Commitment to Community: Late Lineman Dan Dye named Hometown Hero

   The mark that late District Lineman Dan Dye left continues to have a great impact throughout the Northfork Electric Cooperative family.  Dye, who passed away in 2020, has been posthumously honored with the March 2021 Hometown Hero Award by Koppers Utility & Industrial Products.  He was nominated for the distinction by his co-worker, Connie Ferrero, because of his concern for community through his passionate commitment to the Co-op Family Christmas program.

   “Dan was a driving force for Co-op Family Christmas and encouraged that same spirit of generosity in many of us at NFEC,” said Ferrero.  “To many members in our service area there really is no other word to describe Dan.  He was, and with what he set in motion all those years ago with the Co-op Family Christmas program, always will be, a hero.” 

   The purpose of the award is to recognize cooperative employees from across the nation who have made a substantial difference in their business and/or their community by going the extra mile to help others. Each month one co-op employee is recognized and provided with a $500 contribution to give to the charity of their choice.

   “Of course Dan came to mind when I learned about the award last year,” said Ferrero.  “To say that he went above and beyond for our members would be an understatement.  He put his all into Co-op Family Christmas year after year and wanted to be certain that no one needing help was missed.”  

   “Dan was always really excited to go around to everybody and get donations.  He’d bring them home and we’d have them all lined up in living room, getting ready for Co-op Family Christmas day,” said Dan’s wife, Vicki.  “People just knew he would be coming around for donations in November.”

   The NFEC Co-op Family Christmas program has been helping families since 2004.  “Dan took it and ran with it, and challenged each of us to do the same,” said Glen Tignor, who worked with Dan at the co-op for over 30 years.  

“Dan did a lot for the program,” said NFEC Operation Manager Richard Bowdre.  “And he still is.”

   With the award plaque comes a $500 contribution to Co-op Family Christmas and a Koppers swag bag.