Three newly appointed members attended their first meeting of the board of directors of the Alabama State Port Authority.  Gov. Robert Bentley named Horace Horn to represent the Central District; Ben Stimpson to represent the Southern District; and Daryl Dewberry to serve At-Large.  All three appointments are five year terms effective Aug. 1, 2015. Pursuant to the Alabama Constitution and pertinent statutes, the Alabama State Senate confirmed all three in March during the Regular Legislative Session. Gov. Bentley, in separate letters to Dewberry, Horn and Stimpson, expressed appreciation for their service, noting members held “great responsibility” as the body made important decisions affecting the citizens of Alabama.  Established by legislative act in 2000, the nine member board holds fiscal and policy oversight for the public seaport.  James K. Lyons, director and chief executive officer for the Port Authority, welcomed the new members noting, “All three bring to the board expertise on industries important to the state’s economy and the Port Authority’s key business lines.  Both my staff and I look forward to working with these gentlemen.” Daryl Dewberry is vice president of District 20 of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International with nearly 40 years of experience in the coal industry. Dewberry has served on various committees within the UMWA Convention, including as the former Chairman of the Constitutional Committee. Dewberry also serves as the vice president of the Alabama AFL-CIO Executive Board, executive board member of the Central Alabama Labor Federation, and past member of the Alabama Department of Safety and Inspections for the State Mine Examiners’ Board.  Horace Horn currently serves as vice president of external affairs for PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, a generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative providing wholesale power in Alabama and northwest Florida. Horn is the past State Director of the Farmers Home Administration, now known as the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Division, and held leadership positions in Alabama agribusiness including poultry production and organic garden products. Horn serves on a number of national and regional boards, including the Energy Council, BBVA Bank, the Business Council of Alabama and the Southeast Federal Power Customers Inc Ben Stimpson is the owner and executive vice president of Scotch Gulf Lumber, a lumber products company with three mills located in Mobile and Clarke Counties, Ala. Stimpson sits on a number of boards and commissions, including the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturer’s Association, the Southern Pine Council, the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau and the Alabama Wildlife Federation.