Lamb County EC is a member of Golden Spread EC, a generation and transmission organization with a total of 16 member cooperatives. Golden Spread purchases and supplies power to Lamb County EC for its member-consumers and follows one of the seven Cooperative Principles, Concern for the Community.
“At Golden Spread EC, prioritizing the well-being of our members and their communities is paramount,” Brennan Umsted, GSEC Community Involvement Committee (CIC) Chairperson, said. “We believe that few organizations embody this commitment as well as our local volunteer fire departments.’ The men and women who serve on volunteer fire departments across our 16-member service territories selflessly donate their time, talents, and resources to ensure that our communities are safe,” Umsted said. “I’m proud to be a part of a cooperative that prioritizes this kind of community investment,” said Umsted.
The Golden Spread Board of Directors entrusts to the CIC an annual budget, which is used to benefit the territories served by its 16 members. Activities and organizations are selected by the CIC and supported by Golden Spread employees. Additionally, giving back to local communities with a donation of $9,120 to 16 VFDs.
It is an honor and a privilege that through the partnership between Golden Spread EC’s CIC and Lamb County EC, the Whiteface Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was selected from within Lamb County EC’s service area, as the 2024 recipient.
A presentation was held on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Whiteface Fire Station in Whiteface, Texas. A check in the amount of $570.00 was presented to Fire Chief, Bruce Heflin. Guests in attendance were Lamb County EC: Administrative Coordinator, Lupe Marquez; City of Whiteface Mayor and Volunteer Fire Fighter (VFF), James Solis; Whiteface ISD School Board President and VFF, Ryan Crutcher; assistant fire chief, Justin Heflin; Junior VFFs, Cash Crutcher and Jaxson Heflin; and VF Secretary, Dana Heflin.
The Whiteface VFD was organized in 1971. In 1997, Bruce Heflin was appointed fire chief of the Whiteface VFD. After twenty-seven years, Bruce retired from the Whiteface VFD on April 30, 2024. Bruce’s son, Justin Heflin became the newly appointed fire chief.
Currently, there are ten VFF and five junior VFF (age of 14-18) VFF, who in between school, jobs, and family time, volunteer their service and time to the Whiteface VFD. A new firehouse is in the process of being constructed and will be the new home of the Whiteface VFD, as well as EMS.
On behalf of the board of directors, employees and members at Golden Spread EC, and Lamb County EC, thank you to the Whiteface VFD for all that you do to keep our communities safe.
For more information about Golden Spread EC and its community efforts, visit www.gsec.coop/Member/Community.