TALLADEGA – Two days after he officially retired as the director of the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce, Mack Ferguson dropped by his old office to pick up some things. What he got was a room full of friends, family, public officials, business people and well-wishers.

“I am totally surprised,” Ferguson said. “I am totally overwhelmed by the love and support the people in this room are showing me today. And these really are my friends, not just business people that I’ve worked with.”

Ferguson’s son, Fox 6 TV weather forecaster Mickey Ferguson, came and posed with his father for pictures, and Carol Emlich-Bates, Ferguson’s counterpart in Sylacauga, brought him a Sylacauga hat.

During Ferguson’s three years as chamber director, the Talladega, Sylacauga and Childersburg chambers worked together on several projects, including magazines highlighting tourist attractions and education. The Talladega Merchant’s Association was merged into the chamber and became the Activities Committee of Talladega, which continues to grow as a subset of the chamber. Several new businesses located in the area during his tenure as well.

After his retirement, he will still serve on the Board of Directors for TOP Trails, and will continue his efforts to locate a Creek Indian Museum and Cultural Center in the old Wehadkee Yarn Mill building in Talladega.

Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com