Staff writer

This week, the Southeast Alabama Gas District celebrates its 50th anniversary, and a special invitation only celebration was held yesterday at the district’s headquarters in Andalusia.

The gas district was formed Jan. 29, 1952, by a group of Andalusia leaders, who wanted to ensure an available source of natural gas and promote industrial development.

Tuesday, the district held a celebration for employees of the entire district in Troy, which is the geographic center of the district, which includes 14 south Alabama municipalities.

"We’ve had multiple celebrations this week," said Shannon Gooden, marketing director for SEAGD.

At yesterday’s 2-3:30 p.m. celebration, company officials honored retirees, past and current board members and key customers who have helped make SEAGD a success, Gooden said.

"The whole reason the original founders formed the district was to promote economic growth for southeast Alabama," Gooden said, adding the same 14 member cities still own the gas district today.

She said SEAGD has achieved the goals it set 50 years ago and continues its mission of promoting economic development through its recently formed Teamwork Southeast Alabama that unites the 14 cities to work as a team to attract industrial development to the area.

"Our hope is that 50 years from now southeast Alabama will be thriving economically and that we will have continued to contribute to the area’s viability for business," said Jim Smith, SEAGD president and CEO.

The 14 member cities are Abbeville, Andalusia, Brundidge, Dothan, Elba, Enterprise, Eufaula, Fort Deposit, Greenville, Headland, Luverne, Opp, Ozark and Troy.

SEAGD is also one of Andalusia’s larger employers with about 89 employees in Andalusia alone.