COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1999 – George Nicolozakes knows what it takes to be successful in business. He also knows coal. After all, Nicolozakes has been involved in operating a successful mining business for more than 50 years. He is the owner and chairman of the board of St. Clairsville, Ohio-based Marietta Coal Company. So when he was making investment decisions in 1967, Nicolozakes looked to a company he knew and understood -- American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP). "I had been doing business with American Electric Power since 1946 when it was still known as American Gas and Electric," Nicolozakes said. "They had been buying my coal. It was a good company and was doing a good job. "I bought my first share in 1967." And he never stopped buying. Nicolozakes now owns more than 80,000 shares of American Electric Power stock, making him the company's largest individual shareholder. AEP, which was founded in 1906, marked its 50th anniversary as a New York Stock Exchange-listed company Sept. 1. When E. Linn Draper Jr., AEP's chairman, president and chief executive officer, rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange today to commemorate the golden anniversary on the NYSE, Nicolozakes was in attendance. "We're pleased that George could join us in New York to represent our shareholders during the ceremonies," Draper said. "He is our largest individual shareholder, but he is typical of a large percentage of our investors who have been with us for many years. "George hasn't been a passive investor in AEP," Draper noted. "He regularly attends our annual shareholder meeting and takes a great interest in our company's activities." Nicolozakes, of Cambridge, Ohio, is still committed to the company after 32 years as a shareholder. "AEP is a very good, sound and solid company, reflecting excellent management and devoted and dedicated leadership and employees," Nicolozakes said. "It's been that way from its beginning to the present. The company serves the best market area in the U.S. and is a leader in power generation, distribution and sales. That's the reason I bought the stock." AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.