GARLAND, Texas, July 24, 2006 – Garland Power & Light (GP&L) linemen took home three first place trophies and one second place trophy from the 10th Annual Texas Lineman's Rodeo held in Seguin, Texas on July 15.

Lineman Tommy Powell won first place in the Journeyman Hurtman Rescue competition. The team of Powell, Jeremy Knight and Frank McLen won first place in the Team Hurtman Rescue and the Team Pole Climb events. Apprentice lineman Josh Rotan placed second in the Apprentice Pole Climb event.

Lineman's rodeos feature a series of events in which linemen compete to demonstrate safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling and timely event completion. In Seguin, GP&L competed against teams from other not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities in Texas, including those from San Antonio and Austin.

Starting two months prior to a rodeo, the linemen begin practicing after work and on the weekend. Members of the rodeo team coach each other on executing the events with speed and accuracy.

"I really like to compete and prove my skills at the rodeos," says Powell, the senior member of the team. "During my regular work day, I often climb poles because I can do it faster than setting up the bucket truck," he added.

Practice for the rodeo also paid off with the second place finish for Rotan. He climbed the pole in 28 seconds, almost halving his time from the previous rodeo.

Also participating on behalf of GP&L were apprentice Dusty Hale and linemen Hank Frazier and Aaron Brooks who both served as judges.

"We're proud of how well our linemen did at this rodeo," said Jim Harder, Director of Electric Utilities. "It’s great that our employees enjoy practicing and competing on skills that make them even more effective in their day-to-day work."