William R. "Ronnie" Marks

Experience

• November 3, 2010 - Current - Mayor, City of Athens. Administrative Responsibility for the day to day operations of the City of Athens. Fiscal operations budgets are approximately $100M Utilities (Electric, Gas, Water/Wastewater, Finance, Customer Service, and Warehouse). The General Fund budget is approximately $22M (Public Works, City Clerk, Personnel, Fire, Police, Cemetery, Parks and Recreation Department.) The City of Athens currently has approximately 360 employees.
• October 2004 - November 3, 2010 - City of Athens, Council Member, District Number 4. Legislative Responsibility for Policy/Procedures and Budgets which include approximately $100M Utility budget and $21M General Fund budget)
• December 2005 - February 2008 - Field Operations Manager for Governor Bob Riley's Emergency Relief Fund for Hurricane Katrina victims.
• September 2001-April 2004 - Contract employee with SCB assigned as Senior Functional Analyst with the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
• Worked with the State Finance Department and the DHR Office of Contracts/Federal Claiming to analysis budgets and financial data to insure an increase in available federal funds and cost savings recommendations of state funds.
• March 1999 - September 2001 - Contract employee with SCB assigned as Project Consultant/Functional Manager with the Department of Human Resources, Office of Child Day Care.
• Responsible for managing the contract activities between the Alabama Child Care Subsidy program and the contract vendor by developing and implementing an automated child day care subsidy system.
• February 1997 - March 1999 - Project Director for the Southern Alliance of States (SAS) with Lockheed Martin, IMS.
  • SAS was an alliance formed to support the implementation of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Services and implement a prototype electronic payment system for inter-state access to government issued benefits. Program services addressed were TANF and food stamps in eight states, including; Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
  • Responsible for the delivery of debit cards to 1.9 million recipients/clients and actively enrolling 36,000 certified retailers in the EBT system in these 8 states.
• June 1971 - February 1997 - Alabama Department of Human Resources
  • Began career with the Department of Human Resources in Limestone County. The last 8 years prior to retirement, worked as a Regional Manager serving as the management link between the State Office and 11 county welfare departments in North Alabama.
• January 1971 - May 1971 - Teacher w/ Limestone County Schools at New Hope
• 1966 - 1968 - Teacher w/ Limestone County Schools at West Limestone.

Education

• Masters Degree of Social Work (1975) - University of Tennessee, Nashville, TN
• BS Degree - University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
• High School Diploma - Tanner High School, Tanner, AL

Military Experience

• 1968 - 1970 U. S Army
• 1969 - 1970 Platoon Sgt. - 198 Lieutenant Infantry Brigade in Vietnam
• 1970 - 1978 Alabama National Guard
• Recipient of the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces

Other Experience, Professional Achievements, Awards

• 1982-1986 and 2004-2008 and Current - City of Athens, Planning Commission
• 2010-Current - Limestone County Foundation on Aging
• 2004-Current - Board Member, Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives
• 2004-Current - Board Member, Athens-Limestone Beautification Board
• Athens Rotary Member
• North Alabama Mayor’s Association (multiple terms as president
• Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp. Board of Directors
• Alabama League of Municipalities Executive Committee, Finance/Administration/Intergovernmental Relations Committee, and Ethics Committee
• Limestone County Economic Development Board
• 2017-2018 Dekko Foundation Grant Review Committee 
• 1986 - 1996 - Board of Directors at Athens-Limestone Hospital
• 1994 - 1996 - Board Member of Athens-Limestone Hospital Home Health Agency
• 1982 - 1986 - City of Athens, Council Member, District Number 4
• 2012 Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 511 Citizen of the Year
• 2014 - University of North Alabama Alumni Political Service Award
• 2015 Limestone County Chapter NAACP Community Leader Award
• Recipient of the 2023 Alabama Chapter APA Awards Distinguished Leadership Award for an Elected Public Official

Personal

• Married to Sandra Neal Marks
• Son: Rhodney Marks
• Daughter: Laura Marks 
• Grandchildren: Abby Marks, Mollie Marks and Quinton Marks
• Great-grandchild: River
• Sunday school teacher - Friendship Methodist Church