LaGrange County REMC Operations Manager Terry Helmer receives a round of applause during the annual Service Awards Luncheon held in October, where he was recognized alongside Finance and Administration Manager Brittany Sams and Director Roger Domer.

Operations Manager Terry Helmer can still recall his beginning days with LaGrange County REMC. He made $3 an hour as one of 10 employees at the cooperative, learned his job as a lineman through a correspondence-like program and served about 3,000 members.

Helmer celebrated 45 years at the cooperative this year, and was recognized in October for his years of service alongside Director Roger Domer, 15 years, and Finance and Administration Manager Brittany Sams, five years.

The linemen he supervises took the opportunity to joke that most of them hadn’t even been born when he began at the cooperative in 1973. Though he’s usually a man of few words, Helmer told stories of his work over the past four-and-a-half decades.

“The REMC has always had a great reputation in the community,” Helmer said. “Someone must have been looking down on me to give me this job and keep me safe.”

The co-op appreciates all of the work Helmer, Domer and Sams have contributed over their tenure, and look forward to the years ahead!