After graduating from an electrical distribution program in 1991 and being hired by Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative (CWEC) that same year, Dennis Magee has retired after a 34-year career with CWEC. His last day was Aug. 4.
Magee said he decided to enroll in the electrical distribution program in 1990 after hearing about the program from the wife of one of his wife’s co-workers.
“I worked in the shipbuilding industry at the time, but that was kind of going nowhere as a job,” Magee said. “Prior to that I worked some factory jobs, but I just knew that wasn’t for me to do the same thing every day, day in and day out. When I found out about this, it really sparked my interest. I took it from there and decided to go for it. That’s how I ended up here.”
Magee was hired at CWEC as a lineman after applying for an opening while he was finishing up his schooling. He said he was one of two students who were called in for an interview by CWEC. After his interview with CWEC, he was offered the job the next day.
When asked if he thought he would spend his entire career in the electrical distribution field with CWEC, Magee said he was just happy to secure a job in the field he went to school for.
“I knew after about four years when I finished my apprenticeship, I knew I wasn’t going to be going anywhere else,” Magee said. “I was happy here. It was what I was looking for, more of a small-town operation.”
Magee said he spent around 25 years as a lineman at CWEC, first as an apprentice lineman, then a journeyman lineman, and then a foreman at the co-op’s outpost in Wittenberg. When CWEC moved to its new building in Rosholt, Magee made a job shift to staking and line management. He has held those roles since.
“At that time there wasn’t a whole lot of opportunity to advance,” Magee said. “I was also starting to have some back issues, so I figured this was going to be my only chance (to advance). And I’m glad I did.”
Looking back at his time with CWEC, one of the things he is most proud of was volunteering to help restore power in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
“That was quite an experience. I’m glad I did it,” Magee said. “I was worried at first because I was the only one from here going, but I’m glad I did. It’s just hard to put into words when you’re actually there. It was pretty rewarding. After that I would have done it again with no hesitation.”
While helping to restore power there, Magee said he worked with linemen from other electric co-ops, which allowed him to build new friendships.
“Just to see when you take something that was totally destroyed and we rebuilt it in a matter of months, it’s a pretty good feeling to look back and see your work,” Magee said. “The people in the area were so appreciative. That was the best part. They really made you feel welcomed.”
Magee said he spent about three weeks working in Louisiana. In all, volunteers worked three months restoring power after Hurricane Katrina.
“Basically, in about three months we rebuilt pretty much their whole system. That’s pretty impressive,” Magee said.
Regarding retirement, Magee said he feels that now is the right time to retire because things are changing and he’s done the job long enough.
“It’s been a good career. I’m not complaining,” Magee said. “You have good days and bad days like any other place. Overall, it’s been good. It’s just that time that I want to start doing something else. I’m just at the point in my life where I can do it. As long as I can afford to do it, I figured why not.”
Magee said he will miss his co-workers.
“I think the co-op right now with the changes, and the crew we have now, I think the co-op is sitting in a really good spot,” Magee said. “Better than we have been for quite a while.”
In retirement, Magee plans to stay busy by completing projects at home and at his cabin. He also plans to do plenty of salmon fishing on Lake Michigan. Plenty of golfing is also on that list, including golfing with his son in a golf league.
“I think I’ve got enough to keep me busy for a while,” Magee said. “My wife has a pretty good ‘to do list’ that I think will never end.”