In October, Central Rural Electric Cooperative will bid farewell to a remarkable leader with a legacy woven into the cooperative’s history. Central’s board president, Carol Dvorak, will retire after 12 years of service on the board of trustees. 

Her retirement celebrates a legacy of dedication and community service that began with her grandfather, one of Central’s founding members.

 

A Family’s Legacy

In the early 1930s, when the rural areas of Oklahoma were still without electricity, Herman Schroeder was among a group of local farmers who saw a need and the potential for change.

Understanding the importance of access to electricity in rural areas, Schroeder and nine other local farmers worked tirelessly to establish the cooperative and light up central Oklahoma.

“My grandpa would go and knock on doors and emphasize to farmers the importance of electricity and that they could have light to do things like milk their cows,” Dvorak said. “He worked hard for the cooperative, and my mom would help by typing the applications.” 

During Schroeder’s time on Central’s board, which lasted into the 60s, the cooperative grew from powering 141 farms and homes to more than 9,000 members.

“What stuck with me was how if you wanted to improve something, you worked hard to make it happen,” Dvorak said. “He didn’t wait for something to be done, he made it happen for so many rural families.”

These stories left a lasting impression on Dvorak, shaping her values and guiding her path back to where her grandfather started. 

 

Continuing the tradition

When she married her husband, Scott, they had the opportunity to work the original farmland where her grandfather first received electricity when he helped start Central.

Dvorak said, “While my husband was farming, he would say things like, ‘I figured out what your grandfather was doing to prevent soil erosion near the creek.’ It was like he knew my grandfather in a way I never did. It was a really special connection.”

Dvorak won Central’s district three trustee seat in 2012.

She said, “Hearing stories about my grandfather and watching my father start a rural water district and serve on a cooperative board, they had a huge impact on my decision to run for Central’s board.”

While Dvorak considered running for Central’s board, she spoke to Jim Williams who had replaced her grandfather’s seat.

“He encouraged me to get more information and to learn about the board,” Dvorak said. “I became an Ambassador and served on the Central Community Foundation board and won the election when I ran for the board seat.”

 

Continuing the legacy

Dvorak’s grandfather was the first president of Central’s board and signed the articles of incorporation which hang in the same room that she presides over as the current board president. 

“Within cooperatives, boards are generally male-dominated,” Dvorak said. “Many peers would assume I was appointed because I was a woman. I’m glad that in the 12 years I’ve served, I’ve seen a shift of more women serving on boards at a national level.”

Developing Central’s subsidiary, Centranet, is something Dvorak considers a major accomplishment during her tenure.

“Prioritizing reliable and affordable electricity and internet for rural Oklahomans is so important,” Dvorak said. “People that live in the country can’t be overlooked.”

Before she joined Central’s board, she called the office and inquired about the cooperative providing internet service. It’s something that became a priority for the cooperative during her tenure. 

“I love that our members have access to Centranet,” Dvorak said. “I really believe in cooperatives, and what Central is doing for its members is amazing. The way we believe in service, service to our members, is incredible.”

After retiring from Central’s board, Dvorak plans to continue her involvement in the Perry area as a community liaison for Meridian Technology Center where she works as a connection to provide courses and trainings. 

As Dvorak steps down from her role, the cooperative will continue to shine because of the legacy and leadership of a family that believes in the power of working together to create a brighter future.