C & L Electric Cooperative edition
W. H. “Bill” Frizzell retires from C & L Electric — Greg Smith named new CEO W. H. “Bill” Frizzell, retired January 3, 2017 after serving 44 years as General Manager/CEO of C & L Electric Cooperative. He is succeeded by Greg S. Smith, who previously served as Manager of Finance & Administration for the Cooperative. Frizzell began his duties with C & L Electric on July 1, 1951, as a work order clerk, later serving as office manager, before being named to head the cooperative beginning January 1, 1973. Before joining the C & L Electric staff, Frizzell, who grew up in Lincoln County, was involved as a retail sales clerk, saw duty with the United States Air Force, and worked with a U. S. Department of Agriculture agency in Star City. He has served on the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc., Energy Conservation Electric Cooperative, and Electric Research and Manufacturing Cooperative, Inc. boards. He is also past president of the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Accountants Club and former director of the Electric Cooperatives Federal Credit Union. Frizzell is also a former director of the Lincoln County Industrial Development Commission, Star City Chamber of Commerce, Star City Optimist Club, the Bank of Star City, and served 10 years on the City Council of Star City. He currently serves on the community bank board for Relyance Bank and is co-owner of Frizzell Shopping Center in Star City. He is a 32nd Degree Mason and a 66-year-member of both the Branchville Lodge #256, Star City and the York Rite bodies, Pine Bluff. He is also a 48-year-member of the Scottish Rite, Little Rock, a member of the Bendemeir Grotto in Maumelle, and a past member of the Sahara Shrine in Pine Bluff. He is a member of Star City First Baptist Church. He is married to the former Marian Weaver. They have two children, Ronnie Frizzell and Rhonda Mullkin. and two granddaughters, Candace Ashcraft and Megan Mullikin.
One of Frizzell’s outstanding memories from the past 44 years, is when on his second day as General Manager, an ice storm took out electric service to much of C & L’s service area. He has been at the helm for many ice storms in the years since. One of his greatest achievements is the part he played in the hydrogeneration plant at Dam #2 on the Arkansas River near Arkansas Post. In W. H. “Bill” Frizzell 1979, Frizzell and Fred Carlisle, general manager of Riceland Electric Cooperative at the time, were looking for ways to control electric costs for their members. They concluded that the answer lay in building a hydropower plant on the Arkansas River that flowed between the two cooperatives. They obtained preliminary permits for hydroelectric power development at 5 dam sites on the Arkansas River. They sent a letter to the Whitehouse asking for assistance and suggesting a partnership on this project with the Whitehouse, Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy and Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. In October 1980, Frizzell and Carlisle were invited to the White House for a special ceremony announcing approval of an REA loan for a feasibility study. C & L and Riceland then released the permits to Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and construction on Dam #2 near Arkansas Post began in 1994. Dam #2, which has an expected lifespan of 100 years, was completed in 1999 at a cost of about $192 million, without a rate increase to the members.
1973 - Bill Frizzell’s first year as Gen. Manager 2016 – Bill Frizzell’s last year as Gen. Manager Members 12,059 Miles of Line 3,075 Substations 7 Total Assets - $9,917,175 Employees 62 Avg. Monthly Usage per Member – 570 KWH
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MARCH 2017
C & L ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Members 21,817 Miles of Line 4,408 Substations 14 Total Assets - $135,953,504 Employees 82 Avg. Monthly Usage per Member – 1321 KWH
W. H. “Bill” Frizzell has been instrumental in many decisions regarding changes and challenges that the electric industry has faced over the past 44 years. His knowledge and wisdom are revered by co-op leaders throughout the nation. New CEO/General Manager Greg Smith has worked at C & L for nearly 30 years. Smith graduated from University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science, Accounting Degree. He began his employment at C & L Electric that same year, as an accountant. He received his CPA in 1990. In 1997 he was named Manager of Accounting for the cooperative, and in 2002, Manager of Finance & Administration. Smith served as Frizzell’s right-hand-man, obtaining a thorough knowledge of the operations of the cooperative. Upon the board of directors’ decision to name Smith CEO/General Manager, it was the consensus of the employees that no one is more qualified to carry C & L into the future. They expressed confidence that C & L remains in very good hands. Smith has been a board member of Electric Cooperatives Federal Credit Union since 2001, and served as chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. Smith who lives in Jefferson County, is married to Wednesday Smith. Smith is the third CEO/General Manager of C & L since its incorporation on Aug. 15, 1938.
Greg Smith
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Former Director Joe Ralph Thompson inducted posthumously to Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame On December 3, 2016, the late Joe Ralph Thompson, former C & L Director from Cleveland County was among the inaugural class of inductees to the Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Inductees were chosen based upon having advanced and enriched the sport of drag racing by leadership, excellence of performance and outstanding contribution to the sport. Thompson who died May 12, 2013, was inducted posthumously. Thompson began racing in 1961, breaking numerous state, regional and national records. He was named Arkansas State Champion several times. He won what is known as the “Grand Daddy of all races,” the Nationals. At the national meet of the National Hot Rod Association at Indianapolis, Indiana, his car, driven by Ronald Cheshire, took top honors in the B-gas division. Thompson’s cars were featured in several magazines and publications, including Car Craft, Hot Rod, Drag Race, High Performance Cars, and The Dawn of Pro Stock. The award was accepted by Thompson’s daughter, Robbie Thompson McKinney.
C & L ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
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