In 1974, Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" dominated the charts, "Blazing Saddles" took the spotlight in cinemas, Skittles and the Rubik’s Cube made their debut, Hank Aaron surpassed Babe Ruth’s homerun record, and the nation faced gas shortages. It was also the year Henry Neil Schaefer commenced his tenure at Bandera Electric Cooperative. Five decades later, Schaefer remains an esteemed BEC employee.
David Ross, Systems Operations Supervisor, commends Schaefer, stating, "Neil is a wealth of knowledge." Ross describes Schaefer's work as a dance when climbing, emphasizing his agility and efficiency. “There’s no wasted movement, he’s as quick as a cat. I’ve never seen anything like it.” The two have worked together for 30 years, starting when Ross joined, and Schaefer held the position of Senior Lineman.
Recalling a hazardous incident, Ross shares, "Once, a transformer exploded, scattering sparks and igniting the pole. Neil scaled the pole with a fire extinguisher without hesitation. He’s easy mannered, precise, and always willing to teach anybody how to do things the right way." Ross expresses gratitude for the experience, stating, "It's been a pleasure to work with him."
A native of Bandera, Schaefer remains an on-call Lineman. Join us in celebrating Henry Neil Schaefer's remarkable 50 years of dedicated service!