By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore/Autauga News
James Owen Dozier, Elmore County’s oldest living WWII veteran, was honored with a surprise birthday party at First Community Bank of Central Alabama in Millbrook last week.
“I couldn’t believe it. We left the house, and my daughter said, ‘Daddy, we need to stop at the bank for just a minute,’ Dozier said.
They were heading into town, and the bank was on the way, so he thought it was a routine stop. But when he walked in, he quickly realized this stop was anything but routine.
“I opened that door and walked in, I couldn’t believe it,” Dozier said, with a smile and some laughter. “The place was running over, and they had the signs out. They pulled that one on me. They got me good.”
Dozier was welcomed with cupcakes, balloons, gifts, and an outpouring of love and fellowship. His 100th birthday was celebrated by his children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, former employees, and colleagues, as well as representatives from FBCA.
Dozier has a special message to everyone who showed up to show him love and celebrate his special day.
“I love you, every one of you,” he said. “I worked with a lot of you and I enjoyed every day of it. At this age, I’m through with work, but I still love everyone.”
The Millbrook FBC branch has been part of the bank from the beginning and holds special significance for Dozier, one of the bank’s founding members.
“He’s one of the founders, he’s a World War II veteran, and he’s just awesome,” FCBCA Senior Success Coordinator Joyce Evans said. “We are so happy to celebrate him.”
Before opening FCBCA, Dozier worked at First National Bank in Wetumpka. When that organization closed, he and then colleague, Bobby Barrett, set out to start up a new bank that would serve the community, thus First Community Bank.
Dozier was at the FNB Millbrook location when Barrett stopped by with news that would change the trajectory of both their professional careers.
“Bobby stopped by and he said, ‘James, you and I have to open a new bank because they sold ours last night, ” Dozier explained. “I knew it was in the making, but not when it would come about, I didn’t know that it had already happened.”
From there, FCBCA was born, opening its doors on Aug. 28, 2001, with the mission of serving the financial needs of communities throughout central Alabama. Since then, it has expanded to include branches in Eclectic, Prattville, Tallassee, and Holtville.
There is a second community birthday party for Dozier on Saturday, May 31, at Crossroads Baptist Church, located at 150 Mt Hebron Rd. in Elmore, from 3-5 p.m.
