![kennicutt Dawson PPD Board Member Bob Kennicutt](https://dawsonpower.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kennicutt.jpg)
Area served: Dawson Subdivision
Years of service: 38 years
Certifications:
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National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Credentialed Cooperative Director
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National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Certificate
What do you do outside of serving on Dawson PPD’s Board of Directors?
My wife, Kay, and I live in Eddyville and run a cow/calf farming operation. We have two daughters and four grandchildren. They keep us busy. I am also a Mason/Shriner. In the summer, my wife and I enjoy attending the dirt track stock car races.
What made you want to serve on the Dawson PPD Board of Directors?
A couple of guys came to me about 38 years ago and asked me if I would run for the Dawson PPD Board. I had served on several other boards and I felt that this was an opportunity to continue to serve my community. I really didn’t know what I was getting in to. It was a large business then, and it has grown so much since.
What is your favorite memory serving on the board?
One of my favorite memories was years ago when Doc Kloepping was on the National Board for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. We had so much fun when we went to any of the national meetings. Dawson PPD was a respected utility and still is. The District’s technology is always on the cutting-edge.
Another memory I have is from the 1994 April blizzard. The power lines were down, and we went two weeks without power. I remember I was out filling the tractor and I heard someone drive in. It was Ed Darby, the General Manager of Dawson PPD at the time. He drove out to see the destruction. There were no power poles to be seen. It was a sad day for both of us. I appreciate that he took the time to visit and see the destruction personally. Another Dawson PPD Board Member, Bob Stubblefield, loaned me a generator so we could water the cows. As terrible as the storm was, it was heartwarming to see how everyone supported one another.
What is something you learned about public power that surprised you?
I didn’t realize that there are over 5,000 miles of power lines in Dawson PPD’s service territory. It takes a tremendous amount of electrical power, truck power and man power to keep the electricity on at our customers’ farms and homes.
Why is it important to serve on the Dawson PPD Board of Directors?
I feel it is necessary to be sure that the employees are safe and have the equipment they need to serve our customers well. We also want to be sure that the rates are as low as they can be. It is important that our customers know what is always going on.
OTHER NEWS
Remembering the ‘Back to back ice attack’: The 2006-2007 ice storms
A decade later, Dawson PPD employees still remember the devastation of the 2006-2007 ice storms as if it happened yesterday. The first storm rolls in It was Wednesday, December 20, 2006. Weather forecasters predicted an ice storm for Central Nebraska. While a few...
Keeping our first responders safe
When it comes to an emergency, Dawson PPD and our local first responders are on the same team. This fall, Dawson PPD sent letters to local fire departments, county law enforcement and county departments of roads offering an electrical safety demonstration and open...
Between the lines: How does the solar installation down the road affect you?
By Gwen Kautz, Dawson PPD General Manager gkautz (at) dawsonpower.com 308-324-2386 I was surprised by a question asked recently. They were wondering why Dawson PPD wasn’t fearful of losing sales to solar installation. Of course, we don’t want to lose sales; but if...