Legendary Leader

A.W. "Bill" Dahlberg (B.B.A. '70) marches to the beat of his own drum - literally.

The retired chairman and CEO of the Southern Company once donned a drum major's hat, grabbed a baton and led a marching band through the Student Center to celebrate the completion of GSU's first-ever fundraising campaign. "I've always liked costumes," Dahlberg said. "I wore a gorilla costume to an annual report meeting one year."

Antics aside, Dahlberg is one of Atlanta's most successful business leaders. He worked his way to the top at the Southern Company after beginning his career washing meter covers for Georgia Power in 1960.

He also worked his way through GSU while holding down two jobs and raising three children.

Dahlberg held positions in accounting, finance and marketing and by the late 1980s, he was tapped as president and CEO of Georgia Power. He was named president of the Southern Company in 1994 and chairman and CEO a year later.

Among his many accolades, Georgia Trend named him "Man of the Year" in 1994 and "Georgia's Most Respected CEO," in 1996.

Under Dahlberg's guidance, the Southern Company grew from a regional electric utility in the Southeast to an international energy company with operations in 12 countries.

Throughout his career, Dahlberg maintained an unwavering support for GSU. He chaired the university's first capital campaign, which raised money to restore the Rialto Center for the Arts and build the Aderhold Learning Center.

In September, GSU changed the name of Alumni Hall to Dahlberg Hall in recognition of his support. During the dedication ceremony, Dahlberg recalled how he saw his first-ever elephant at a circus there back when the building was known as the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium.

"GSU gave me so much and an opportunity to get a degree," Dahlberg said during the dedication. "It's a great day for the Dahlberg family, and it's even better than seeing an elephant!"