New scholarship offered in honor of Magness brothers
San Luis Valley REC will be offering a new scholarship in 2025. The James & Thomas Magness Scholarship, valued at $4,000, will be awarded to a student furthering his/her education in an electrical field (electrician; electrical- contractor, engineering or lineman; communications tech, etc. at any trade school, college or university.
Both James and Thomas Magness were lifelong, career employees of SLVREC. James’ son, Greg Magness, along with Thomas’ stepson and REC Board Member Creede Hargraves, have committed to help fund this annual scholarship in their memory.
James gave 44 years to REC, beginning in 1948 and retiring in 1992. During his time, he worked for three different managers and watched the utility grow from one substation to 14, from 637 miles of power line to 2,273 miles, and from 12 employees to 30. He started out cutting and trimming trees for new lines. The next year he moved to the meter department, and in 1950 he broadened his experience with a change to the service department. He spent part of 1951 on active duty with the National Guard; then returned to REC on the construction crew until 1974, when he became the staking engineer for the next 18 years.
In a February 1989 Newsboy interview, James spoke of everything from facing a stiff spring wind on a pole 20 feet above the ground to digging 6-foot-deep holes through rock and soil without the benefit of a backhoe. And of course, he told of a time up in shady Willow Creek canyon above Creede with a wind chill factor of -30°. He and the other linemen had to take turns dipping their bare hands and arms elbow deep in freezing transformer oil to make the necessary repairs.
Thomas began at REC fresh out of the Air Force in 1952, joining his brother Jim. He became manager of operations in October 1979, with his duties including supervising all work done by the linemen, area servicemen, meter and substation technicians, the mechanic and the dispatcher. He retired in 1993 following 41 years of service.
A native of Monte Vista, Tom and his wife Barbara enjoyed traveling. He also liked to fish and was a member of the Elks and the American Legion. In January 1991, Tom was named the “employee of the quarter.” His reply was, “What did they do, run out of people?” Thomas is said to have had a stern demeanor, along with a quick and dry wit, in addition to his long and professional service to the coop.
Throughout both men’s careers, they personified REC’s commitment to members throughout their combined 85 years of service. With the addition of the new Magness scholarship, students will be touched by the brothers’ commitment for years to come.