By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
Six outstanding citizens will be inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame April 27.
They are Dr. Wil Baker, Robert Faircloth, Ann Gordon, Novy L. Hale, the Rev. Isaac Holt, and Wayne Stacey.
The 14th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner is set for Saturday, April 27, 6 p.m., at The Club. Tickets, $25 each, are available at Atmore News, 128 N. Main Street. Everyone attending must have a ticket.
Please note: The deadline to purchase or reserve tickets was Thursday, April 18.
The Hall of Fame committee extends a special invitation to former inductees.
Each week, Atmore News has featured one of this year’s inductees. This week, the series concludes with this inductee.
Wayne Stacey
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Wayne Stacey has had a stellar career both in active military and in his service to veterans.
Stacey is an Atmore native and a 1961 graduate of Escambia County High School. He graduated from Auburn University in 1965 with a degree in Business Administration, and he earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Butler University in 1976.
Stacey is a 1979 graduate of the US Army Command & General Staff College where he was awarded a Master of Human Behavioral Science Degree designation by the US Army.
He was an adjunct instructor with the University of Hawaii and Central Texas College in Business and Leadership and served as Department Chair and Professor of Military Science at Rider University.
Stacey’s military career began when he graduated from Auburn and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. His assignments included Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Harrison, Ind.; Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Vietnam; Okinawa, Japan; and South Korea.
Stacey’s duties included Company Commander; 2 Battalion Commands; Deputy Brigade Commander; and numerous Staff Officer positions at Battalion, Corps, Army, and Joint Command levels. He served as Leadership Instructor in Army schools and served on numerous Army Task Forces developing various aspects of personnel and finance systems.
In 1991, Stacey retired from active duty with more than 25 years of service and 60 percent service-connected disability.
Lt. Col. Stacey’s awards include Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 OLC, and Army Commendation Medal.
In business, he served as Director of Human Resources for Georgia World Congress Center Authority (Convention Center, Georgia Dome Stadium, and Centennial Olympic Park) from 1992 thru 2004. He was co-owner and operator of a sporting goods retail store from 1995 through 2002.
Stacey has served his fellow veterans well through his service in the American Legion of which he has been a life member for more than 19 years.
He served as State Commander of Alabama American Legion 2014-2015 and had previously served as Jr. and Sr. Vice Commander; five years as Alabama Department Membership Commission Chair; two years as Commander of Gulf Shores Post #44, 2008-2010, with more than 525 members; two years as Baldwin County Commander, 2009-2010; and 3rd Division Commander, 2010-2011.
He currently serves as American Legion District 33 Finance Committee Chair and serves on numerous National and State-Level Committees, including Legislative, Americanism, Baseball and Boys State. He is a member of American Legion Riders Activity.
In addition, Stacey supports his wife Donna in her Legionnaire duties, including State Commander of Alabama American Legion in 2017-2018.
Other interests include membership in Sons of the American Legion Squadron 44, Disabled American Veterans Organization, and Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 0864.
He is a life member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 7016, Atmore; a member of First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores; Associate Member of Marine Corps League; and a member of Military Officers Association of America.
Stacey has been married to Major (Retired) (USA) Donna Kay Stacey (nee Richey) for 35 years. They have five adult children and nine grandchildren.
They have resided In Gulf Shores for 14 years.