Atlanta Gas Light and WSB Radio to Honor Hospital Founder Alana Shephe

    Business Editors

    ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--When her son was paralyzed in a surfing accident in 1973, Alana Shepherd was so frustrated by the lack of state-of-the-art specialty care and rehabilitation in the southern United States that she founded a six-bed unit for spinal cord injuries in rented space in an Atlanta hospital.
    Today, just 29 years later, those six beds have grown into the 100-bed Shepherd Center, a private, non-profit hospital specializing in catastrophic injuries and diseases. Shepherd Center now enjoys national recognition as a center of excellence for medical care and rehabilitation of people with paralyzing spinal cord injuries and diseases, acquired brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular problems.
    For her actions, born of a mother's zeal to find the best care for her son, Shepherd has been named recipient of the 2005 Shining Light Award by Atlanta Gas Light (NYSE: ATG) and WSB Radio (NYSE: CXR). In its 42-year history, the Shining Light Award has become one of Atlanta's most cherished traditions in honoring the city's outstanding leaders.
    Shepherd joins an impressive listing of past honorees, including the late former Atlanta Mayor Maynard H. Jackson, former President Jimmy Carter, former Mayor and Ambassador Andrew Young, philanthropist and businessman J.B. Fuqua and baseball legend Henry "Hank" Aaron.
    Shining Light awards, eternally burning natural gas lamps, adorn many corners of Atlanta. The award is an old-time gaslight erected in a location that is meaningful to the recipient. For example, Jackson's award is located at the intersection of where Peachtree meets Auburn in Woodruff Park while Fuqua's is on the grounds of the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
    The location of the award will be announced in March during a luncheon in honor of Alana Shepherd.
    "Because of Alana Shepherd's fierce desire to help her son, James, achieve the most he could physically after his paralyzing accident, thousands of sons and daughters -- and fathers and mothers -- have been given the chance to live independently. Moreover, Alana put Atlanta on the map for world-class medical facilities with the Shepherd Center," said Paula Rosput Reynolds, chairman, president and chief executive officer of AGL Resources, parent company of Atlanta Gas Light.
    "Alana has the unique ability to reach out to people and convince them to participate in the mission and vision of Shepherd Center and the people we serve," said Gary R. Ulicny, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Shepherd Center, Inc. "Lots of people have good ideas but it is rare when someone pursues that idea with the will and determination that Alana has. She doesn't need to be here everyday but she is here; she ensures that Shepherd Center never loses sight of the human side of what we do."
    "Everyone who knows Alana Shepherd describes her as a caring woman with an upbeat personality," said David P. Meszaros, vice president and general manager of News/Talk 750 WSB. "The passion and determination she used to tackle her son's injury has had a long-term, positive impact on the city of Atlanta and her people in the creation of the Shepherd Center. News/Talk 750 WSB could think of no one more deserving of the Shining Light Award this year than Alana Shepherd."
    In addition to Shepherd's work with Shepherd Center, she is involved with a number of corporate and civic activities including Rotary Club of Atlanta, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Director Emeritus for Genuine Parts and Wachovia Bank of Georgia, and the Buckhead Coalition where she is the first woman elected to serve as board chair. "Alana Shepherd is one of a kind," said Sam Massell, Buckhead Coalition President and Former Atlanta Mayor. "She knows everybody and she knows how to activate the right buttons. The Buckhead Coalition is proud of her chairmanship and reports this Shepherd knows how to shepherd."

    About Atlanta Gas Light

    Atlanta Gas Light, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources (NYSE: ATG), provides delivery service to more than 1.5 million customers in Georgia. In operation since 1856, the company is one of the oldest corporations in the state. For more information, visit www.atlantagaslight.com.

    About AGL Resources

    AGL Resources (NYSE: ATG) is an Atlanta-based energy services holding company and was named 2003 Gas Company of the Year by Platts Global Energy Awards. The company's utility subsidiaries - Atlanta Gas Light, Elizabethtown Gas in New Jersey, Virginia Natural Gas in Norfolk, Florida City Gas, Chattanooga Gas, and Elkton Gas in Maryland - serve 2.2 million customers in six states. Houston-based subsidiary Sequent Energy Management is involved in natural gas asset management and optimization, producer services, wholesale marketing and risk management activities. As a member of the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. AGL Networks, the company's telecommunications subsidiary, owns and operates fiber optic networks in Atlanta and Phoenix. The company also owns and operates Jefferson Island Storage & Hub, a high-deliverability natural gas storage facility near the Henry Hub in Louisiana, and Virginia Gas, a natural gas storage pipeline and distribution company in southwestern Virginia, and a high-deliverability salt cavern storage facility in Saltville, VA. For more information, visit www.aglresources.com.

    About WSB Radio

    NewsTalk 750 WSB is Atlanta's source for news, weather, traffic, entertaining and informative talk and University of Georgia football. WSB is the home of nationally syndicated talk show hosts Neal Boortz and consumer watchdog Clark Howard. NewsTalk 750 WSB has been ranked by Arbitron media research as the nation's number one news/talk station. The station is owned and operated by Cox Radio Inc. (CXR) which is the country's third largest radio holding company, owning 78 stations clustered in 18 markets.

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CONTACT: AGL Resources, Atlanta Nick Gold, 404-584-3457 Cell: 404-275-9501 ngold@aglresources.com or WSB Radio Condace Pressley, 404-897-6297 condace.pressley@wsbradio.com

KEYWORD: GEORGIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TELEVISION/RADIO CABLE UTILITIES MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: AGL Resources

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