Basin Electric original incorporator Bernard R. Riley
Riley was the manager of McCook Electric Cooperative from 1949 to 1962.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- January 6, 2012
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Bernard Riley |
Bernard Raphael Riley was born April 16, 1915, in Fairfield, PA, to Leo C. Riley and Euphemia R. Riley. He graduated from Mount Saint Mary's College, Emmitsburg, MD, in 1940.
He was an engineer with Gibbs & Hill, a New York engineering consulting firm, when he married Genevieve Marie Kreul, a registered nurse, May 16, 1942, in Gettysburg, PA. He met Genevieve at John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, MD, where she was doing graduate work. That fall he began duty with the U.S. Army and was stationed at New Cumberland Army Depot in Middletown, PA. In 1943, he resumed employment with Gibbs & Hill and they moved back to Gettysburg.
The Rileys became residents of South Dakota in 1947, when he was employed as an engineer with Sioux Valley Empire Electric Association, Colman, SD. Two years later, the family moved to Salem, SD, where he was hired in 1949 as manager of McCook Electric Cooperative*. He held that position until 1962. It was as manager of McCook that he became an incorporator of Basin Electric in 1961.
According to a dedication in McCook Electric's 1999 annual report, which celebrated the cooperative’s 50th annual meeting, "Manager Riley met the early problems of rural electrification head on. He realized the important responsibility of assuring that service would be dependable and adequate to meet the growing needs of the cooperative member.
"He never backed down from the power companies. He believed in member involvement, the education of our youth and having strong community ties."
Riley, who had moved back to Ohio after retirement, was invited to speak at McCook Electric’s 50th annual meeting by Mary Rolling, who was manager of McCook in 1999. Riley wrote a letter to Mary in response that was printed in McCook's annual report. Excerpts are below:
"Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary of McCook Electric Cooperative Inc. You are doing a good job as manager. Not many organizations can have an employee move up the ladder, particularly when it comes to manager. McCook Electric News continues to keep the consumer informed. I like the new look of it, such as the color border and the variety of pictures.
"I am honored to have been asked to address your 50th members' meeting, but I must decline due to old age catching up with me.
"You, your board, and your employees are all doing a good job in keeping abreast of the latest skills of electric service to your members."
He also told Rolling that he repaired small electrical appliances purchased at garage sales and thrift stores and donated them to the St. Vincent DePaul Society.
Riley and Genevieve had three sons, Robert, Ray and Ron, and one daughter, Marianne.
Riley died Sept. 7, 2000, in Hamilton, OH.
*On Jan. 1, 2006, McCook Electric Cooperative merged into Southeastern Electric Cooperative Inc., Marion, SD.
On May 5, 1961, 69 people from several states gathered at the Patterson Hotel in Bismarck, ND, to sign Articles of Incorporation for Basin Electric. Their names are on a brass plaque immediately outside of the main entrance to the Headquarters building. Kathi Risch, Basin Electric senior staff writer/editor, has been trying to find out more about the original incorporators.
If you have information you would like to share about a Basin Electric original incorporator that has not yet been recognized, please call Risch at 701-557-5606 or send information, photo scans, etc. to krisch@bepc.com.
See all the stories done to date on our Original Incorporators page.
Headquarters
1717 East Interstate Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503-0564 USA
Phone: 701.223.0441
Basin Electric Power Cooperative will provide cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America.
