[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 56 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO ARLO PETERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL LUTHER

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 1999

  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize the 
important achievements of Arlo Peterson, a Minnesotan who was a pioneer 
and visionary leader in bringing affordable energy and electricity to 
thousands of rural and later suburban Minnesota residents. Arlo is 
retiring from his position on the board of Connexus Energy after 34 
years of service to his state. Arlo served 25 of those years as 
Chairman of the Board of Directors. He took on this leadership position 
for one of the country's leading electric cooperatives upon the death 
of his father Ed Peterson in 1964, who had been a board member for 17 
years. Together, these two men gave their state more than a century of 
service to help bring affordable electricity to their fellow residents.
  A farmer from the small town of St. Francis, Minnesota, Arlo has been 
a model of stewardship for rural cooperative growth, ensuring that 
Minnesotans in his vast service area would have the energy and 
electricity they needed at rates they could afford. He has embodied a 
spirit of dedication and commitment to service for more than 34 years. 
Arlo took time from his primary endeavor as a family farmer to improve 
the lives of others in his own and neighboring communities, and helped 
to provide a national model of a successful electric cooperative. We 
are grateful for his tremendous contributions.

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