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March 31, 2003
JEA Line Maintainers Score First Place Awards in State & National Line Maintainer's Rodeo Competition
JACKSONVILLE (March 31, 2003) - More than 60 teams of lineworkers from electric utilities across the U.S. converged in Jacksonville over the weekend to compete against the best in their field. JEA hosted the Third Annual Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Lineman's Competition and the Third Annual American Public Power Association (APPA) Line Workers' Rodeo held together for the first time Saturday, March 29 at Cecil Commerce Center.
Top utility teams representing municipal and electric cooperative utilities from across the country demonstrated one of America's most dangerous jobs this weekend in a series of events designed to help showcase safer and more efficient methods of performing both routine and emergency tasks. Events like the Hurtman Rescue, Transformer Change-out, and the Lightning Arrestor Change-out put the technical and physical skills of these "electric cowboys " to the test in a crowd-pleasing display of skill and teamwork. The competition followed a full day of comprehensive lineworker training on Friday.
JEA's Journeyman team of Larry Sparks, Dan Prescott, David Nichols, and Angus King took First Place in FMEA's Double Dead End Bell event and Second Place in FMEA's Transformer Change event.
Another JEA Journeyman team with members Tony Fowler, James Carnell, Jim Flores, and Pat Banks took First Place in the Lightning Arrestor event, while a third JEA Journeyman team, which consisted of Greg Johnson, Joe Howard, and Lee Nichols, took Third Place in the Lightning Arrestor event. Both these teams competed in FMEA contests.
Apprentice Kenneth Lockwood dominated the apprentice events earning the distinction of being named the top overall apprentice in the nation by winning First Place overall in the national APPA competition, First Place overall in the FMEA competition (among Florida teams), First Place in the Hurtman event, First Place in the Street Light Change Out event, First Place in the written test, and Second Place in the Rope Toss event.
Apprentice Tracy Haas took Second Place overall in the FMEA competition, First Place in the Crossarm Brace Change Out event, Second Place in the written test, and Third Place in the Hurtman event.
JEA journeyman and apprentice line maintainers lassoed a total of 4 awards at the event.
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