Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of
YOUTH RETURN FROM WASHINGTON D.C. Annual Youth Tour competition sends two Central students to Washington D.C.
In 1957, President Lyndon B. Johnson, then a U.S. Senator from Texas, inspired the creation of Youth Tour when he called on electric cooperatives to send young people to Washington to “see what the flag stands for and represents.”
selected the top two which were given the opportunity to go on the trip, the remaining four received scholarships.
Stillwater High School students Tanner Thomas and Paeton Watkins n SEE “YOUTH TOUR,” PAGE 3
More than 50 years later, the program is still going strong and shaping young minds. This year, electric cooperatives across the nation sent 1,800 delegates and chaperons to our nation’s capital. Two of those were from Central’s service area and sponsored by Central Electric Cooperative. Central’s Youth Tour competition is open to all service area high school juniors. Students submitted essays and the top six students were invited to present their entries at a Youth Tour banquet. Judges
Tanner Thomas and Paeton Watkins, both of Stillwater, attended the 2019 Oklahoma Youth Tour in Washington D.C. on June 14-20, 2019.
HABBEN RETIRES FROM BOARD Central Electric Cooperative district eight trustee Clyde “Buddy” Habben announced his retirement from the board of trustees in August following 44 years of service to the cooperative and its members. Habben, who joined the board in 1975, represented members in Oklahoma and southern Logan counties. He and his wife, Nettie, are longtime residents of Luther, where he has worked as a farmer and
rancher. He is an active supporter of the Luther FFA where he has received several awards for his tireless support. Habben has achieved the Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and Director Gold certifications from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The board of trustees is notifying District 8 members of the process for filling the vacancy according to the co-op bylaws.
District 8 Board of Trustee member, Clyde Habben