Biographies: L. B. "Lacy" Hemperly, 1952, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: January 24, 1952 Winn Parish Enterprise "Know Your Neighbor" Column

Hemperly Operats Sub-Station For La. Power

L. B. "Lacy" Hemperly, service man and substation operator with Louisiana
Power and Light Company has been working with the power company in Winn Parish
eight years.  He has seen business grown from 35 customers in Winn to a total
now of about 1450, with power lines serving every community in the parish.

Before coming to Winnfield as service man, Hemperly was in construction with
Louisiana Power and Light in the West Monroe District.  As service man, he and
a crew of two other men answer calls 24 hours a day from customers.  Worst
times for service calls are during and following wind, electrical, or ice
storms when lines are broken or damaged.

Electric subscribers sometimes report a power failure resulting from a bird
getting caught between the ground wire and conductor, Hemperly said.

The substation on Horseshoe Road is a transformer station for power used in
this Parish.

The business office is located in the same building with the Joyce Post
Office.  The three way radio system used by service trucks in this area has
its station here and is kept in operation during any emergency which might
require dispatching a service crew.

Hemperly is a native of Erie, Arkansas, and his family moved to Leesville when
he was about 10 years old.  He has lived in the parish since 1931.  During the
last war, he worked as construction foreman for a New Orleans firm building
army bases at Polk and Claiborne.

He also worked for 10 years as telegraph and signal agent for KCS railways in
Texarkana and DeQueen, Ark.

Hemperly is married to the former Hazel Payne of Dodson and they have two
children, a son and a daughter, both married.  He is a member of the Methodist
Church and of the local Lions Club.