June 12, 2026

Name/Title: Chuck Ables, mayor of Geraldine 

How long have you been on the TARCOG Board? Are you now or have you previously been on the executive committee? I have been on the board since 2014, and I have never served on the executive committee.

What has been your biggest professional achievement? Being elected and re-elected as Geraldine’s mayor since 2012.

What career advice do you live by? Who gave it to you? “I should be the most presumptuous blockhead upon this footstool if I for one day thought that I could discharge the duties which have come upon me, since I came to this place, without the aid and enlightenment of One who is stronger and wiser than all others.” Quote from Abraham Lincoln.  

What would be the theme song of your life right now? Title and artist. It Is Well With My Soul. Horatio Spafford. 

Who is someone who has made a big impact on your life? Why? My parents. They made sure I always went to church with them. They taught me to always tell the truth, treat everyone fairly and “always do what you know is right.”  

What is a fun fact that people probably don’t know about you! I guess I am not much fun. I had trouble coming up with something. My grandkids are the fifth generation of my family to graduate from Geraldine High School. My grandparents graduated from Geraldine in 1925.  

Where are you from? Where did you go/graduate high school. I grew up in Geraldine and graduated from Geraldine High School in 1968.  

Do you have any hobbies? I like to garden and travel. 

Favorite place you have traveled? I must mention a few. Bryce Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Badlands. Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty.  

What’s one item you can’t live without? I almost said my Bible, but with a Bible app on my phone, and so much information available, I will say my phone. 

Chuck Ables, mayor of Geraldine

May 27, 2026

Name/Title: Connie Spears, Community Volunteer

How long have you been on the TARCOG Board, and are you now or have you previously been on the executive committee? I’ve been on the board since 2020, when I served on the Madison City Council. I’m the immediate past president and have served as secretary, treasurer, and vice president.

What has been your biggest professional achievement? Helping Madison City Schools become a world class school system and co-chairing the Madison City 12 Mil Property Tax for Education Campaign. I also have received three State Legislative Proclamations for Education Advocacy.

What career advice do you live by and who gave it to you? I did not have a traditional career path. I went where I felt that God was leading me. I took this advice from the Bible — “God will direct your steps.”

What would be the theme song of your life right now? Trust and Obey by John H. Sammis and Daniel B. Towner.

Who is someone who’s made a big impact on your life? Dr. Dee Fowler. Why? He helped me learn how to focus on doing what’s right for children and to advocate for them.

What is a fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? I started kindergarten in Asmara, Eritrea, previously part of Ethiopia.

Where are you from? Army Brat: Texas; Virginia; Eritrea; Huntsville; Center Point; Izmir, Turkey; Sausalito, California and back to Center Point in Alabama.

Where did you go to/graduate high school? Erwin High School in Center Point.

Do you have any hobbies? Reading, cooking, traveling — and I’ll add spoiling my grandchild in November!

Favorite place you’ve traveled? All of them.

What’s one item you can’t live without? Besides my family … my Kindle.

TARCOG Board Ex-Officio Connie Spears

April 8, 2026

Name/Title: Lester Black, TARCOG Treasurer

How long have you been on the TARCOG Board? Seven years. I’m in my first year on the executive board.

What has been your biggest professional achievement? Owning my own businesses and being elected to the DeKalb County Commission. I owned Rainsville Tire for 12 years and before that I had an electronics repair business. I’m in my eighth year as county commissioner eighth year and if reelected this year, within the next two years there will be no more dirt roads in District 4. We’ve paved about 130 miles in the district. and when I started it was my goal to have all of them paved. If the economy holds up, it will get done.

What career advice do you live by? Who gave it to you? That would be to never stand still and always be looking forward. I actually put it together from two or three different things I’ve read about people who were successful business people.

What would be the theme song of your life right now? Taking Care of Business by Randy Bachman.

Who is someone who’s made a big impact on your life? Why? My dad, Curtis Black, because he signed with me to get me started in my first business. I was very fortunate with both of my parents.

What is a fun fact that people probably don’t know about you. When I was 4 years old, I outran the DeKalb County sheriff — on foot.

It may have been 68 years ago, but I still remember it like yesterday. I had a gigantic—I mean gigantic—whistle. We were at my grandpa’s birthday dinner, and my uncle got tired of me blowing it. He told me if I didn’t stop, he was going to call the police to take me to jail.

Lo and behold, he hadn’t said it more than a minute when the sheriff came driving by real slow. Being a 4-year-old boy, I laid down on that whistle. The sheriff stopped and backed into Grandpa’s driveway. I didn’t know he was just asking for directions — I took off running.

My sister saw me and tried to stop me, but we got in a scuffle and I broke loose.

I ran and hid, and everybody at the party — about 100 people — started looking for me. Grandpa turned on the vacuum pumps at his dairy to flush me out. It sounded like gunfire when it started up and I thought they were shooting at me, so I took off again. I crossed the creek—it was about dry — and ran for my life.

Two men run me down in a cotton field about two miles away in another community. I was fighting them because I thought they were taking me to the sheriff. They put me in the floorboard of their 1940s car as they drove around house to house asking if anyone knew me. I was huddled under the dash, scared to death—like a little puppy. It was two to three hours before I got back to my grandpa’s.

One thing I’ll always remember is that the sheriff was running for re-election. His opponent went around telling everybody he couldn’t even catch a 4-year-old boy. And I felt sorry for the sheriff because he got beat.

Where are you from? Where did you go to/graduate high school? I’ve lived in Rainsville my whole life and graduated from Plainview High School.

Do you have any hobbies? I like collecting coins and fishing and gardening

Favorite place you’ve traveled? I’ve got three. Israel, Jordan and Turkey.

What’s one item you can’t live without? Friends. Food also comes to mind, but I’ll go with friends.

DeKalb County Commissioner and TARCOG Board Treasurer Lester Black

March 6, 2026

TARCOG Board Secretary Robert “Bob” Joslin 

How long have you been on the TARCOG Board? I’ve served two terms, both on the executive committee.

What has been your biggest professional achievement? Having a 36-year career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and serving my community as mayor of the City of Arab for my fourth term.

What career advice do you live by? Who gave it to you? A Bible verse I learned in the summer of 1951 and still remember: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you,” Ephesians 4:32.

What would be the theme song of your life right now? “In the Arms of an Angel,” by Sarah McLachlan.

Who is someone who’s made a big impact on your life? My wife of 63 years. We were married in high school — she was 17, I was 19 — and we have enjoyed a blessed life for all these years. Why? She has been a true partner in everything throughout our whole life together, through the good times and the tough times.

What is a fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? I love working on old cars and making things new again.

Where are you from? I was born in Wichita, Kan., moved to Missouri, and then to Florida. I spent some time in Washington, D.C., then moved to Huntsville, and finally, moved to Arab, where I plan to stay.

Where did you go to/graduate high school? Wichita High School East.

Do you have any hobbies? Working on/collecting classic vehicles.

Favorite place you’ve traveled? Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

What is one item you can’t live without? Family.

TARCOG Board Secretary Robert “Bob” Joslin, who currently serves as mayor of the City of Arab.