LANE CURLEE Business Reporter

Elk River Public Utility District was chartered in Tullahoma in 1955. Twenty years later, nineteen-year-old Mike O’Neal started work at ERPUD. Last Friday, June 12th, fifty years later to the day, was Mike O’Neal’s last day on the job at ERPUD.

Today, the typical American stays with the same employer 3.9 years. O’Neal stayed with ERPUD over twelve times what the typical American employee stays with their employer.

To put June, 1975, in perspective, Jaws hit the theaters, Pet Rocks were a thing, gas was 55c a gallon and Gerald Ford was President.

On the local front, ERPUD has grown over the past fifty years from a couple of thousand customers to over 19,000 today. Also, during the same fifty years there have been seven ERPUD General Managers.

Prior to starting full time with ERPUD on June 12, 1975, O’Neal worked summers and Christmas holidays at ERPUD. Prior to ERPUD, he also had short stints working at Kmart and Tullahoma Concrete Pipe Company.

What caused O’Neal to start working at ERPUD? “In 1975, the minimum wage was $2.20 an hour. Elk River was paying $2.50 an hour. Big incentive to hire on,” he said.

So the fifty year journey began. Here is part of his ERPUD journey in O’Neal’s own words. “Back when I first started, ERPUD hired part time summer work for the Meter Department to do things like paint and repair meters and mow the gas line right-of-ways. I worked there for three years while attending MTSU and UT.”

“In 1976, we cut the trees and cleared the lot where the present ERPUD office and warehouse are located. In 1978 and 1979 I helped read meters and run service calls.”

In 1980 a request was made of O’Neal that would change his life. “Our General Manager, John Yarborough, wanted to start a 24 hour dispatch office to handle after hour calls and monitor our gas sales to AEDC. Mr. Yarborough asked if I would take over this midnight shift. I did and remained in that position for 40 plus years. For decades, I was sort of the invisible ERPUD employee. About the only time the day shift people saw me was at the annual Christmas party.”

The midnight shift can be a lonely place but O’Neal kept busy putting together scrapbooks on ERPUD history at the request of then General Manager Mike Gunderson.

Why stay so long? O’Neal offered, “One of the best things about Elk River, and one of the reasons I have stayed so long, are the people who work here. ERPUD has always been fortunate to have had a great bunch in its ranks.”

After fifty years, there must be a funny or interesting story to tell. “Oh, you don’t have enough space for me to answer that. I could write a book on the funny things that have happened here thru the years. A lot of really colorful characters have worked here.”

O’Neal reports the biggest change over the past fifty years has been the growth of technology and its application to ERPUD operations. “We used to read meters with pencil and paper. Now, an electronic box on the meter transmits the usage to the office.”

According to current ERPUD General Manager Matt Hulvey, “Staying at the same employer for fifty years is a testament to Mike’s loyalty and commitment to ERPUD. Mike has been a dedicated employee and he has contributed much to ERPUD over the years with his interest in the history of the company.”

When not working, O’Neal enjoys hiking, traveling, reading and researching local and family history. More time for all that O’Neal supposes.

Lane Curlee can be reached at lcurlee@lighttube.net or 5810360.