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NRECA CEO Glenn English is surrounded by (L-R) sons John and Jason, daughter TJ and wife Jan. (Photo By: Luis Gomez)

Contact:
Tracy Warren, NRECA
703-907-5746
Mobile: 703-517-3411

Arlington, VA — On May 5, Glenn English, who has led NRECA as chief executive officer for 16 years, was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

English used the occasion to remind the audience that today, 75 years after the creation of the Rural Electrification Administration, there are still lessons to be learned from that example.

“During these times in which we have so much cynicism among the general public with regard to government, I think we can all take pride—particularly those of us who are with the rural electrification program—that this major accomplishment came about because of this cooperative business model and because of the partnership that was formed by government with the American people. And I would suggest our elected officials and our fellow citizens could take a lesson from that,” English said.

NRECA Board President F.E. “Wally” Wolski noted that English’s wife, Jan, also deserved thanks for her contributions. “In no small part, Jan is a major factor in Glenn being appropriately considered for this honor,” Wolski said. “Her countless hours of volunteer, non-paid work provide a much-needed cornerstone for Glenn’s accomplishments.”

English follows his three NRECA predecessors—Clyde T. Ellis, Robert D. Partridge and Bob Bergland—into the Cooperative Hall of Fame.

In Glenn English became the fourth chief executive officer of NRECA in March 1994. Under English’s leadership, cooperatives have come to be seen as a powerful presence on Capitol Hill, “punching above their weight,” as one newspaper put it.

Before coming to NRECA, English served 10 terms in the U.S. Congress, representing Oklahoma’s 6th District. He served on the House Agriculture Committee and as chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, and Rural Development, beginning in 1989. As chairman, English worked directly on legislation affecting rural development programs, including rural electrification and telecommunications, and pursued an aggressive agenda to revitalize the economy of America’s rural communities.

Along with English, three others were inducted as part of the Class of 2010. They are: Larry Blanchard, honored for his work with credit unions; Werqu Mekasha, who worked with agricultural co-ops in Ethiopia; and David Thompson, a multi-sector co-op leader.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.

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