofit organization.
“What we’re trying to do is preserve our history to keep our community together, “Maxwell said.
She spoke of the origins of the school as the Coosa County Academy in 1899 by John Reuben Savage. She said the organization does various things to try to keep the legacy going while preserving the historic school’s rich history.
Representatives of the Alumni Association in attendance for the celebration included Maxwell, Mamie Ellis, Shirley Jennings, and Sheryl Borden.
Maxwell thanked Alabama ONE again and said that the association would use the funds to put propane gas in the building, which costs $540, stating that they would “have some left.”
“Pastor always says, if you do what’s right, God will bless you,” Maxwell said.
At the Goodwater branch, the 75th anniversary celebration included a $750 donation to the Goodwater Disabled Veterans Organization.
Organization representatives in attendance for the check presentation included Commander Wade McElrath, treasurer Stephanie Galloway and secretary Carla Bolden.
“It was indeed an honor to be considered and thought about,” McElrath said of the donation. “The Goodwater Disabled Veterans would like to express our deep appreciation and a thank you to Alabama ONE for their generous donation.”
“Also, it was an honor to celebrate with Alabama ONE on its 75th anniversary in Alabama and in our community,” McElrath added.
McElrath said that the donation “means a lot” to the Goodwater Disabled Veterans because they are a nonprofit organization, and it is not federally funded.
“These funds, along with other donated funds, will be used to support the Goodwater Disabled Veterans’ missions, goals and activities for our community and veterans who live here in Coosa County,” he said. “An example would be in support of our Veteran Center, located at 166 Harris Street, Goodwater.”
McElrath is the point of contact for the Goodwater Disabled Veterans Organization, and those wishing to learn more about or contribute to the organization may contact him at 256-749-9100.
