DVEC History

*Letterhead designed by Hal Empie; used in co-op's early years

History of DVEC

August 9, 1947 - Meeting of Incorporators to establish Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative.

• Incorporators: Robert Mortensen, V.L. Crotts, O.W. Claridge, Gene O'Dell, Henry L. Smith

August 13, 1947 - First Meeting of the Board of Directors consisting of the original incorporators.

• Election of Officers of the Cooperative: Robert Mortensen, President;  V. L. Crotts, Vice President; O.W. Claridge, Secretary-Treasurer.
• Hired Ernest V. Romney, Jr. as coordinator (later becomes General Manager)
• Proceeded to purchase the electric facilities of Duncan Utilities Company.

January 9, 1948 – Approved the first loan agreements with the Rural Electrification Administration - "REA".

February 2, 1949 – First Annual Meeting.

• Henry L. Smith, President; Ernest V. Romney, Jr., Manager
• 542 Members, 434 members receiving service, 108 nonmember consumers receiving service
• Directors elected for one year term

February 1950 – Second Annual Meeting.

• All consumers receiving service are now members
• Over 500 members receiving service

1952 – Directors terms changed to three years

1953 – Lee Stratton, Jr. becomes President of the Board of Directors

1954 – Douglas Brubaker becomes President of the Board of Directors

1958 – Larue Allred becomes President of the Board of Directors; Board Expanded to 6 directors

1962 - Douglas Brubaker becomes President of the Board of Directors

1974 – Hired Lucille Smith as General Manager - First woman general manager of an electric co-op

1976 – Board expanded to 8 directors; Gerald Walters becomes President of the Board of Directors

1977 – Johnny Crawford becomes President of the Board of Directors; Hired Robert Payne as General Manager

1979 – Created special district for Phelps Dodge contract; Board expanded to 9 directors

1981 – Charles Clouse becomes President of the Board of Directors

1983 – Wylie Boyd becomes President of the Board of Directors

1985 – Ray Tyler becomes President of the Board of Directors

1987 – Merlin "Art" Payne becomes President of the Board of Directors

1988 – Charles Clouse becomes President of the Board of Directors

1990 – Term limits of three 3-year terms added to bylaws

1991 – Hired Jack Shilling as General Manager/CEO

1993 – Johnnie Frie becomes President of the Board of Directors

1995 – Danny Merrill becomes President of the Board of Directors

1996 – Johnnie Frie becomes President of the Board of Directors; Term limits expanded to four 3-year terms

1998 – Phelps Dodge contract goes away; Board reduced to 8 directors

2000 – Brad Boyd becomes President of the Board of Directors

2003 – Mike Mortensen becomes President of the Board of Directors

2005 – Johnnie Frie becomes President of the Board of Directors

2010 – Hired Michael Pearce as CEO