Runkle new Dale County Administrator

An “Army brat” who attended elementary school on Fort Rucker and in Daleville and graduated from Carroll High School in Ozark has been named the new Dale County Administrator.

John Runkle was unanimously approved by the Dale County Commissioners at the regular meeting March 22.

Runkle will fill the post being vacated March 30 by Debbie DeLoney who has served the county for more than a decade as both clerk and administrator. She has accepted a job in the agricultural field.

Runkle moved with his military family to Ozark in 1965 and graduated from Carroll High School in 1970. Upon completion of the ROTC program at Auburn University in 1974, Runkle served in various company-level and battalion-level staff assignments in the Army and completed his military service in 1985.

Runkle entered civil service in 1987 and completed more than 20 years of service in various positions supporting organization management—personnel, equipment and resources—at the Department of the Army headquarters in Washington, D.C.

After retiring in 2009, Runkle worked as a contractor with CALIBRE Systems, Inc. providing continued support to Army programs.

Runkle returned to the Ozark area in 2015 “to re-establish roots and settle in to the community,” he said.

Dale County Commission Chairman Mark Blankenship said five “very qualified people” were interviewed for the administrator’s position. “John stood out because of his 30 plus years experience working with the federal government,” Blankenship said. “He demonstrated strong budget, organization and long range planning skills. He will be a great asset to Dale County.

“John has big shoes to fill replacing Debbie,” Blankenship said. “I have worked with many people over the years but I have never worked with someone that was as committed to her job as Debbie was.

“Debbie looked after county business as if it was her own business,” he added. “ She will be greatly missed by the entire county.”

DeLoney said the feeling is mutual as she thanked residents and officials for their support during her years of service. “My daddy was a farmer,” she said. “This opportunity to get back in to the agriculture field feels like coming home.”

DeLoney worked at Golden Peanut Company for 21 years before joining the county government. She served as administrator for a little more than a year after the retirement of longtime county manager Frank Carroll. "I've enjoyed my time here and I appreciate the ones who come to the meetings," she said.

In other business the commission signed a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Dale County.

The commission also re-hired Corey Baldwin as the county compliance officer. Baldwin had held the compliance officer position prior to leaving for a law enforcement position in a neighboring county. Health issues caused him to re-apply for the Dale County position. He was hired contingent upon obtaining a medical release from his doctor.

The next regular meeting of the Dale County Commission is Tuesday, April 12 at the Dale County Government Building in Ozark. The 10 a.m. work session is followed immediately by a voting session.