As we begin a new year, Marshall County REMC is proud to celebrate an extraordinary milestone: our 90th anniversary. Reaching this moment gives us the opportunity not only to reflect on how far we’ve come, but also to honor the people and the vision that made our cooperative possible. This month, we are excited to unveil our temporary 90th anniversary logo, which we will use throughout 2026 as a tribute to our heritage and the hardworking individuals who helped bring reliable electricity to rural Marshall County.

As we celebrate Marshall County REMC’s 90th anniversary, we are reminded that our cooperative was built on determination, vision, and the belief that rural communities deserved the same opportunities as everyone else. Our story began well before our incorporation on May 19, 1936, at a time when electricity was common in cities but still scarce across the countryside. Many believed that bringing power to rural areas was simply not practical.

Fortunately, national and local leaders thought differently. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), opening the door for rural communities to access federal support for electrification. That same year, a small group of Marshall County farmers gathered at the Farm Bureau office in Plymouth to explore the possibility of forming an electric cooperative. Their willingness to take action — and to believe in something that didn’t yet exist — set our future in motion.

Indiana’s Rural Electric Membership Corporation Act, the first of its kind in the nation, provided the framework these organizers needed. By the end of 1936, Marshall County REMC had received its first REA loan, paving the way for construction. The first pole
was set on September 30, 1937, and on April 30, 1938, our first member, Roy Jacoby, had electricity flowing to his home.

The temporary anniversary logo you see in this issue pays tribute to that origin. The bold “90” honors nine decades of progress, while the lineman silhouette recognizes the generations of lineworkers who built, maintained, and modernized the system that powers our lives today. Its colors echo our long-standing identity, reminding us that while we’ve grown, our values remain steady.

That steadiness is also reflected in our leadership. In 90 years, Marshall County REMC has had only three managers — an exceptional continuity that has helped guide our cooperative with purpose and stability.

From 50 members and 25 miles of line in 1938 to more than 6,200 members today, our growth reflects the power of community-driven progress. As we celebrate our 90th year, we look forward to honoring our past, serving our members today, and investing in the next generation of rural energy — together.