After almost 38 years of service, Gene Hodges, Georgia Power Co.’s executive vice president of customer operations, is announcing his retirement from the company.

Hodges, 62, will retire effective June 1.

“Some things become a part of you, as Georgia Power has for the better part of my life,” Hodges said. “I have cherished that association, and I am most grateful for the wonderful people who have been brought into my life throughout my career. I have been fortunate to work with so many fine people.

“But now it’s time to begin a new chapter in my life and spend more time with my wife and family and pursue other activities we enjoy,” he said. “These are exciting and challenging times for Georgia Power, and I am confident the company will exceed all expectations because that is the trademark of the people of this great company.”

"Through his leadership style, Gene has demonstrated that he is always approachable, he truly cares about employees and he respects the value of what each person contributes," said David Ratcliffe, Georgia Power president and CEO. "No one has more credibility with front-line employees than Gene. That is his legacy."

Hodges has served as executive vice president of customer operations for the past nine years. The position is responsible for region operations, transmission, distribution, customer service, labor relations, safety and the Georgia Power service organization Citizens of Georgia Power.

Hodges began his career at Georgia Power in 1963 as a student accountant in Valdosta. He progressed in the accounting organization before being named district manager in Tifton in 1974. He later became Athens division manager, vice president of customer accounting and accounting services, vice president of Atlanta-West Metro Region and senior vice president of region operations.

A native of Statesboro, Hodges has served on the boards and committees of several organizations over the years, including Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center (now Children’s Health Care of Atlanta), the Georgia Wildlife Federation and the American Red Cross Georgia Disaster Campaign.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility, serving customers in 57,000 of the state’s 59,000 square miles. Georgia Power’s rates are 15 percent below the national average and its 1.8 million customers are in all but six of Georgia’s 159 counties.