rescuehilco.com -- Jerry Lemons

Promoted after serving 3 years as assistant general manager, Jerry Lemons served as CEO of HILCO for almost 8 years, growing the co-op from a $40 million company to a $100 million company during his tenure at HILCO. Jerry was well-known for his cost-cutting measures and his dedication to customer service. He could be reached by phone -- hardly common in a $100 million company.

After approximately 11 years of service to the co-op, he was called on his cell phone while driving home from a board meeting. First told he was fired, he was later allowed to resign. This was reportedly the result of a 4 - 3 vote, with directors Margaret Hill, George Thiess, Dave Smith, and Bill Allen voting for his termination.

Although Jerry has turned to other endeavors and has stated he will not return to HILCO, he cares greatly about the co-op he helped build. He turned down a $160,000 settlement offer by the four because it would have required him to be silent on this matter.

Jerry's life has been committed to public service, having previously served with the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Dallas Youth Services Corps, and the U. S. Military, where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

His Military awards & decorations include Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal w/V Device for Heroism, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for Heroism, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, U.S. Army Aviator Badge, and German Surface-to-Air Missile Expert Badge.

Text from Jerry's letter of resignation:

In accordance with General Policy 410, I hereby tender my two week notice and resign as General Manager/CEO, HILCO Electric Cooperative, Inc., effective March 19, 2007. The most recent activities by several members of the Board of Directors, including violations of HILCO Board Policies pertaining to direct communications with employees, filing improper travel invoices, the deliberate restriction of information previously available to the membership, ongoing re-districting that appears to be designed to preclude competition in one District and deliberately targeting an incumbent Director in another District, and personal attacks on me by various Directors. The Board’s behavior and unwillingness to follow its own policies has made it impossible for me to remain an effective leader and manager of the organization and its subsidiary operations.