Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative 80th Anniversary Commemorative Cookbook

An excerpt from chapter one:

The Articles of Incorporation for Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative were drawn up and executed for the purpose of organizing a cooperative, non-profit membership corporation, under the laws of the State of Florida, pursuant to an act entitled “An Act Relating to Electric Cooperative.” The “Cooperative” was organized to engage in rural electrification, which was approved May 25, 1939 and is known as the “Rural Electric Cooperative Act.”

The first order of the Articles of Incorporation for Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative was to name the cooperative; thus, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, Inc.

The second order was to address the principal office of the cooperative, which was in Panama City, Florida.

The third order named the incorporators of the cooperative, who were all Florida residents: B. E. Tillman, from Southport; Ed Banks, Crystal Lake; John Beadnell, Panama City; W. W. Nichols, Southport; I. F. Enfinger, Bennett; C. L. Pitts, Panama City; J. S. Daniel, Wewahitchka; George Tapper, Port St. Joe; and C. L. Morgan, Wewahitchka.

The fourth and final order was to name the first Board of Trustees of the cooperative. They were as follows: B. E. Tillman, Southport; Ed Banks, Crystal Lake; John Beadnell, Panama City; W. W. Nichols, Southport; I. F. Enfinger, Bennett; C. L. Pitts, Panama City; J. S. Daniel, Wewahitchka; George Tapper, Port St. Joe; and C. L. Morgan, Wewahitchka.

This act was performed October 28, 1941, and the first meeting of the newly formed Board of Trustees was conducted October 30, 1941 at 10 a.m. at the Federal Building in downtown Panama City.