Kevin Little, retired lineman for Osage Valley Electric Cooperative, Butler, was honored with the A.C. Burrows Award by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC) at that organization’s annual meeting Oct. 7 in Branson.
The purpose of the award is to recognize directors and employees of electric cooperatives for outstanding service to their cooperative, community and service areas. Those who received the award were selected because of their leadership above and beyond the call of duty to strengthen and improve the economic and social conditions in their areas.
In 1984, Little was hired as an apprentice lineman for Osage Valley Electric Cooperative. He completed his journeyman lineman training and was eventually promoted to foreman, then service rep. Kevin always went above and beyond serving members, being particularly generous with his time to those elderly members just wanting to visit. Kevin shares, “Slow down a little and remember every person has a story. You never know how taking a little time to listen might ease someone’s pain.” This was particularly true for the WWII veteran members he befriended and often visited. In 2014, Kevin traveled to Haiti to participate in NRECA’s International program, which brings power to poor communities. Kevin has also been actively engaged in his community, serving 12 years on the Calhoun School Board, as a deacon at the Clinton Christian Church and as president of Clinton’s Babe Ruth Baseball Association and Calhoun’s Booster Club. Kevin often vocalizes his love for his cooperative family, but his first passion is being a great husband, father and grandfather, spending as much time as possible with family and cherishing every memory made.
