SHREVEPORT, La., August 16, 2004 --  Several AEP SWEPCO line employees captured top honors at the recent four-state AEP region meet in Tulsa, OK., and will compete at the 21^st annual International Lineman’s Rodeo competition in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 11, 2004. Over 1,000 line specialists representing more than 100 utility companies will compete, including teams from the Caribbean Islands, Canada, England, Ireland and Jamaica.
            The senior SWEPCO team of Mike Thompson, lead line mechanic (LLM), Shreveport, David Woodruff, LLM, Nashville, Ark., and Glenn Nelson, LLM, Longview, finished first in competition among other AEP senior teams from across Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. This team won the senior team competition in Kansas City in 1999 and 2002, and finished fifth overall in 2003.
            The top journeyman team from the region is Jimmy Don Vickers, station electrician from Longview, George Nolan, line servicer in Pittsburg, Texas, and Oran Phillips, line mechanic A, Longview.
            “The rodeo is an opportunity for our line professionals to showcase their skills, safety work practices and competitive spirit,” said Todd Hopwood, SWEPCO manager of distribution systems, Fayetteville, Ark.