[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17459-17460]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING JEFFREY LEE NELSON

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I congratulate Jeff Nelson of 
Madison, SD, for recently celebrating 30 years of distinguished service 
at East River Electric.
  Jeff Nelson understands the word dedication. Mr. Nelson was born and 
raised in Marion, SD, where he attended high school. After graduating 
from South Dakota State University in 1971 with a degree in electrical 
engineering, he entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. 
From 1971 to 1974, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army's Armored 
Division. After honorably serving, he and his wife, Trudi, relocated to 
Madison where he started working for East River Electric.
  I know first hand that Jeff has done a great deal to improve the 
lives of countless South Dakotans. He is a tremendously talented man 
with a great deal of energy and ambition. He is not only a good friend, 
but a person who may staff and I deal with closely. As general manager 
of East River Electric since 1990, he has earned the respect and 
admiration of all those who have had the opportunity to work with him.
  East River Electric is a power supply cooperative which serves 
wholesale electricity to 22 member systems, which in turn serve over 
82,000 homes and businesses. The 36,000 square mile service area covers 
41 counties in Eastern South Dakota and nine counties in western 
Minnesota.
  Jeff's friendly demeanor and wealth of knowledge have helped him 
develop close relationships with his colleagues and with community 
leaders throughout our State. This friendly attitude has led to 
numerous elected posts and honors. He is currently the president of the 
Mid-West Electric Consumers Association board of directors, Upper Great

[[Page 17460]]

Plains Region Affiliate of Western States Power Corporation board of 
directors, chairman of the Power and Water Resources Standing Committee 
of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and vice 
president of the Western States Power Corporation board of directors. 
Among his many philanthropic efforts are the organizer of the Lake 
County Food Pantry, treasurer of the East Central South Dakota Habitat 
for Humanity, and he is on the board of directors for the Lake Area 
Improvement Corporation.
  Through it all, Jeff's devotion to his family is his number one 
priority. Even as his responsibilities at East River Electric changed 
and grew, his commitment to his family never wavered. Jeff and Trudi 
have two children, Erik and Katie. Erik and his wife, Stacy, live in 
Sioux Falls, while Katie resides in nearby Marshall, Minnesota.
  I congratulate Jeff Nelson for his 30 years of distinguished service. 
It is with great honor that I share his impressive accomplishments with 
my colleagues.

                          ____________________