White enlightens Wellington Lions on Greenbelt Electric Cooperative’s history

When Orvile Couch first started the electric co-op, experienced contractors had to be hired to build the line. “We would hire day labors and pay them $5 a day just to dig pole holes,” Greenbelt Electric Cooperative General Manager Randy White said. “We later purchased an auger that we drug around on a trailer to dig the holes but still had to set up the pole with these pole pikes.” Photo Courtesy of GEC

Greenbelt Electric Cooperative (GEC) has always been located in Wellington, GEC General Manager Randy White explained to the Wellington Lions at the Monday, Feb. 17 meeting, even though Wellington is actually at the edge of its seven-county service territory, including all of Collingsworth, Wheeler, Donley and Armstrong counties, and parts of Childress, Randall and Gray counties, covering over 4,000 square miles.

The executive board of Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, Inc. visits the Wellington Lions Club. From left: Greenbelt Administrative Assistant Janie Duncan and Chief Financial Officer Carly Ward, Assistant Boss Lion Lori O’Rear, Boss Lion Margret Wood, Greenbelt Manager of Operations and Engineering Mark Lemons and General Manager Randy White. The Red River Sun/Bev Odom

During the Monday, Feb. 17 meeting, Wellington Boss Lion Margret Wood, center, presents Lion Bev Odom, left, with her 15-year service pin, and Lion Sharon Starkey with her 25-year service pin. Courtesy Photo