Charles E. “Ed” Short will join the distinguished list of members included in Andalusia’s Leadership Hall of Fame when he is inducted at the Chamber of Commerce banquet tonight.

The president, CEO and general manager of Covington Electric Cooperative in Andalusia, Short will be recognized in the community’s fifth Hall of Fame induction. He follows John G. Scherf Sr., Henry Opp, Charles Dixon and Solon Dixon, and Seth Hammett.

He began his 60-plus year career in the electric utility industry as a lineman in 1956. He also served in the U.S. Air Force, and continued his work as a lineman while pursuing a college education, earning an associate’s degree from Jefferson Davis Community College and a bachelor’s from Auburn University.

He joined Covington Electric as a power use advisor in 1970, and in 1980 moved into member services. He assumed his current role in 1990.

Short has worked tirelessly on economic development issues and chairs both the Andalusia Industrial Development Board and the Covington County Economic Development Commission.

Short also serves as a director on boards of the Alabama Rural Electric Association, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, United Utility Supply board, The National Rural Electric Coop. Association and CCB-Community Bank.

Throughout his 60-plus year career in the electric utility industry, Short also has been an active leader with the Andalusia Chamber of Commerce, United Fund, NRTC, Kiwanis Club, Covington County Red Cross, Character@Heart and the Electric Power Research Institute Residential Marketing Group.

He and his wife, Gloria Wood Short, have two children, Circuit Judge Lex Short and Tambry Short Henderson; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Short is a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Andalusia and has previously been named “Kiwanian of the Year,” Kiwanis Club “Citizen of the Year,” and received the Andalusia Rotary Club’s Spirit of Andalusia award.

The Chamber’s annual banquet has a Mardi Gras them, and will be held at the Kiwanis Community Center. The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., and is followed by dinner.