By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
Brewton Area YMCA members will soon bid farewell to current director Dan Shaddock and welcome Steven Dickey to the local facility.
Shaddock, who has served as director for the last five and a half years, will be retiring this month. Board members have already selected Shaddock's replacement for the position.
Dickey will be taking over the duties as director for the Brewton Area YMCA with his first day on the job Monday.
Although Shaddock said he would miss the people of Brewton and East Brewton, he feels comfortable with leaving his duties to Dickey.
Dickey's most recent position was as the branch executive director for the Petal Family YMCA in Petal, Miss. Shaddock called Dickey when he made the decision to retire and asked if he'd be interested in talking about the job.
Following interviews by members of the board of directors for the Brewton facility, the offer was made to Dickey to be the local Y director. After a time of prayer, the family made the decision to take the offer, Dickey said.
He and his wife, Belinda, have two sons and one foreign exchange student in the family.
Wes Dickey, who is 15, will be attending T.R. Miller High School. Caleb Dickey, who is 13, will be a student at Brewton Middle School. Paul Ludolph, who is 15 and a foreign exchange student from Germany, will be a student at T.R. Miller High School.
Shaddock will be returning to his lake home in Village Mill, Tex., following special ceremonies honoring his retirement.
Along with some travel plans, teaching is also in Shaddock's future.
While in Brewton, Shaddock has served as supply pastor and interim pastor at several churches in the area.
Brewton has been home for Shaddock since becoming director at the Brewton Area YMCA in August 2002.
A retirement reception is planned for Shaddock at the YMCA facility on Douglas Avenue. The event will be held Sunday, Jan. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is open to the public.