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Ralph Summerville to
Retire; Brown Promoted Forty-seven-year employee is leaving May 2; Mike Brown is new maintenance supervisor May, 2008 Rural Missouri
Summerville, 70,began his career with FEC January 18, 1961,as an apprentice lineman. He started working in the Knoxville area, then over the years moved to Chillicothe, Gallatin and finally back to Chillicothe. “I’ll probably do a little traveling, but most of the time I imagine I’ll just be messing around on the farm,” said Summerville. “I like messing with old tractors, too." Summerville and his wife, Mary Lee, reside about four miles north of Chillicothe on a 160-acre farm. He has about 40 head of Black Angus cattle that he keeps a close eye on, plus there is the matter of haying parts of the property, as well. Summerville has two sons and two stepdaughters, plus 11 grandchildren to help keep him busy in the future. “I’m just going to take it one day at a time,” Summerville laughed. “If I want to do something I will. If I don’t, I won’t.” In the over 47
years on the job many things have changed as to how linemen work in the field.
“When I first started we dug every hole for a power pole by hand,
”Summerville explained. “And we didn’t have bucket trucks back in those days. If there was
something that had to be done on the pole we put on our hooks and belt and
started climbing.” Summerville said one of the goals in his life had been to help
people and he felt that working at FEC he had been able to help many members have a better quality of
life. “I am ready to try and enjoy my retirement,” said Summerville. “But, I am really going to miss
the employees at FEC.” Mike Brown, 48, will have been employed by FEC 21years in June. He has been promoted to the maintenance supervisor position. He and his wife of 25years, Lisa, are the parents of three children, Danille, Kelsey and Clinton. Brown and his family reside south of the Blue Mound area. He had been the foreman out of the Stet substation for the last four years. He began his new duties April 14. Brown is a 1978 graduate of Chillicothe High School. He has attended a variety of schools at the AMEC Training Center in Jefferson City over the years, including the Advanced Lineman School, Hot Line School and Foreman School. |
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After 47-plus years of working
to keep the lights on for members of Farmers’ Electric Cooperative, Ralph Summerville,
maintenance supervisor in the Operations Department, has decided to retire. His last active day
on the job will be Friday, May 2.
