Geyer celebrates 35 years of service

It was all part of his grand plan to hit the road with his wife, Janice. Geyer and his wife purchased a new truck and camper so they can travel in retirement. Their plan is to visit the Dakotas, Idaho, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. Then they’ll travel down the West Coast to see the redwoods and cut over to the Grand Canyon before heading home.

“We’ll have all the time in the world because we get to decide what we want to do and when we want to stop,” said Geyer. They could be gone one month or it could be closer to two.

He describes it as a trip that “was a long time coming.” Geyer was a boilermaker working on construction of Unit 3 before he joined the cooperative world. He started as a journeyman welder/mechanic at Thomas Hill Energy Center in 1981. He stayed in maintenance because he enjoyed investigating jobs and finding the right parts to fix problems. He was promoted to mechanical maintenance supervisor in 2007.

Throughout the years he saw growth in safety, the conversion to western coal and the transition to cordless tools that made jobs easier and safer. He was a liaison between the plant and the construction company when selective catalytic reduction equipment was built at Thomas Hill.

Along the way, Geyer stuck to his goal of always working in the safest manner. He also worked hard to treat people fairly. “My uncle taught me that you have to treat people like you want to be treated,” he said.

Entering this new phase of life, Geyer said he will miss the people most. He hopes he will be remembered for never being afraid to speak his mind. “It’s just the way I’m built.”

When Geyer and his wife finish their grand adventure, they will settle back in their home with 80 acres between Huntsville and Moberly. He has two horses he describes as big puppy dogs. He is considering buying some cattle but says he’s in no hurry. He’ll also have more time to enjoy his five children, 10 grandchildren and the twins his daughter is expecting later this year.

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve more than 875,000 customers. Associated Electric’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members, including the “Take Control & Save” energy efficiency program, www.TakeControlAndSave.coop. Associated Electric is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

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