This change in life-style began when the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was created by the federal government in 1936. Prior to 1995, REA served as a financing organization so local member-owned electric cooperatives like SWRE could serve rural areas. Today REA has been replaced by the Rural Utility Service (RUS).

As early as 1936, local leaders drove the dirt roads of Texoma to sign up farm families for electricity from a cooperative that they hoped could be formed. Folks in the towns and cities had been served by electricity for years. Electrical service to the farms and ranches of Southern Oklahoma and North Texas was a hope that they could only imagine.

That hope became a reality, though, when Southwest Rural Electric Cooperative was chartered by the state of Oklahoma on December 8, 1937. The first board of trustees consisted of five men: W. S. Laing, S. H. Bell, J. H. Wiseman, George Gant, and H. N. Seymour. The five-member board was soon expanded to nine members.

Building power lines was a overwhelming job that required people working together for the good of all. Many worked together to accomplish a goal that was too difficult for a few to accomplish individually.

The first energizing of SWRE’s distribution lines was affected at the Altus Municipal Power Plant, December 13, 1938 at 2:39 PM. At that time, Altus Mayor Bert Holt pulled the switch releasing energy from the plant to SWRE’s Altus substation. Current was then released at 2:52 PM., energizing the first 26 miles of SWRE line.  In 1940, SWRE crossed the Red River and began serving Texas consumers. Succeeding years have seen the building of more electric power lines. Electrical appliances have changed home life from drudgery to convenience. Drop cord lights were wired first, followed by electric irons, radios, stoves, refrigerators, and eventually, televisions. Rural America would never be the same. SWRE and her sister cooperatives had  arrived.

Each small community and rural area was excited by the prospect of "lighting up" homes and businesses. Click here to read excepts from the Consolidated-Eight School Student Review describing how the Con-8 community was electrified. The original 1937 SWRE headquarters was located in a storefront in downtown Tipton, Oklahoma. In 1942, the first SWRE Building was constructed at its present site, 700 North Broadway, Tipton. The building is still used by the cooperative.

The first SWRE General Manager was Tom Moran, a leader not only in the development of SWRE, but statewide. He served as the first president of Western Farmers Electric Cooperative and of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives.

In 1942, Clark T. McWhorter became the second General Manager of SWRE. He had been one of the original incorporators. He took an active role nationally. Following his resignation as General Manager, McWhorter was selected as a member of the SWRE board of trustees and continued to serve in that capacity for many years. In 1948, J. M. Maddox became the third SWRE General Manager. He held that position for 25 years until his retirement in 1973. During his long tenure, Maddox served on numerous state, regional and national boards and committees, including the presidency of OAEC.

B. R. Green assumed the duties of the fourth SWRE General Manager in 1973. Green’s lifetime of work in the cooperative movement made a valuable contribution to SWRE. In 1987, Ray Beavers was selected as SWRE C.E.O. Beavers was involved in the cooperative field for many years. He was active in regional economic development, serving as the founding president of the Great Plains Economic Development Association. Many innovative programs were begun or greatly expanded during his tenure.

Pat McAlister took over the reigns of SWRE in March 2000. McAlister, a native of the Mangum area, came to SWRE from a co-op CEO position in Texas, bringing 36 years of cooperative experience. He retired as CEO in January 2006.

SWRE's service area includes 6,000 square miles of Southwest Oklahoma and North Texas. Loyal and experienced employees are the key to SWRE’s growth and success. They work in all types of weather, day and night, seven days a week to make sure the cooperative members have electricity at the flick of a switch. They know that providing members with the best possible service at the most economical cost is the key to continued success.

Today's SWRE board and management, like those 75 years before them, realize that success is measured not in miles of line or kilowatt hours sold, but in members' satisfaction with their cooperative and the service that it provides! After all, SWRE is owned by the people it serves.

The good people of rural Texoma formed their own power company 75 years ago because no one else would provide them with electricity. They knew that the best way to get something done is to "do it yourself."

Today, the company that they formed is stronger than ever and is a vital force in helping to shape the economy of Southern Oklahoma and North Texas.