Personal relationships and getting to know the people in a community are what set a small town apart from a large one filled with thousands of people.
When he walks into a grocery store, sporting a smile and a suit, he spends more time socializing and visiting with his neighbors than actually shopping -- that is a great thing to Council member Gene Dulaney.
Dulaney said the aspects of getting to know a person, their life, family and business, is the reason why he got into the banking industry.
It is the reason he got involved with his community and the reason he became a city council member.
"I have always been very involved in community activities. It's something I have always enjoyed doing," Dulaney said. "It goes back to that relationship part of being a part of this community and establishing relationships."
Dulaney grew up in Prattville, a city north of Montgomery.
In Prattville, he attended a high school where his graduating class was only 28 people.
When he decided to attend Auburn University, Dulaney said he was taught a lot more than just academics.
"It was a very important time for me, not only from an education standpoint but to grow socially and to develop people skills," Dulaney said. "That was a big part of my education. Coming from a background of a small school to becoming one of 22,000 students, it was a bit overwhelming. On a large campus, it can be kind of hard to find your niche."
After skipping around majors, Dulaney said he finally ended up majoring in finance and graduated in 1981.
"Banking is something I was always interested in because it is a very people-oriented type of business," Dulaney said. "What appealed to me the most, from a banking standpoint, are the personal relationships that you establish as part of your career."
After spending six years away from Auburn in Montgomery and Birmingham, Dulaney was given an opportunity to come back to Auburn.
"It's kind of interesting, my experience with Auburn having been here as a student, being gone for a few years and coming back as a working person," Dulaney said. "You see things from a different perspective than you do as a student."
Dulaney said the banking industry encourages their workers to be involved in the community, and Auburn Bank, where Dulaney currently works, is no different.
Along with other community projects, Dulaney got involved with United Way thanks to the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, and eventually worked his way into a seat in city council.
Dulaney is currently in his third term with the Council.
"As I did service in all these community organizations, it kind of opened my eyes to needs that come up in the city," Dulaney said. "It was kind of a natural progression to get into the council service. I'm not a politician. I'm not political by nature, but the thing that I have enjoyed about city council is that it is truly a service position."
Dulaney also works with The Miracle League of East Alabama, and said it is one of the things he most enjoys doing with his time.
The Miracle League is a baseball league for special-needs children.
The league uses a facility in Opelika with a specialized field equipped with a rubberized surface for the children with mobility issues.
"It is an opportunity to give special-needs children the chance to get out," Dulaney said. "They are playing a baseball game, but ideally are just out playing and having fun. "
For many years, Dulaney was involved in his son's baseball team as a coach for Dixie Youth Baseball.
When his son outgrew youth baseball, The Miracle League opportunity presented itself to him.
"It has been a very fun thing and very rewarding to me to be a part of that," Dulaney said. "It is just a neat experience to see those kids having a great time. I am probably blessed more for being around them then they are being around me."
Dulaney represents Ward 7 and has since his election in 2002.
Dulaney is married to his wife, Reeder, and have two children.
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