About GSEC

About Our Name

The term "Golden Spread" was coined in 1954 by announcer Bob Izzard of Amarillo radio station KGNC to promote tourism by publicizing the good weather and travel conditions in the Panhandle area. The word "Golden" was chosen to suggest sunshine and the word "Spread" was picked as an appropriate reference for the large ranch holdings predominant in the area. The Golden Spread, according to Izzard, extends "from Liberal (Kansas) to Lubbock (Texas), and from Sayre (Oklahoma) to Santa Rose (New Mexico)."

Through the influence and support of Gene Howe, publisher of the Amarillo Globe News, Izzard began the Golden Spread Campaign. The term "Golden Spread" has been adopted by merchants, chambers of commerce and tourist promoters. KGNC announcer John Garland Smith, affectionately known as "Cotton John" for his agricultural interest, furthered the name recognition over many years with his 6 a.m. farm program introduction: "Good morning, and welcome to the best part of the Golden Spread."

We believe that the name "Golden Spread" signifies the vast riches of this beautiful land. The Golden Spread is blessed with cotton, corn, and golden grains waving gently in the summer breeze; cattle feeding under a warm blanket of sunshine; and oil, natural gas and helium abundant beneath the soil. And most important, this land is blest with her people - proud and strong, with character and determination coming from a colorful heritage, working to make this land and life better for all. We choose Golden Spread for our name because it signifies the great potential of this area.

In 2003 five electric cooperatives chose to join with the 11 original members, thus extending the reaches of Golden Spread into the southern South Plains and Edwards Plateau Regions of Texas.