Hanover County Businessman Cited for Co-op Leadership
William C. “Bill” Frazier, a longtime businessman, supervisor and community leader in Hanover County, is the recipient of the 2019 Electric Cooperative Leadership Award from the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC).
Frazier received the association’s highest award July 29 as part of the VMDAEC 75th Annual Meeting in Williamsburg.
A resident of Montpelier in Hanover County, Frazier has served on the board of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative since 1981, including the role of chairman, and has played an integral role in numerous co-op initiatives. He also served for six years as a member of the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative Board of Directors.
Frazier was a member of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors for 16 years and has held numerous positions of responsibility in civic affairs and his church.
In presenting the award, Richard G. Johnstone Jr., president and CEO of the VMD Association. said Frazier is known for “always bringing his insightful questions, business acumen and common sense to bear on every issue, and always serving as a champion for ‘the member at the end of the line.’ ”
Accompanied by his daughter Gail, Frazier said he was taken aback when the award was announced. He noted he has served on many boards, “but none of them have ever been as exciting or as interesting as being on the electric co-op board. … I’ve just been very proud to be a part of it.”
Frazier’s relatives and colleagues were in attendance as he accepted the award.
“Bill was always prepared when he came into the board meetings. It was obvious that he’d done his homework,” said Kent Farmer, president and CEO of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. “He is a selfless community advocate and dedicated to promoting the cooperative business model.”
***
Headquartered in Glen Allen, Va., the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives provides safety and training, communications and legislative services to 15 electric cooperatives serving the three-state Mid-Atlantic region. For more information on VMDAEC and the lineman’s rodeo, visit www.vmdaec.com or www.co-opliving.com.
William C. “Bill” Frazier accepts the Electric Cooperative Leadership Award from the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives with Kent Farmer, president and CEO of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. Frazier serves on the REC board.