William R. "Ronnie" Marks

 
Mayor's Office
Title: Mayor
Phone: 256-233-8730
Email the Mayor


Experience

  • November 3, 2010 - Current - Mayor, City of Athens. Administrative Responsibility for the day to day operations of the City of Athens. Fiscal operations budgets are approximately $100M Utilities (Electric, Gas, Water/Wastewater, Finance, Customer Service, and Warehouse). The General Fund budget is approximately $22M (Public Works, City Clerk, Personnel, Fire, Police, Cemetery, Parks and Recreation Department.) The City of Athens currently has approximately 360 employees.
  • October 2004 - November 3, 2010 - City of Athens, Council Member, District Number 4. Legislative Responsibility for Policy/Procedures and Budgets which include approximately $100M Utility budget and $21M General Fund budget)
  • December 2005 - February 2008 - Field Operations Manager for Governor Bob Riley's Emergency Relief Fund for Hurricane Katrina victims.
  • September 2001-April 2004 - Contract employee with SCB assigned as Senior Functional Analyst with the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
  • Worked with the State Finance Department and the DHR Office of Contracts/Federal Claiming to analysis budgets and financial data to insure an increase in available federal funds and cost savings recommendations of state funds.
  • March 1999 - September 2001 - Contract employee with SCB assigned as Project Consultant/Functional Manager with the Department of Human Resources, Office of Child Day Care.
  • Responsible for managing the contract activities between the Alabama Child Care Subsidy program and the contract vendor by developing and implementing an automated child day care subsidy system.
  • February 1997 - March 1999 - Project Director for the Southern Alliance of States (SAS) with Lockheed Martin, IMS.
    • SAS was an alliance formed to support the implementation of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Services and implement a prototype electronic payment system for inter-state access to government issued benefits. Program services addressed were TANF and food stamps in eight states, including; Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
    • Responsible for the delivery of debit cards to 1.9 million recipients/clients and actively enrolling 36,000 certified retailers in the EBT system in these 8 states.
  • June 1971 - February 1997 - Alabama Department of Human Resources
    • Began my career with the Department of Human Resources in Limestone County. The last 8 years prior to retirement, I worked as a Regional Manager serving as the management link between the State Office and 11 county welfare departments in North Alabama.
  • January 1971 - May 1971 - Teacher w/ Limestone County Schools at New Hope
  • 1966 - 1968 - Teacher w/ Limestone County Schools at West Limestone.

Education

  • Masters Degree of Social Work (1975) - University of Tennessee, Nashville, TN
  • BS Degree - University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
  • High School Diploma - Tanner High School, Tanner, AL

Military Experience

  • 1968 - 1970 U. S Army
  • 1969 - 1970 Platoon Sgt. - 198 Lieutenant Infantry Brigade in Vietnam
  • 1970 - 1978 Alabama National Guard
  • Recipient of the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces

Other Experience, Professional Achievements, Awards

  • 1982-1986 and 2004-2008 and Current - City of Athens, Planning Commission
  • 2010-Current - Limestone County Foundation on Aging
  • 2004-Current - Board Member, Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives
  • 2004-Current - Board Member, Athens-Limestone Beautification Board
  • Athens Rotary Member
  • North Alabama Mayor’s Association (multiple terms as president
  • Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp. Board of Directors
  • Alabama League of Municipalities Executive Committee, Finance/Administration/Intergovernmental Relations Committee, and Ethics Committee
  • Limestone County Economic Development Board
  • 2017-2018 Dekko Foundation Grant Review Committee 
  • 1986 - 1996 - Board of Directors at Athens-Limestone Hospital
  • 1994 - 1996 - Board Member of Athens-Limestone Hospital Home Health Agency
  • 1982 - 1986 - City of Athens, Council Member, District Number 4
  • 2012 Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 511 Citizen of the Year
  • 2014 - University of North Alabama Alumni Political Service Award
  • 2015 Limestone County Chapter NAACP Community Leader Award

Personal

  • Married to Sandra Neal Marks
  • Son: Rhodney Marks
  • Grandchildren: Abby Marks, Mollie Marks and Quinton Marks
  • Daughter: Laura Marks Johnson (and husband, Matthew)
  • Sunday school teacher - Friendship Methodist Church
 

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