2023 Hall of Fame
James W. Bowden
James W. Bowden Sr. is a pioneer and champion for minorities in the lineworker industry. James began his career as a lineman in 1972 with Duke Energy. A third-generation employee of the company, his electrical career lasted 42 years. He made strides with Duke Energy, becoming the first African American Superintendent, the first African American General Manager, and the first African American Senior Vice President. His goal as a lineman was to pave the way for minorities to have easier access to careers like linework and other utilities, encouraging them into these careers, and promoting a larger workforce for this industry to pull from. James helped to start a line tech program at his alma mater, Denmark Technical College, an HBCU providing exactly the kind of opportunities he was aiming for. The program has had great success and has drawn in many students due to the industries teamwork ideals and the hard work and dedication of the industry to provide for its workers. This program, named after James Bowden’s, himself, goes to show that programs like this are successful and provide bountiful opportunities to minorities. He embodies the brotherhood spirit of lineworkers, caring for and growing this industry. His hope is for every generation to achieve more than the last.
Hazel Burton Bush
Hazel Burton Bush was instrumental in the development of live line work throughout its infancy. He was the first documented lineman (and inventor) to conduct barehand energized work in 1918. He accomplished this through his invention of a live line platform that could withstand 100,000 volts for each nine inches of length. Hazel Bush invented many safety tools that were meant to allow linemen to continue working on hot lines as if they were dead. Some of these such tools were a hot tapping machines, hot wire cutters, fuse grabbers, and ground clamps. He saw the growing need for linemen to be able to continue work in dangerous situations with live wires and was determined to invent tools and equipment that made it safe to do so. His early inventions led to the evolvement of tools currently used in line work today. Hazel continued inventing, and testing his inventions, until his untimely death while testing one such tool when he was electrocuted. His dedication and commitment to pioneering safe practices and tools led to many of the safety instruments in place today. Without Hazel’s efforts, there is no telling where linework would be today.
Brady Hansen
Brady Hansen is an inspiring, uplifting, and dedicated lineworker who has gone so far above and beyond the call of duty. Brady began his career in Telecommunications work before moving into an Outside Electrical Lineman Apprenticeship. He became a Journeyman in 2006 and has since become fully devoted to safety and training throughout not just the states, but the world. Brady dedicated his own time and money to training lineworkers in other countries that did not have set safety practices or proper equipment. He started a company, Written in Red, to dedicate his full time and energy to this work. Training those in other countries of safety practices and building a successful campaign of donated equipment to also offer these linemen. Brady Hansen is the embodiment of safe, effective, dedicated linework.
Chad Dubea
Chad Dubea has been involved in the line industry since the tender young age of 7 as he went with his father each summer to visit various Line Crews. This sparked a dedication and lifelong passion to promote the line industry, workers opportunities, and to commemorate the lives taken or impacted by the dangers this industry faces. Chad started his career as a lineman and worked his way up. Once he saw how little opportunity there was for growth in some companies, he founded T & D Power Solutions to allow a company with better opportunities for lineman. He also dedicated his own time and money to promote the line industry with the movie “Life on the Line,” starring John Travolta. This movie also promoted Chad’s non-profit: The Fallen Linemen Organization. Chad started this organization with the hope of helping the families that have lost a loved one to linework, and to helping those who have suffered life altering injuries in the field. Chad has a strong passion and belief in everything he does. He has promoted the line industry and its workers. He is a shining example of the brotherhood this industry revolves around.
Michael R. Hennesey
Michael R. Hennesey began his career in electrical linework in 2001 after dedicating six years to the United States Army National Guard. A graduate of Northwest Lineman College, he completed two apprenticeship programs consecutively. In doing this, he found a passion for teaching and helping others in his early years in the linework industry. In 2005, he became a training specialist for Northwest Lineman College and was promoted to Assistant Campus Director, helping to get their California campus up and running. Mike has had a dedicated career in learning, training, and safety. He is always learning and keeping up to date with the constant changes in this industry and working to promote safety practices and trainings to better all linemen and linework in the future. Mike worked his way through the ranks at NLC, from Assistant Director to Senior director, President of Campus Operations, Executive Vice President, all the way up to Chief Growth Officer. Mike has also worked to provide training in other countries, personally training overseas in both Afghanistan and Tanzania. Mike never settles for mediocrity, always wanting the best for both efficiency and safety in the line industry. His passion and spirit along with his dedication make him a champion for the continued safety evolution of lineworkers.
Harry A. Reeves
Harry A. Reeves has over 50 years in the line industry. After working as a lineman for 30 years with Central Georgia EMC, he then moved to the statewide Georgia EMC and worked as a safety and training instructor. In 2017, Harry was named Vice President of Training Education and Safety for Georgia EMC. with this promotion, he completely revamped the training system and documents to create an up to date, constantly evolving program that keeps up with the modern changes and developments in the line industry. Harry has such a deep passion for linework and people that allows him to connect with everyone. He has turned mandatory safety trainings into willing commitments for daily accountability for everyone and their team. Harry has been able to build a community and environment that is safety minded, not just for each individual but for every team as well. He embodies the spirit of a leader and a true lineman.
