Former Mayor Back on the Air (with a new “Mid-life crisis”)

Published 9:55 am Wednesday, February 4, 2009

It has been about 100 days since Adam Stocks ended his tenure as mayor of Pell City, so what is the former mayor doing now?

“I have adjusted back to a normal life,” says Stocks, “Being mayor of a thriving small town is an all-consuming job.

These days Stocks can be found at WFHK radio station in Pell City. Before becoming mayor, Stocks was owner, general manager and radio personality at the station. He has returned to his old duties at the station with a new twist. Along with being owner, general manager and host of the morning swapshop program Stocks has also launched a new afternoon program. It started out being called, “Adam’s guilty pleasures,” but people started referring to it as “Adam’s midlife crisis,” and the title stuck.

The show, which airs between 3 and 5 p.m. each weekday, is comprised of hits from the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

“There are a number of radio stations that play songs from that era but we are a little different,” says Stocks. On his show, Stocks says he tries to find top 10 hits that aren’t played as often. “Remember the Vapors? Their big hit was, ‘I think I’m Turning Japanese,’ but no one plays it anymore,” says Stocks. He points out that artist like Tiffany and Debbie Gibson were huge pop stars not many years ago but now they are all but forgotten. “The type of program I wanted to create was one that took people back to their childhood or teenage years,” says Stocks. The show has received a very substantial following and is only surpassed in online listeners by the Pell City Panthers football.

“Every afternoon about 2:45 we see a spike in online listeners,” Stocks says.

The station streams its shows live on the web at www.wfhkam1430.com.

Stocks’ new radio program also features vintage commercials from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Interspersed with Wham and Wilson Phillips, listeners are treated to, “It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky, fun for girls and boys,” and School House Rock. “ All these things take people of a certain age back to a time when they were young, who doesn’t want to remember the fun things from then?” asks Stocks. He says that he has received a great deal of positive feed back from people about the show and that he is having a fun time producing it.

Stocks says, “My only significant worries these days are whether to have football practice two or three times a week.” Since handing over the keys to City Hall, Stocks says that he is still involved in the community with volunteer work and his children’s school activities.

“I had a great four years as mayor, I love this city and will run for public office again some day,” he says. With four boys Stocks says he felt his greatest duty was to be there for his children during their formative years. “There will come a time when my kids are 16 or so and they will not want the old man around,” he says. “Now is the time when I can really be there with them.” Spending time with his boys (John William, 10; Jackson, 7; Michael, 6; and Anthony 1) is the reason Stocks decided not to run for re-election. “They say anyone can be a dad, but it takes effort to be a father,” says Stocks.

“I have great memories of the four years I served the people of Pell City, not just me but also the five gentlemen who served with me,” said Stocks. “We accomplished a lot of good things for the city. I am proud and thankful for that.”

During the four years Adam Stocks was mayor, Pell City experienced unprecedented growth, from housing starts to retail storefronts and manufacturing plants. But nowhere can his legacy be more clearly seen than on the Highway 231 bridge. And everyone can hear the fun side of the former mayor on “Adam’s midlife crisis” on WHFK.