Richard Schmidt, Chairman
Restaurant owner, Lockhart

Ben Flencher, Vice Chairman
Banking executive, Somerville

James B. Kershaw, Secretary/Treasurer
Attorney, Bastrop

Byron Balke, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Retiree, Bleiblerville

Gary Gerdes, Director
Ranching, oil & gas businessman, Giddings

Fred W. Hannes, Director
Banking executive, Giddings

Robert Mikeska, Director
Businessman, Brenham

Ken Mutscher, Director
Financial services executive, Brenham

Adlinie Rathman, Director
Banking executive, Bastrop

Lyle L. Wolz, Director
Retiree, Caldwell

Richard Schmidt, Chairman

Richard Schmidt has served on the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1994 and as the Board's Chairman since 2002. Richard is a graduate of Lockhart High School and of Texas Christian University, where he was a baseball scholarship recipient and earned his bachelor's degree in business administration. He and his wife, Evelyn, live in Lockhart, where they own and operate a barbecue restaurant. They have two sons; one works with the family business and the other works in the technology industry.

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Ben Flencher, Vice Chairman

Ben Flencher has served on the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1987. Ben graduated from Somerville High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in finance at Texas A&M University. Involved in the banking industry, he also serves as board president for the Burleson County Industrial Foundation, and as president for Citizens State Bank. Ben and his wife, Betsy, live in Somerville and they have four sons.

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James B. Kershaw, Secretary/Treasurer

James Kershaw has served on the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1982 and as Secretary/Treasurer since 1987. A graduate of Bryan High School, James earned his pre-law degree from Texas A&M and his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. James is a practicing attorney in Bastrop, Texas and is also a director with FEMA, First National Bank of Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville and Cedar Creek and Salvation Army. James and his wife, Doris, make their home in Bastrop County.

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Byron Balke, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

Byron Balke has served as a member of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 2000 and as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer since May, 2003. Byron is a graduate of Bellville High School and earned his bachelor’s degree at Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University). Byron and his wife, Annette, live in Bleiblerville and are engaged in ranching. They have two children.

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Gary Gerdes, Director

Gary Gerdes has served as a member of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1978. A graduate of Giddings High School, Gary earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Sam Houston State University. Today, he is involved in the ranching, oil and gas industry. Gary and his wife, Dorothey, live in Giddings and they have four children.

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Fred W. Hannes, Director

Fred Hannes has served as a member of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1983 and as Vice Chairman since May, 2003. Fred graduated from Giddings High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Southern Methodist University. Today, he works in the banking industry, serves as executive vice president and director of Giddings 1st National Bank, and is a member of the First United Methodist Church. Fred and his wife, Dianna, live in Giddings and they have two children.

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Robert Mikeska , Director

Robert Mikeska joined the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in May of 2008. He is a graduate of Bellville High School, Blinn College and the University of Texas where he earned a BBA in Finance. He brings in prior experience in banking, manufacturing and served as the former assistant budget officer for the Texas House of Representatives and analyst for the Texas Office of State and Federal Relation in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Marita have one daughter, Michele, and currently reside in Brenham.

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Kenneth Mutscher, Director

Ken Mutscher has served as a member of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1998. Ken is a graduate of Brenham High School, Blinn College and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Texas. He is self-employed in the Financial Services Business and raises registered brangus cattle. Ken serves on the church council of Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, and enjoys hunting, fishing, and golf. Ken and his wife, Sarita, live in Brenham and have one son.

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Adlinie Rathman, Director

Adlinie Rathman has served on the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1996. Adlinie graduated from Lockhart High School, and has worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (now part of SBC Communications) and for Bastrop-based Aqua Water Supply Corporation, from which she retired with over 30 years of service. Involved in the ranching and agriculture industry, Adlinie also serves as a board member for First National Bank of Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville and Cedar Creek, and for the Bastrop Area 4-H & FFA Livestock Association. An extremely active community member, she attends the Calvary Episcopal Church in Bastrop. Adlinie lives in Bastrop and has one daughter, a son-in-law and two grandchildren.

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Lyle L. Wolz, Director

Lyle Wolz has served as a member of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1983, and served as board president for ten years. Lyle is a graduate of Caldwell High School and earned his associate’s degree at Kilgore Junior College. He retired from the U.S. Agriculture Service. Lyle also serves as president of the Burleson County Feed Store. Lyle and his wife, Esther, live in Caldwell and they have four children.

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