‘Texas Co-op Power’ Celebrates 75 Years

January 4, 2019

In July 1944, communicators at Texas Power Reserve, now TEC, published the first issue of Texas Cooperative Electric Power, which a cover story explained was “devoted to promoting the interests of rural electrification in Texas.” The four pages of newsprint, which went out to some 14,000 co-op members at dozens of burgeoning cooperatives, went on to explain that, “Naturally, we expect to enlarge and improve the publication as time goes on.”

Seventy-five years later, the publication now known as Texas Co-op Power reaches 1.58 million homes every month—the largest circulation of any magazine in Texas—and is part of a communications platform that includes a modern web and social media presence. But it’s still firmly devoted to helping TEC’s member co-ops spread their local messages.

The magazine is celebrating its milestone anniversary with giveaways, special magazine pieces and a host of promotional items that will allow co-ops to share in the celebrations with their members.

TEC provided all 63 subscribing member co-ops with a five-pack of season passes to Schlitterbahn to give away to readers as well as commemorative wooden cutting boards, featuring the magazine’s logo and a lineworker, to be given away at co-op annual meetings. The boards are handmade by Ryan Drapela, a Wharton County EC Youth Tour alum who runs a woodworking business in El Campo. TEC also is creating custom pop-up lobby banners for all subscribing co-ops.

Inside the magazine and online, Texas Co-op Power will take a Texas-focused look back on 75 years of innovations and history in its Currents section each month. Paula Disbrowe, the magazine’s food editor, is recreating and updating for modern tastes retro recipes that previously appeared in TCP’s pages. And each quarter, the History section will examine aspects of the magazine’s past.

A red button logo on the front of the January issue of Texas Co-op Power proclaims the milestone year, which TEC’s communications staff isn’t quiet about.

“We’re proud to be able to celebrate and share this anniversary with our co-ops and readers,” said Martin Bevins, TEC vice president of Communications & Member Services. “The co-op message is just as relevant now as it was in 1944, and we hope the Texas Co-op Power communications platform continues to be the best vessel for relaying the power of co-ops for years to come.”