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February 16, 2005 | Positive working relations stand out for AECI retiree Gary Jeffords
Contact : Nancy Southworth Road trips and speeding tickets usually don't lead to long careers. But, for Gary Jeffords, the bad luck of an acquaintance turned into more than 21 years at Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.'s New Madrid Power Plant, located on the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri. AECI is the wholesale electricity supplier for six regional and 51 local electric cooperatives in Missouri, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Iowa. A native of southern Illinois, Jeffords drove 100 miles one way from his home in Metropolis, Ill., to the plant every day. "It was barely close enough that it could be done," he said. "I just wouldn't let go of the fact that I wanted to stay home. I thought about moving, but it was by choice that I stayed here." More unique than the long commute is how Jeffords discovered the opening at the plant in the first place. He said an acquaintance had been in New Orleans, La., looking for work. Unable to find a job, he headed back to Illinois. On his way he was pulled over in Sikeston, Mo., and given a speeding ticket. "He was worried about paying the fine, so he went to the job service in Sikeston to look for employment there," Jeffords said. The acquaintance didn't find work in Sikeston, but did tell Jeffords about an opening for a journeyman mechanic at New Madrid Power Plant. Jeffords started at New Madrid June 29, 1983, and spent his entire AECI career as a journeyman mechanic. "I'm really happy with the way things turned out," he said. "Working at New Madrid was the best job I ever had. I was always impressed with the way the company handled the relationship between the union and nonunion employees. I've worked for other companies, and I can tell you not every place handles labor relations as well as Associated." While he won't miss the drive, Jeffords said he will miss his co-workers, many of whom he plans to remain in contact with. "Everyone at New Madrid was always really friendly, and there was a lot of cooperation at work," he said. "I wasn't from the area but I always felt like I knew as much about southeast Missouri as I did about southern Illinois." Jeffords' retirement plans include many of the same things he's always enjoyed, but he concedes he'll have to wait a few weeks to get started on most of them. "You're kind of limited in what you can do in the winter, but I won't have any trouble getting into this retirement thing come spring." Plans include more time for fishing, riding his motorcycle and hunting for arrowheads. Jeffords said he will take a trip to Florida to visit his daughter and looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Louise, and their four grandsons. Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Iowa that serve more than 800,000 customers. AECI's mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members with the vision of being the nation's lowest-cost wholesale power supplier. AECI is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. Released: 27 April 2005
Electronic copies of article and photographs available. |
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