Sam Houston Electric Cooperative

Cooperation at Work in the Community
After more than 60 years in the area, Sam Houston Electric Cooperative has become more than a power provider. In fact, many of our members see us as a part of the community. There are quite a few folks spinning yarns that have Sam Houston Electric's name tied to them. Here is what a few of them have to say.

John Clementine Clark, Jr., Owner, Circle C Ranch
Former Principal of Woodville Junior High School,
Co-op member since 1987
"My family moved out here in the 1870s, and we've been squatting on this land ever since. I played in these hills when I was a boy, and I am still running around these same pastures…. I look around and see the house where my mother grew up and trees that my dad grafted in the 30s…. You see, we have a history here. I like that Sam Houston Electric does too. I don't have anything but praise for them. I think it's just a good organization. They've always been our electric company, and they've always been good to me.

…When it comes to all this deregulation talk, I look to them. They know better than I do when it comes to that. I trust them and know whatever they decide to do, it will be what's right for me."

J.E. Anderson, Fire Chief, Friday Volunteer Fire Department
"We started the VFD here in 1990. Before that, Friday was a far cry from a fire station. We've slowly built the department, and Sam Houston Electric has been a big help along the way. Each year they send us a letter offering to donate funds, and we always reply right away. Their contributions helped replace our truck tires one year, and another year we bought handheld radios and pagers. A couple years ago, we bought oxygen tanks for the trucks…. It wasn't two weeks before we got called to a fire where we put the tanks to use. The oxygen saved one man a trip to the hospital. Now, that's a good example of how important the money is….

So you can see how important the Co-op's contribution is to us and the people in our community."

Patsy Allen, Holly Grove, Co-op member since 1952
"When I was growing up we had coal oil lamps - pure old kerosene lamps. In 1938 my dad built a little two-room house, but we didn't have electricity. We didn't get electricity at the old Holly Grove homeplace until 1952. Electricity made life a lot different. We got a washing machine. Used to be we'd have to draw water from the well one bucket at a time to do the wash. We'd start three days in advance, because we couldn't draw but 2 buckets at a time or else there wouldn't be enough drinking water.

Once we got lights reading at night was easier, too. Before that we had to sit real close to the kerosene lamp. If you turned on an old oil lamp now, you'd wonder how we ever studied by them. These days one electric lamp can light up an entire room."

Adam Jenke, 2001 Valedictorian, Coldspring High School
4.0 GPA student, Sam Houston State University
"I was thrilled to get the scholarship! It's nice that the Cooperative supports and promotes education. Scholarships have made a huge difference for me. They've allowed me to focus 100 percent on earning my degree.

I'm at Sam Houston State University studying agriculture and business. I'm working on completing my degree in 3-½ years. Then, I plan to pursue a graduate degree. My minor is management information systems…. I think it would be cool to go in to something with computers and incorporate it with my agriculture background."

Donna Gregory, President, Livingston Girls Softball League
"When the City Council granted the Girls Softball League of Livingston $200,000 to expand our facilities for the growing number of girls playing ball, we were thrilled. But we quickly got discouraged when estimated costs to light the fields totaled more than $100,000! That's when Sam Houston Electric stepped in.

Sam Houston put their hearts into the project. They presented detailed plans and print outs for the installation and helped us determine what level of 'candle power' would be most efficient. I couldn't believe how much time and energy they spent, even though it was purely a community service. Sam Houston doesn't even get to charge us for the electricity the lights use since the fields are served by the City. So, there is literally no way we can repay them. We are so grateful for their help. We just can't thank them enough. We couldn't have done this without Sam Houston Electric."

Do you have a story to tell about a positive effect Sam Houston Electric has had on you or someone you know? Contact Us