 |
|
|
February 16, 2005 | Three longtime AECI employees retire
Contact : Nancy Southworth After accumulating more than 80 years of collective experience, Jesse Burton, Terry Ross and Tom Stuck recently retired from Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. Each employee spent his entire AECI career at Thomas Hill Energy Center near Moberly. Jesse Burton retires after more than 35 years at AECIIn the old days at the power plant, there was a lot of hard, manual labor - and a lot of good times with a close-knit group that became like family. Jesse Burton initially began as a temporary laborer at Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.'s Thomas Hill Energy Center in July 1968, just shy of his 18th birthday. Since that time, many things have changed at the plant. Jesses said he remembers using a shovel and wheelbarrow to clean up areas of the plant that are now cleaned with a large vacuum truck. He doesn't miss the manual labor, but the old times had their good points. "We'd have shift picnics and go to somebody's house," he said. "We grew up watching our kids grow up. Now, with everything (staff) doubling, we're not near as close as we used to be." Hired May 12, 1969, as a utility operator, Burton was part of the second wave of employees needed to staff the newly built Unit 2. There were six people to a shift and about 30 people total in operations. Now, there are 13 to a shift along with constant maintenance and coal yard coverage, which used to be only on the day shift, he said. Burton was born and raised in Huntsville. After high school, he went to electronics school a year, worked a summer at the plant and a few months for the railroad. He was pumping gas at a station in 1969 when his brother-in-law told him AECI was hiring for the new unit. That was the beginning of a 35-year career in operations. He advanced to auxiliary operator in July 1969 and continued to progress. He became assistant control room operator in April 1972 and then control room operator in 1977. He took the job of assistant shift supervisor in 1980, was named acting shift supervisor in 1998 and then shift supervisor in 2000. He retired Jan. 3, 2005. "It was a great job," he said. "It took care of my family well, and we got both kids through college with degrees, so it's been real good." Burton said he will miss his co-workers, whom he plans to visit, but it's time for change. "After 35 years, I'm ready to go and have some fun while I'm still healthy," he said. Burton's plans include "knocking a few handicap strokes off his golf game," traveling, getting back into woodworking and babysitting grandchildren with his wife, Barb. Electric utility veteran retires from AECI, receives safety awardA 35-year veteran of the utility industry, Terry Ross recently retired as electrical maintenance supervisor after 26 years at Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.'s Thomas Hill Energy Center. During that time Ross witnessed and worked directly on many changes at the power plant, including adding a third generating unit, lowering air emissions and converting the entire plant to use low-sulfur coal. "Air quality and other environmental regulations have continued to get tighter and tighter, and the electrical department always had a substantial amount of work to do to help keep everything running," he said. Ross and electrical department employees at Thomas Hill worked to help AECI meet its environmental responsibilities. The cooperative has realized significant emissions improvements at its coal-based facilities during the last several years. AECI took an aggressive approach on nitrogen oxides (NOx), investing $100 million in control technology and reducing emissions about 70 percent during the ozone season since 1994. AECI also has reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by about 90 percent since 1994 by converting its coal units to burn 100 percent low-sulfur western coal. Other notable changes include updated safety training and procedures. Ross said a commitment to safe work practices will help any employee get ahead. "Work hard, do your best every day and always keep safety in mind. If you take that attitude, you will be appreciated and have the opportunity for a long, successful career." Originally from Brashear, Ross taught for two years at Lincoln County School in Troy before completing an electrical engineering degree from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1969. Before coming to AECI, he spent nine years at Kansas City Power and Light. Ross began his career at AECI as an electrical engineer in July 1978. He then moved to project electric engineer in December 1980. In November 1982 he became a plant engineer. In July 1985 he was promoted to electrical maintenance superintendent. Retirement plans include babysitting his two grandchildren, attending NASCAR events and possibly returning to teaching on a part-time basis. Ross and his wife, Carol, also tend to an orchard and row crops on their Missouri River bottomland near Brunswick. "Obviously it will be a change not coming to work every day, but I won't miss the early mornings," Ross said. "I'll miss the electricians and the people I've worked with over the years. They've been a really good group and made my job at the plant a lot easier." Active lifestyle follows Tom Stuck throughout career at AECIRoss and electrical department employees at Thomas Hill worked to help AECI meet its environmental responsibilities. The cooperative has realized significant emissions improvements at its coal-based facilities during the last several years. AECI took an aggressive approach on nitrogen oxides (NOx), investing $100 million in control technology and reducing emissions about 70 percent during the ozone season since 1994. AECI also has reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by about 90 percent since 1994 by converting its coal units to burn 100 percent low-sulfur western coal. If past activity is any indication of a retiree's future, Moberly resident Tom Stuck shouldn't have trouble keeping busy. "My family's told me to not sit around and get bored. I plan on staying active," said Stuck, who recently retired from Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. After playing sports in high school, Stuck's passion for guiding youth and athletic competition directed him to then Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, where he graduated with an education degree. However, after a six-year stint in the military, his dreams of becoming a high school teacher and coach gave way to the necessity of supporting a family. Hired as a temporary laborer at AECI's Thomas Hill Energy Center in June 1984, Stuck said he worked hard to earn a full-time job at the plant. "Everyone in the area knows you can't beat working at Associated Electric," he said. "Anytime the telephone rang, I'd work." In December 1984 he was hired as a general utility first period. During more than 20 years at the plant, Stuck worked in both maintenance and operations. He worked as an auxiliary scrubber operator, custodian, auxiliary operator and assistant water and air operator. During his time at Thomas Hill, Stuck served on the fire and rescue teams, spending four years as fire team captain. Stuck said he enjoyed participating in and watching the emergency response team's growth and development over the years. Stuck's passion for sports also rubbed off on his family. "I've been married to my wife, Cathy, for 36 years, and she couldn't have been a better sport about traveling to tournaments and all the time we spend in the gym," he said. Each of the couple's five children also participated in athletics growing up. Immediate retirement plans include spending more time with family, which includes six grandchildren, and traveling to Florida to take in a week of St. Louis Cardinals spring training. While he looks forward to the free time, Stuck said leaving co-workers at AECI isn't easy. "I will miss everyone at the plant. I made a lot of friends, and I plan on making several trips back to see them. This place is full of good people." 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: 16 February 2005
Electronic copies of article and photographs available. |
|
|||
 |