Garland Power & Light Presents Annual Employee Awards

Garland, Texas - November 7, 2001 - Over one hundred and fifty Garland Power & Light employees and retirees attended this year's annual appreciation luncheon, held at the Jerry Andrews Pavilion at Firewheel Golf Club, honoring the Employees of the Year for each division.

Director of Garland Power & Light, Jim Harder, opened the luncheon by welcoming the employees and extended his appreciation for their efforts in the past year.

In his presentation, Harder also informed the group of the status of deregulation and cited as major accomplishments the completion of the Ray Olinger unit 4 and the construction of 8 miles of double circuit transmission line from Ray Olinger to Wylie Station.

Following the buffet luncheon, the awards ceremony was highlighted by the presentation of trophy and a travel bag to the Employee of the Year from each division. Throughout the year each division's safety committee selects an employee of the month.

From these 12 honorees an Employee of the Year is selected.The selection committee considers the employee's safe work habits, attendance, no accidents and the contributions to the department.

Employees of the year by division are:

Production Division Administrator David Bernard presented awards to Doug Pugh and Xavier de la Garza

Cliff Parker, Interim Transmission and Distribution Division Administrator recognized Myrna Rose, Distribution, Billy Springfield, Substations and Paul Bryson, Meter Service

Transmission Operations Manager Frank Owens recognized Joe Cherri, System Operations Division

Transmission & Distribution Coordinator Danny Johnson acknowledged Danny Ruff and Chris Farrington for having completed GP&Lís federally approved line technician apprenticeship program. Richard Martinez, David Clark, Mark Tidwell, Hank Frazier, Ian Smith and Shannon Denuyl were recognized for their voluntary work with the Linemanís Rodeo Team.

Frank Owens returned to the podium to recognize the system dispatchers who received their North American Electric Reliability Council required certifications. Those gaining certification were Chris Fortenbury, Shawn McCreary, Kevin Roland, Tulele ( Uke) Seumalo, David Snider, Wesley Green, Richard Fischer, Larry Helms, Joe Nixon, John Devine, Allen Mctavish, Jimmy Foster, Beth Barbara, Ed Brooks and Ritchey Albritton.

GP&L employees Kathy Cumbie, Paul Kelly, Michael Young, Juan Martinez, and Terry Darby served as the committee directing the luncheon with Richard Farga, Johnny Fowler, Rocky Haddick and Lauri Vornberg assisting them. Glen Smith, Key Accounts Manager, performed the master of ceremonies duties.