Richard Schmidt, Chairman
Lockhart |
 | Richard Schmidt has served on the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1994 and as the Board's Chairman since 2002. Schmidt 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 owned and operated Kreuz Market until Dec. 31, 2010, when he retired. They have two sons; one has taken over the family business and the other works in the technology industry. |
Ben Flencher, Vice Chairman
Somerville |
 | Ben Flencher has served on the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1987. He graduated from Somerville High School and earned his bachelor degree in finance at Texas A&M University. Involved in the banking industry, he also serves as board president for the Burleson County Economic Development Council and as president for Citizens State Bank. Flencher and his wife, Betsy, live in Somerville and they have four sons. |
James B. Kershaw, Secretary/Treasurer
Bastrop |
 | 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, Kershaw earned his pre-law degree from Texas A&M University and his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Kershaw is a practicing attorney in Bastrop and is also a director with Bastrop County FEMA, chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville and Cedar Creek, chairman of the Salvation Army, a member of the Colony Municipal Utility District #1 F and of the Hunters Crossing Local Government Cooperation. Kershaw and his wife, Doris, live in Bastrop County. |
Byron Balke, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Bleiblerville |
 | 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. Balke is a graduate of Bellville High School and earned his bachelors degree at Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University). Balke and his wife, Annette, live in Bleiblerville and work in ranching. They have two children. |
Roderick L. Emanuel, Director
Bastrop |
 | Roderick L. Emanuel is a Bastrop native and Bastrop High School graduate. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Texas State University and a Master of Education and superintendent’s certificate from Prairie View A&M University. Emanuel’s 32 years in education include his current position as Director of Employee Relations for Bastrop Independent School District. He also served as superintendent from 2002 – 2010, assistant superintendent of human resources and operations, principal of Bastrop Intermediate School and assistant principal of Bastrop Middle School. Emanuel taught at Bastrop High School and Gary Job Corps Center in San Marcos. He also serves on many boards and committees. He and wife, Charlene, reside in Bastrop and have one son, Roderick, Jr., a freshman at Bastrop High School.
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Russell Jurk, Director
Lee County |
 | Russell Jurk graduated from La Grange High School and earned a technical degree in electronics from Southwest School of Electronics in Austin. He is currently vice president and general manager at Bobby Lehmann, Inc. Jurk is director and executive committee member of the Texas Motor Transportation Association and has served as the association’s foundation treasurer. He is also trustee for the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Self Insurance Group Trust and director of the Giddings Noon Lions Club, where he has also served as Lion Tamer, vice-president and president. Jurk and his wife, Laurie, have two children, Ashley and Richard. The couple lives in Lee County and own and operate Ashley’s Attic in Giddings. |
Robert Mikeska, Director
Brenham |
 | 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 prior experience in banking and 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 Relations in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Marita have one daughter, Michele, and live in Brenham.
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Ken Mutscher, Director
Brenham |
 | 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 bachelors 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 as an Elder at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, and enjoys hunting, fishing, and golf. He and his wife, Sarita, live in Brenham and have one son. |
Milton Shaw, Director
Luling |
 | Milton Shaw was elected to the Board of Directors in June 2010 and serves on the Benefits Committee. He also served on the General Counsel search committee. Shaw retired from Shell Oil Company in 1998, after 30 years of distinguished service. While with Shell, he managed its marketing real estate assets in Atlanta, South Florida, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Mobile, Birmingham, Dallas and Houston. Shaw also held management positions with Western Auto and Sears. He is a graduate of Texas State University. Current and past community service includes board director of Polonia Water Supply Corporation and Community Action, Inc.-Hays, Blanco and Caldwell Counties and Caldwell County Development Board, chairman of the Caldwell County Appraisal Review Board, president of the Luling Chamber of Commerce, vice president of the Luling Kiwanis Club, fundraiser for the Austin Council of the Boy Scouts of America and adult Bible study leader at First Lockhart Baptist Church. Shaw and his wife, Judy, have been married 51 years and live on a ranch in Caldwell County between Lockhart and Luling. They have three sons and seven grandchildren. |
Suanna Tumlinson, Director
Manor |
 | Suanna Tumlinson joined the Bluebonnet Electric Board of Directors in January of 2011. Tumlinson is a graduate of Westlake High School and Southwest Texas State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. After teaching for almost 10 years, she moved to Manor where she and her husband, Kenneth, started their electrical contracting company, KST Electric in 1994. Tumlinson is a board member of the Manor Chamber of Commerce and takes part in various youth organizations. The Tumlinsons live on a ranch in Manor and have one son. |
Lyle L. Wolz, Director
Caldwell |
 | Lyle Wolz has served as a member of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors since 1983, and served as board president for 10 years. Wolz is a graduate of Caldwell High School and earned his associates degree at Kilgore Junior College. He retired from the U.S. Agriculture Service. He also serves as president of the Burleson County Feed Store. Wolz and his wife, Esther, live in Caldwell and they have four children. |