Bob Harris Awarded 2009 East River Electric Eminent Service Award
September 11, 2009
The Eminent Service Award, East River’s highest commendation, is presented each year during its annual meeting. The award traditionally recognizes individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to East River, the electric cooperatives of South Dakota and Minnesota, and the advancement of rural electrification.
This year’s recipient, Bob Harris, has been Western Area Power Administration Regional Manager for the Upper Great Plains since 2002.
“Many of the individuals that I’ve looked up to for years are past recipients of this award and for me to be considered in that group is unexpected and to be selected is tremendously rewarding,” Harris said.
Under his leadership, Harris has been responsible for the oversight of the operation and maintenance of approximately 7,700 miles of high voltage transmission lines and more than 100 substations located in Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. His region is also responsible for marketing and delivering Pick-Sloan power to more than 300 wholesale preference power customers.
Harris began his Federal career in 1972 with the Bureau of Reclamation in Billings, Montana. In 1977, he transferred from the Bureau of Reclamation to Western also in Billings, Mont. In 1985, he began his role as Assistant Area Manager for Engineering for Western’s Billings Area Office, now known as the Upper Great Plains Region. From 1993 to 2002, Bob was the Power Marketing Manager in Billings, Mont.
Originally from Denver, Colo., Bob earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado.
He and his wife Linda have two children—a daughter, Nicole and son, Jared.
“It takes more than one person and one organization to make public power successful. It really has been my privilege in the past and will continue to be my privilege to work shoulder to shoulder with all of you to make sure that public power continues to be as successful as it’s been and even better,” Harris said.
