Although he has reached his 50-year milestone at Alabama Power, Warner Patterson said retirement is not even on his radar.

“I don’t fish, hunt or play golf, and I’m not into football,” said 69-year-old Patterson, training supervisor in the Training Center at the General Services Complex. “I’m not here for the money, but I just can’t sit at home. I’ve got to do something, so why leave?”

Alabama Power hired Warner Patterson in 1971. He has worked various jobs with the company and has no plans to retire anytime soon. (Phil Free / Powergrams)

Patterson’s co-workers said his experience and knowledge will be missed when he decides to take that next step. With 28 years at the Training Center, along with nearly two decades in Power Delivery Distribution and Transmission, it’s no wonder.

“Warner has seen a lot of major changes and has a wealth of knowledge. You name it, he’s done it,” said Training Team Leader Delron Garrett.

Garrett has worked alongside Patterson for the past three years. Patterson was one of Garrett’s training instructors when Garrett joined the company as a utility assistant in 2002.

“He’s done the same things I’m trying to do right now,” said Garrett. “He can tell you the things you are going to run into before you get there. There’s nothing you can’t ask him about the job that he wouldn’t know and understand. If he doesn’t know, he’s not too proud to tell you he doesn’t know but will find out.”

The Training Center team recognized Patterson’s many contributions with a celebration on his 50-year anniversary, Nov. 16, 2021, and named an on-the-job training (OJT) field at the GSC in his honor. The Warner Patterson OJT Field is one of those at which new Power Delivery employees practice skills such as pole-climbing, pulling and moving wires and hanging transformers.

As training supervisor since 2019, Patterson oversees and manages course curricula and skills training for Distribution, Transmission, Substations and Networking, as well as the cafeteria staff at the facility. He coordinates the lineworker training programs that Alabama Power sponsors in partnership with four Alabama community colleges and fills in as an instructor at the training center when needed.

“Watching an individual who has been hired off the street and knows nothing about electricity get to where he can build and maintain power lines in a short time and knowing I’ve been a part of that, that’s rewarding,” Patterson said. “I’ve had linemen say, ‘I was in your class and you taught me this, and I’ll never forget it.’ That’s a testament to the instructor.”

Patterson is a subject matter expert in the area of work zone traffic control safety and has chaired Alabama Power’s traffic control committee. He teaches traffic control certification classes, which provide training on the proper use of advanced warning signals, such as signs, lights and cones, when company crews are working along busy rights of way.

Patterson is well known for his on-the-job training efforts. (Phil Free / Powergrams)

“Warner really cares about people and is a key part of our team,” said Safety and Training Manager Bill McGough, whose working relationship with Patterson dates back nearly 30 years. “We have a lot of young employees in our department, and we’re losing a lot of experience. Warner has been that anchor that has helped them develop in their roles as far as keeping them on the right track, and making sure they stay grounded and know what’s important.”

“Warner is someone you could go to for advice. He will lead you in the right direction and keep you out of trouble,” said Allen Gray, training coordinator.

After graduating from high school in Roanoke, Patterson started auto mechanics training at Opelika State Technical College, with no plans to work at Alabama Power until he was approached by a family friend who worked at the company. When he learned from his friend that there are auto mechanics at Alabama Power, he applied for a job and was hired as a helper in the Eastern Division Garage in 1971.

Patterson soon took a job as a tree trimmer and then as a meter reader in Roanoke, his hometown. In 1973, he moved to Power Delivery, where he rose through the ranks on the line crew, becoming a foreman in Greenville in 1993.

“For me, the most rewarding times in my career were working storm trouble,” Patterson said. “You go into a town, and there’s not a light on. By dark, half the town is back up, and people are thanking you, patting you on the back and offering you a Coke. They’re really thankful to have somebody working for them.”

Patterson said missing family time was the hardest part of working on a line crew.

“I missed a lot of my children’s lives,” Patterson said. “I’ve worked as much as 36 consecutive hours. You get in at 2 or 3 in the morning when they are all asleep and the next day, it’s the same thing. When my son played T-ball in Greenville, I never saw a game.”

Patterson said he has seen many changes over the years, such as the move to automated meter reading and improved radio communications.

In addition, linemen don’t climb poles as often, although it’s still an integral part of the job.

Patterson with Josh Latham of Gadsden and Brandon Maxwell of Dadeville. (Phil Free / Powergrams)

“When I worked in Dadeville, we didn’t have a bucket truck, so with anything you did, you had to climb the pole,” Patterson said. “Today, there are three bucket trucks in Dadeville. But there’s times when linemen still have to climb poles because they can’t get to the lines with the bucket truck.”

Patterson’s days are not all filled with work. He lives in Calera with his wife, Cynthia. They have three children – Tiffany, an Alabama Power customer care associate; Brandy, a planning and development consultant at Edward Jones Investments; and Warner, an electrical engineer at a municipal power company in Florida.

Three years ago, Patterson bought a lathe and learned the skill of woodworking by watching YouTube videos. He has made flower stands, rocking chairs and wooden bowls.

Patterson’s biggest passion is “cruising.” He and his wife have taken more than 20 cruises, traveling to Alaska, Hawaii and “every island you can think of in the Caribbean.”

Patterson believes there’s no need to wait for retirement to start enjoying life.

“It’s OK to put money aside for tomorrow. But if there’s something you want to do today and you can afford it, then do it,” he said. “We’re not guaranteed tomorrow, so we need to enjoy today.”

Patterson said he will always be glad that he went to work at Alabama Power all those years ago.

“If I had to do it all over again, I can honestly say I would not hesitate to do the same thing,” Patterson said. “Alabama Power is a company that really cares about its employees. I’ve worked at small places where you’re just a number, but at Alabama Power, you’re family. In your time of need, your brothers at the company will come to help you in a heartbeat, and that’s what families do.”

This story originally appeared in Powergrams, Alabama Power’s employee magazine.