At the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC) annual meeting, Ron Crighton and David Trogdon were recognized with the A.C. Burrows Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize directors and employees of electric cooperatives for outstanding service to their cooperative, community and service areas. Those who received the award were selected because of their leadership above and beyond the call of duty to strengthen and improve the economic and social conditions in their areas.

Ron Crighton

Ron was appointed to the Ozark Electric Board on Dec. 28, 1984. He went on to serve the cooperative for an extraordinary 39 years. During his tenure, he held the office of secretary/treasurer and earned the title of Credentialed Cooperative Director. A proud Angus cattle rancher, Ron has been the heart of a Century Family Farm since 1970. For the past 16 years, he has cultivated and sold sweet corn. Ron has been a committed advocate for youth development. He was a strong supporter of the Youth Tour. He served 17 years on the Willard R-2 School Board and several years as vice president of the Willard Children’s Charitable Foundation, including time on its scholarship committee. His community involvement includes past membership in the Willard Lions Club, the Masons and the American Angus Association. He remains active in the Willard FFA Alumni.

David Trogdon

David was elected to the Ozark Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in 1977 and has served on the OEC board for 48 years. David has quite a legacy on both the Ozark Electric board and the KAMO Power board. At Ozark Electric, he served as president from 1990-1995 and again from 2008-2013. He spent 19 years on the board of KAMO Power, which is based in Vinita, Oklahoma. David worked on the family dairy farm through high school until he joined the National Guard where he trained to be a helicopter repairman. After six months in the Guard, he returned home to work alongside his father on the dairy farm, where he worked until age 50. After those years on the farm, he moved into the stock cattle and hay business, still managing both today at age 83. David grew up in Ash Grove, Missouri, and still lives with his wife, Lavonda, on the land and in the house where he grew up. He has three adult children, 11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

The award is named for the late Audrian Cleon Burrows of Van Buren, Mo., who rose through the ranks to become general manager of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, the statewide service organization for Missouri’s 48 electric cooperatives. Burrows served in this position from 1968 to 1976. He was recognized as an outstanding leader in rural electrification and as a distinguished individual who dedicated his life to helping others.

The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Jefferson City, is the statewide service organization for Missouri’s electric cooperatives.