Congratulations to Steve Teagle on His Retirement!

For 35 years, meter technician Steve Teagle has brought his positive, get-it-done attitude to every aspect of his career at DEC, an attribute of his personality he credits to his time spent in the military.

“I served for 21 years in the military, and in that field, they would assign me my squad, and I would say, ‘Boys, let’s roll. We’re going to get this job done,’” Teagle says. “If they wanted to bicker about something, I would say wait until after we’re done – then we can talk about it. Most of the time, by the time we were done, there was nothing to complain about. We would get the job done, everyone was happy, then it was time to move on.” 

This – along with other aspects of his service – made his transition to Co-op employee on August 28, 1988 practically seamless, so much so that reflecting back over his career, Teagle finds it hard to recall many challenges.

“Just like in the military, whatever was thrown my way, I would just do it. Just get the job done,” Teagle says. “When I started, I just wanted to get my foot in the door. Once I did, whatever came up, I was going for it!”

Teagle began his career at the Co-op as a meter reader. From there, he moved on to working in the transformer shop, then back to meter reading, then over to Warehouse and Stores, where he stayed for 10 years. In the end, he made his final move back to the metering department, where he finished out his tenure as a meter technician.

“I have loved everything about this work,” Teagle says of his time in metering. “I’m an outside person, so it worked well for me. I love everything about it.”

Over the years, Teagle says he has seen that work he loves develop into more than just a job. Now, it’s a complete Co-op community.

“It’s the people who work here that have really made this company evolve, so to speak,” Teagle says. “It’s grown into a family-type atmosphere.” Teagle says that one of his fondest memories from his time at DEC is the all-employee barbecues the company would host, inviting employees and their families to meet, eat and fellowship with one another.

While Teagle says he will certainly miss his job and all the people he’s met along the way, retirement represents time he can now devote to a new love he found just several months ago: motorcycling. Originally, Teagle says he thought he would get into racecars upon leaving the Co-op, but one look at his black and blue Yamaha 1100 V Star, and his plans changed.

“I fell in love with it as soon as I bought it,” Teagle says. “I thought, ‘So much for the race car!’”

As an entire employee family, we wish Steve happy and safe travels as he cruises into this next phase of his life. We hope he enjoys his retirement, and all the fun and adventures that come with it.