Get documents about "BTU Honors Employees with Service Awards
Document Sample
BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES
BTU Honors
Employees with
Service Awards
Bryan Texas Utilities
205 East 28th Street
Bryan, TX 77803
Office Hours
ryan Texas Utilities (BTU) years to ensure BTU gives its
Brecognized several of its
Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 6 PM
www.BTUtilities.com customers exceptional service
Secure 24-hour Access employees for their years of with reliable, competitively priced
(979) 821-5700 service at the 2005 Service electricity while acting as a
UCISMan@btutilities.com Awards Banquet in September. responsible and caring member of
They have worked for many the community.
General Manager
Dan Wilkerson 5 Years of Service 15 Years of Service
John Bounds Jimmie Bess
Board of Directors
Ronald Hale,
Ricardo Castaneda Dan Hixon
Claudia Gammon
Chairman 20 Years of Service
Eliseo Garcia
Bill Atkinson, Derrik Cooks
Vice Chairman Christopher Green
Richard Helton
Hank McQuaide Tom Hancock, III
William Leland
Secretary Larry Johnson
Lee Petitt, Jr.
Dr. Richard Alexander Angelica Sosa
Richard Soltis
Dr. Wendell Davis J. Kean Register
Aaron Thompson
Lonnie Stabler Lee Starr
Terry Toole
Frank Thurmond Billy Thomas
Group Managers Randy Trimble 25 Years of Service
Tom Hancock Michael Tucker Angel Constancio
J. Kean Register Walter Williams Stanley Ferrell
Mark Spicker
Division Managers 10 Years of Service Willie Williams
Bernie Acre, Frank Boley
Information Technology Robert Crawford 35 Years of Service
Michael Hering, Kevin Lee Elmo “Bee” Watson, Jr.
Production
Geneva Martinez
Pat Kasper,
Transmission
William Stuart
Roy Trotter,
Distribution
In Memoriam
Lee R. Starr,
Chief Risk Officer
Phil Williams,
Joe Elder
Chief Financial Officer
Important Numbers ryan Texas Utilities
Billing / Collections / Connects Brecognizes the passing of a
(979) 821-5700 beloved employee, Joe Elder,
Electrical Outage / Lines Down Safety Manager for 15 years.
(979) 822-3777 In his position, Joe had the
Energy Audits / Conservation opportunity to work with all
(979) 821-5772 employees in each division and
Distribution / Line Design department. He was loved by all
(979) 821-5770 and will be greatly missed.
Power Track Cards / Service
(979) 821-5820
NOVEMBER 2005 • BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES 21
BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES
The Salvation Army
Brazos County
Story by Louellen S. Coker
illiam Booth founded the known around the world for its times of crisis when people are
WSalvation Army in 1853 rapid response to disasters and its hungry, thirsty and without hope,
when he embarked on his aid to people who are down on is to spread the word of Jesus
ministerial career and his crusade their luck. While the Salvation Christ. Our goal is to act as Christ
to win the lost multitudes—the Army is recognized as a positive would act.”
poor, homeless and hungry—of organization, one little-known The Salvation Army became an
London to Christ. He preached aspect of this relief agency is that established entity in Brazos
from the streets rather than from it is a church. County eleven years ago. Since
the pulpit, creating a disagreement Today, this church continues to that time, the group has done
that eventually led to his follow the militaristic style under everything possible to live up to
withdrawing from the Church of which it was founded because this their objective of “doing the most
London to travel through the style makes it a highly disciplined good” for the community through
country to conduct evangelical and mobile organization that is its programs and by using
meetings until he began his own able to respond quickly and donations of time, money and
church in 1865, then called the efficiently to human need, resources for the benefit of those
Christian Mission. By 1878, the whenever and wherever it arises. in need.
international mission became The officers’ uniforms are The Salvation Army of Brazos
known as the Salvation Army and recognized as both a symbol of the County holds English and Spanish
its converts as Salvationists. Salvationist’s commitment to 506
church services at its 2 Cavitt
The Salvation Army is well- serving God and a symbol of Avenue headquarters each Sunday
commitment at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM,
to availability respectively. Additionally, they
and have several youth programs
accessibility through which children learn to
during times play brass instruments, participate
of crisis. in drama activities and learn to
“Most sing. Older youth learn to be
people know leaders as they assist in the
The Salvation programs. Participants in the
Army is a youth programs enjoy a hot meal
good thing,” and transportation.
stated “We have several programs
Captain Gary through which we help those in
Sturdivant, need in our community,”
Brazos commented Captain Sturdivant.
County’s “The support we have received
Commanding from those able to give has been
Officer. “Our incredible. We can’t thank the
mission, in community enough for their
addition to generosity during these recent
being on the crises and every day.”
ground The Salvation Army of Brazos
serving in County provides utility, rent or
Captain Gary Sturdivant helps Hurricane Katrina evacuee Barbara Langkopp load
her car with a supply of groceries to help get her back on her feet in Bryan as she
and her family waited for the New Orleans’ flood waters to recede.
22 BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES • NOVEMBER 2005
BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES
mortgage, medical, food and difficulty “doing the
clothing assistance to individuals most good” in the
and families in our immediate community. The
area. The agency is careful to majority of its support
avoid allowing people to abuse its comes in the form of
generosity; it asks for proof of monetary donations
income and expenses for the last during its annual kettle
30 days and will provide assistance campaign and
in cases of true need and then throughout the year.
works to teach budgeting skills to Donors are able to
avoid future issues. If there are earmark contributions
catastrophic events such as the for particular projects
region experienced after if they desire. Many
September’s hurricanes, Katrina increase the
and Rita, The Salvation Army rises organization’s financial
to meet the needs of the crisis. capabilities by donating
“While we help people in clean, usable clothing
times of emergency,” explained and household items
Captain Strudivant, “we also strive that are distributed to
to educate people so that their the needy of the area
lives will become better rather or sold in the thrift
than contribute to bad habits. We store, another ongoing
make sure we are good stewards capital project, in
of the donations we receive.” Bryan.
In September, 700 volunteers The kettle campaign
assisted in the kitchen and pantry is just one of The
to help feed grateful Katrina and Salvation Army’s
Rita evacuees in the Brazos Valley holiday endeavors. The
immediately and weeks after the Angel Tree Program
disasters. The Salvation Army that runs during the
worked closely with other area same time as this
Bertha Sims enjoyed volunteering for The Salvation Army of Brazos
relief agencies to ensure evacuees campaign gives people County so much that she became the agency’s housekeeper.
had food, shelter and support the opportunity to
during the critical period and as choose a child or
they began to restore normalcy to teenager for whom to www.salvationarmysouth.org.
their lives. buy a Christmas gift, allowing Captain Sturdivant and his helpful
Hurricane Katrina evacuee, those who would otherwise do staff and volunteers can provide
Barbara Langkopp, whose home without to enjoy the magic of more specific information about
was just four blocks from the first Christmas. The Angel Tree and how The Salvation Army of Brazos
levee breach in New Orleans, said, kettle campaigns will run from County is “doing the most good”
“I don’t know what we would November 25 through December at (979) 361-0618 or in person at
have done without The Salvation 16 this year. The group needs the Bryan office.
Army’s help when we first arrived both donors and volunteers.
and as we get established in “We are always looking for
temporary housing while we wait ways to help our fellow man as we
to return to New Orleans. My share our love for the Lord,”
father believed in man helping expressed Captain Sturdivant.
fellow man and always “This year, we will begin a capital
contributed to The Salvation campaign to raise money to pay
Army. My husband and I are so off our building and to create two
thankful for the assistance we temporary apartments which will
have received from this and other provide shelter to families whose
humanitarian organizations during needs are not met through other
this extremely difficult time.” area agencies.”
Without donations of services Additional information about
and time, The Salvation Army of The Salvation Army of Brazos
Brazos County would have County is available at
NOVEMBER 2005 • BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES 23
BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES
Congratulations 2005
ryan Texas Utilities finished off Mountain Bike Races.
BPublic Power Week with a The Power Pedal Road Race is
bang, or more accurately with a a United States Cycling Federation
pedal! BTU hosted the 13th event and was the deciding
Annual Power Pedal Races on competition for the state
October 8th and 9th, at beautiful championships once again. For the
Lake Bryan. Nearly 1,000 cyclists, third time in Power Pedal history,
men, women, boys and girls this course was the final battle in
competed in the 2005 State the Texas Cup Series and
Championship Road and determined the Texas Road Race
24 BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES • NOVEMBER 2005
BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES
Power Pedal Winners!
Champions. Off-road bikers also "We enjoy sponsoring, planning
pedaled up some dust in the and staffing the Power Pedal
Power Pedal Mountain Bike Race, Celebration each year," said BTU
the fifth of the BMW X3 Texas General Manager Dan Wilkerson.
Fall Cup Series. "It allows us to share information
This year 5K and 10K runs about our utility, its services and
were added. BTU was pleased to how we are working to enhance
have 75 participants and hopes to the lives of our customers as well
watch these events grow as as encourage a healthy lifestyle for
rapidly as the cycling contests. our community."
NOVEMBER 2005 • BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES 25
BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES
BTU Sent Crews to Aid East
Texas Town
Linemen Help San Augustine to Get Back On Line
Story by Florence Ridlon, Ph.D.
ix employees of Bryan Texas over. One of their first goals was
SUtilities (BTU) headed to East
Crew Boss, Chick Herrin each
logged a 120-hour work week. to get the power back up at the
Texas to help rebuild power lines The crew left at 4:30 PM on local sewage treatment facility. In
downed by fallen trees, flooding Monday, September 26 to drive to one convalescent facility, they had
and other devastation from San Augustine to meet with the not only lost electricity but a tree
Hurricane Rita. The Category 3 City Manager and the city crews had fallen on their generator.
hurricane came ashore near Sabine to receive instructions and begin The linemen headed back to
Pass on September 24. “We were their restoration and repair work. Bryan on Sunday, October 2 but
happy to help our fellow Once they arrived, they put in a not before the Mayor, Pat H.
municipal electric system restore 36-hour shift before finally getting Fussell, had presented them with
electricity,” said Dan Wilkerson, to rest. Their schedule never got a key to the city; only the third
BTU General Manager. “It is part much lighter. They worked from time one has been given by San
of BTU’s mission to be ‘caring about 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM Augustine in its 168 year history.
members of the community.’” He stringing up new lines and City Manager, Duke Lyons said of
went on to stress that “We also replacing poles. “It wasn’t bad linemen two days after they left:
need to remember to give special once we got past the 36-hour “I get choked up just thinking
praise to the linemen who stayed mark – then 17 or 18 hours about them. They did a
behind to shoulder the extra work sounds like a short day,” Mr. wonderful, outstanding job and
here in Bryan so the others could Herrin joked after their return. we would still be without
help in the storm ravaged area of When they arrived in San electricity if it weren’t for them.”
San Augustine.” Augustine, there were lines laying As for the linemen, they feel
BTU preceded its crews with a in the street and poles toppled they have made special friends in
pole truck, driven by Keith
Gresham, packed with material
including poles, transformers,
cross arms, line hardware, service
wires and other repair items.
“We didn’t want our men to get
down there and not have what
they needed to make the
necessary repairs,” said Roy
Trotter, Division Manager for
Distribution. “This way, we made
certain their time there was used
as productively as possible.”
And productive it was! Linemen
James Brown, John Eiman,
Rodney Jackson, Raymond
Tidwell and Matt Zavodny and
Mayor Pat H. Fussell (right front ) hands BTU Crew
Boss Chick Herrin the key to the City of San Augustine
while Mike Beasley (left ), Work Coordinator for the
city and BTU Linemen Raymond Tidwell (center ) and
Matt Zavodny (right ) look on.
26 BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES • NOVEMBER 2005
BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES
San Augustine.
They talk about
how they were
amazed by the
hospitality of the
residents; how they
offered them food,
water and even
their own beds.
They remember
how a restaurant
owner opened her
café two hours
early so she could
serve them
breakfast at 5:00
AM.
Mr. Herrin
summed it up well
when he said, “It
was an opportunity
for us as a group
Immediately upon their return to Bryan, a tired group of BTU Linemen (left to right: John Eiman, Rodney Jackson, James Brown, Chick
and BTU as a Herrin, Matt Zavodny and Raymond Tidwell ) are interviewed by Toni Harrison of KBTX-TV while Cory Wiatrek videotapes them for the
company to go and nightly news.
help some folks less
fortunate than we are.” The schedule on the day after they nor be forgotten by the good
linemen resumed their regular returned but they will not forget people of San Augustine.
The City of San Augustine crew poses with (standing left to right ) Mayor Pat H. Fussell, City Manager Duke Lyons, Mike Beasley, Work Coordinator for the city and BTU Linemen
Raymond Tidwell, Matt Zavodny and James Brown. Kneeling starting second from left to right, BTU Crew Boss Chick Herrin as well as BTU Linemen John Eiman and Rodney
Jackson as they complete a day of restoring power to the area.
NOVEMBER 2005 • BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES 27
BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES
Elmo “Bee” Watson Extends 35-
Year Safety Record
Story by Florence Ridlon, Ph.D.
he annual BTU Banquet held United States Army for two years,
Tthis year on Friday, September where he did signal work. Upon
From Bee’s Coworkers
16, at Tombstone Texas found his return to civilian life, Bee “Bee Watson has spent the
Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) joined BTU for the long haul, last 35 years developing and
General Manager Dan Wilkerson starting as lineman and now leading young craftsmen and
presenting Elmo “Bee” Watson, leading a crew to build or rebuild teaching them how to work
Lead Line Technician, with the the lines as the need arises. “I love productively, smartly and, most
Safety Achievement Award from my work at BTU,” said Bee, “I importantly, safely in a very
Texas Electric Cooperatives Loss enjoy my fellow workers and it is unforgiving, hazardous craft.”
Control for “35 years without a very satisfying to help people have — Roy Trotter, Division Manager
lost time accident.” “This is an a better life by providing them for Distribution
incredible achievement,” said Dan. with electricity.”
“We are pleased to have Bee as a Proud of his record at BTU, “Ever since I’ve know Bee, he
faithful employee for all these Bee is even more proud of his has reminded me of Clint
years and especially proud that he family. He has three grown Eastwood. He is very composed
worked in such a safe and children, two step-children, with and deliberate and has the
conscientious manner.” his wife Lou, and ten respect of everyone at BTU
Bee is a native Texan, born in grandchildren. Bee says Lou is “a especially in regard to his work
Marquez. He was called “Bee” great cook” and he enjoys the ethic. He never minces words.
after being stung by a bee at five time he gets to spend at home. If you give him a job, he knows
years of age; and the nickname has Hunting and fishing also play a what to do and he does it. He
stuck with him ever since. He role in Bee’s leisure time and is a mainstay kind of guy who
went to work for the telephone having more time for them is can always be counted on.”
company before joining the something he looks forward to — Chick Herrin, Operations
upon his retirement. Supervisor
“We have been honored to
have Bee working with us for such “Bee never likes to slough
a long time,” said Roy Trotter, off. Even on a rainy day, he is
Division Manager for Distribution. eager to be out on the job.
“We at BTU pride ourselves on When he has a dangerous job to
stressing safe work habits and Bee do, he plans, talks about it
is a shining example to others.” beforehand and always
takes every extra
precaution.”
— Bobby “Buck” Lenz,
Lead Lineman
“If I had my own
company, Bee would be
the one I would want
working for me. He
works very hard,
“Bee” at work (above ). (Right) BTU General everyday and has never
Manager, Dan Wilkerson, and Elmo "Bee" Watson, wasted time.”
BTU's Lead Line Technician, pictured at the annual
BTU Service Awards Banquet, after "Bee" was
— Randy Snyder,
presented with the Safety Achievement Award from Journeyman
Texas Electric Cooperatives Loss Control for 35 Lineman
years without a lost time accident.
28 BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES • NOVEMBER 2005
Related docs
