March 2017 SWRE Manager’s Report A New Season
March is here, and another season is quickly approaching. I’m anxious to see what spring is like here in the Texoma area. I’ve always thought it would be great to live in an area of the country that has four distinct seasons, but I never imagined that a place could have all four seasons within a single week. The old saying “If you don’t like the weather here just wait a few minutes, it will change” had to be penned here!
Joe Wynn
March not only marks the end of a season, but this year it will also mark the retirement of a truly wonderful person and a dedicated SWRE employee, Mr. Joe Wynn. As I understand, Joe announced early last year his intent to retire at the end of 2016. However, with Mr. Hagy’s retirement and the pending leadership transition, Joe graciously and unselfishly postponed his retirement to help
ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved. You know Joe not only as SWRE’s manager of communications and news editor, but also as a dedicated and committed community leader. I feel completely inadequate to begin to describe the impact that Joe has made in this community. For literally decades, Joe has poured himself into many public service opportunities in Southwest Oklahoma through his professional career and personal life. Joe was born and raised in Tillman County Oklahoma, graduating from Frederick High School in 1971 and going on to earn an undergraduate degree in English from Oklahoma Baptist University and masters from SWOSU. Joe began his career in the mid-1970s at Walters, then Frederick Public Schools teaching English, yearbook and journalism. He later served as public information director for the Frederick school system and then moved on to serve as Executive Director of Communications for the Lawton Public Schools until his retirement from education in 2005. Joe then came home to serve as the Frederick Chamber of Commerce director for one year, until his next move to Southwest Rural Electric in 2006.
As Chamber director Joe invested his time and talents in his community. Judge Brad Benson, who served then as Frederick Chamber president, commented, “Joe has invested his life in Southwest Oklahoma. His insight in relating and communicating to people of all walks of life has been a wonder to
watch over the years I have known him. He is a student of our shared history, a voice of progress and concern, and a difference-maker in our communities. He provides wise counsel, and I’m honored to call him my friend.” According to Gary Tyler, superintendent of Great Plains Technology Center in Frederick, “Joe has volunteered his service to his community over the past 25 years more times than I can count. He has spearheaded bond elections and written more press releases than most newspaper men.” Joe has also served as president of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce and the Tillman County Historical Society. He is part of the Tillman County Election Board, The Frederick School Enrichment Foundation board, and Tillman County Retired Educators, just to name a few. It is little wonder that Joe was honored this year as Frederick’s Most Useful Citizen! I could go on further but there’s simply not time or space to list his many contributions, credits, and accomplishments to this community. On a personal note, Joe was the first employee to reach out to me when the announcement was made that I would be joining the SWRE team. He was welcoming, encouraging, and generous with both his time and guidance. Although it’s only been a few months, Joe has become a trusted confidant and a dear friend. He is one of those people that you have an instant comfort with and you feel you’ve known forever. Joe’s support and helpfulness has been invaluable to me both on a personal and professional level and I can’t express how much I appreciate him. It is with mixed emotions that I announce Joe will be officially retiring from SWRE at the end of the month. Although we could never replace Joe and all that he has done for SWRE, we are in the process of interviewing for a communications specialist and hope to complete that process in the very near future. That said, Joe has again, unselfishly volunteered his services to bridge the gap through this transition period. So over the coming days please join me in congratulating Joe on his retirement, and if you have the opportunity, express your appreciation to him for all that he has done for our community. And if I know Joe, he will continue to play a vital leadership role in our community into the future. Joe, our co-op, community, and our future are better because of you! May God richly bless you as you enter this “New Season”. Thank you, Sir!
Kenneth E. Simmons
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124
