Florida Lineworker Appreciation Day is observed on Aug. 26 to show gratitude to the men and women who work hard to ensure the reliable delivery of electricity throughout Florida. To commemorate this occasion, we shine a spotlight on one of OUC’s lineworkers.
Holton Stough, Line Technician II, decided to follow his father’s footsteps and become an OUC lineworker.
While in his second semester of college studying accounting, Holton Stough began to re-evaluate his career plans as memories of his dad’s experiences as an OUC lineman weighed on his mind.
“He would come home and talk about how good it felt to help people who had lost power. He’d work a lot after storms and hurricanes, but he didn’t mind the long hours and being outdoors in the heat all day,” recalls Holton. “He loved being a lineman.”
In 2018, at age 19, Holton joined OUC as an apprentice line technician, following the footsteps his father, Steve Stough, first took more than 35 years earlier. A year later, Holton had saved enough money to buy a home near his parents in the Wekiva Springs area.
Father and son’s dedication is emblematic of the profession they share and one of the reasons for recognizing Aug. 26 as Florida Lineworker Appreciation Day.
Now a line technician II, Holton, 25, says he hopes to make journeyman, the top rung in a lineman’s career ladder, by 2025, and he sees himself building a long-term career at OUC like his father, who transitioned from field work into supervisory roles. Steve, who started at OUC in 1986, is currently supervisor of the Distribution Control Center.
Holton’s career goals include finishing college, but not with a degree in accounting. He is studying electrical engineering at Seminole State College and plans to transfer next year to the University of Central Florida where he’ll pursue a bachelor’s in the subject. As long as he makes good grades, his tuition and related expenses are covered by OUC’s Career Development benefit.
“Line work isn’t for everyone. It’s physically demanding, and safety is always a top concern,” says Holton. “But I wake up every day not upset that I have to go to work. I work 55-65 hours a week and make a good income with benefits. It’s very rewarding profession.”