West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc.

Trustee Talk -- Charles Holman

Charles Holman has had a lifelong association with West Florida Electric Cooperative. His parents were among WFEC's founding members, and his father, Dault Simpson, cut the Co-op's first right-of-way before becoming right-of-way foreman and later, a WFEC board member. Although his father has passed on, Holman's mother, Gertha Simpson remains active in community affairs at age 96 and has been recognized as the oldest member present at WFEC's annual meeting the past several years.

"We got our lights in 1939, and I'll never forget that day," Holman recalls. "The Co-op loaned my family the money to get our house wired. Soon we had an electric Frigidaire and an electric iron. Later we got our first electric radio."

A WFEC member for over 35 years, he began following in his father's footsteps as District's 4 trustee in 1996. "I ran for the position because I was interested in what the Co-op was doing and wanted to be a part of its growth," he explains. "I wanted an opportunity to give something back to 'our co-op' in appreciation for the many ways it has changed our lives for the better for over 60 years."

Holman also has been a Graceville City Commissioner since 1993, elected to his second term by the greatest margin in the city's history. He chairs the Tri-County Community Council's board and is active in the Lions Club and Disabled American Veterans, as well.

He retired from the Ingram Barge Company in 1993 after a 30-year career, having served the last 15 years as a chief marine engineer, licensed by the U. S. Coast Guard. Before his retirement, the company named a riverboat in his honor, the motor vessel Charles B. Holman. He now works as a licensed electrical contractor.

Here, he takes a moment to share his perspective, as a community leader, on WFEC's role in the future of the communities it serves:

You were on both WFEC's board and the Graceville City Commission when the two parties, along with Jackson County, purchased the 300-acre Graceville Industrial Park with a grant in 1997. How has this benefitted the area's economy?

"The site not only provides a place for new industries to locate in the future, but the facilities already in place there are providing jobs and bringing in local dollars now. For example, the state Dept. of Corrections work camp that opened in the industrial park last year has created over 80 jobs with an economic impact in the millions of dollars. Additionally, we've reserved over 200 acres for the Dept. of Corrections to build a full state prison, which would create at least 300 more jobs. A Juvenile Justice facility also is on the way in the near future."

Why does WFEC play such an active role in local economic development efforts?

"Co-ops are different from investor-owned utilities. We aren't headquartered in another part of Florida or another state. We're right here; we're part of the community. We want to see our children and grandchildren be able to find jobs here, instead of seeing them have to move away to make a living. We want to see our families and neighbors enjoy a better quality of life.

>From another standpoint, attracting new industries to the area means we'll have more businesses and members on WFEC's lines. When the costs of providing electricity are spread out among more people, holding the members' rates steady is a whole lot easier."

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