3 long-term employees retire at Empire District

Three longtime employees of The Empire District Electric Co. retired earlier this year.

Jim Smith retired Feb. 29 from Empire after a 40-year career. He began work with the company in 1959 as an offset press operator in Joplin. In 1964, he moved to lineman first class. In 1971, he was promoted to line foreman in Baxter Springs, Kan., and was promoted to manager of line operations in 1985.

Charles Dermott retired Feb. 29 from Empire after a 28-year career. He began work with Empire in 1971 as a mechanical maintenance mechanist first class at the Asbury Power Plant, which is the position he held at retirement.

Clayton Koile retired March 31 from Empire after 23 years with the company. He began his career with Empire as an auto mechanic third class, was promoted to auto mechanic first class and moved to the position of auto/hydraulic foreman in 1987.