Oct. / Nov. / Dec. 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District

Charlie Magnussen celebrates retirement
Ainsworth Local Manager
Charlie Magnussen was
honored at a retirement dinner on
Aug. 8 at the American Legion Club
in Bassett. Special guests included his
wife, Kathy; son and daughter-in-law,
Chris and Jenn Magnussen; son, Matt
Magnussen; daughter, Sherri Stapleton;
stepsons, Mark and Kari Gurnsey and
family and Justin and Amy Gurnsey
and family; stepdaughter, Nikki and
Barry Lovitt and family; stepfather,
Spec Retzlaff; brothers and sisters-inlaw,
Rod and Connie Magnussen and
York Apprentice Substation Construction
Technician Rog “Sugar” and Carol
Magnussen.
O’Neill Distribution Supervisor Mike Marvin
served as Master of Ceremonies and presented Charlie
with his official retirement document and gift from
NPPD, a set of golf clubs.
At a special presentation, Ainsworth Local Manager
Todd Keller and Ainsworth Senior Line Technician
Lee Conroy unveiled a hand-crafted work-of-art
containing memorabilia from Charlie’s 40-year career.
The creation was centered around a cross-arm that had
been struck by lightning and contained some standard
tools of the trade used by Charlie as well as items that
held “special” meaning.
Sons, Chris and Matt, gave their father an original
General Electric meter from 1920 as a reminder of
his career and as a thank you from the family for the
security his dedication to his job provided for them.
The late Eben Gifford, retired
Paxton welder/mechanic, and Boyd
Bryant of North Platte, also known as
The Hillbillies, were inducted into the
Nebraska Country Music Foundation
Hall of Fame in October. The singing,
guitar-playing duo were together for
more than two decades entertaining
fans in Nebraska, South Dakota,
Montana and Wyoming.
ENERGY INSIGHT • OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 25
Charlie Magnussen retires after more than 40 years of service to NPPD.
Magnussen began his career on June 9, 1969 as
a truck driver for the Norfolk Construction Crew.
He began lineman training in 1970 and worked
as an apprentice lineman, lineman, substation
foreman, journeyman lineman and sub-transmission
dispatcher in Norfolk. While in Norfolk, he
completed his training and passed the lineman’s
examination in 1975. On April 16, 1985, Charlie
accepted a promotion to work as the local manager
in Bassett. On March 16, 2006, he advanced to
work as the local manager in Ainsworth, a position
he held at the time of his retirement on Nov. 30,
2009.
You can expect to see Charlie riding his Harley,
and spending the days of his retirement hunting,
fishing, camping, golfing and traveling.
Eben Gifford honored posthumously
“Neither of us could read music,” said Bryant. “We
just loved music and we loved playing it.”
The Hillbillies informally dissolved in the 1980s.
“When the grandchildren came to visit, they always
asked grandpa to play and sing for them. He loved
that,” said Margaret Gifford, Eben’s widow.
Eben, who passed away in 2000, has two proud
sons who work at Gerald Gentleman Station: Fire/
Safety Specialist Bob Gifford and Material Handler
Lonnie Gifford.