Homer Nicholson became the seventh chairman of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority’s Board of Directors at its monthly meeting on Sept. 10 in Edmond.
The mayor of Ponca City, Nicholson had previously served as Vice Chair under Chairman Robert Johnston of Frederick, who stepped down to assume a new employment opportunity with a non-OMPA member.
Nicholson has served on the OMPA Board since December of 2008 and has been active at both the state and federal level in engaging legislators and educating them on the value of public power. In addition to previously serving as the Vice Chair of the Board, he also is part of the Authority’s Legislative Committee and, in 2016, was named to the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Policy Maker’s Council.
Nicholson is an honoree of the Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award, which is handed out by the APPA to elected officials who go above and beyond to contribute to the goals of the association. He also was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for City and Town officials in 2016.
In his private life, Nicholson was employed for 38 years with ConocoPhillips in Ponca City, including 27 years in the geophysics department and 11 more in facilities management. He is also the founder of Nicholson Auction and Real Estate.
In addition to Nicholson becoming the Board Chairman, Jim Greff of Prague was approved as Vice Chair, Dale Bunn of Purcell was named Treasurer and Dave Slezickey of Kingfisher was selected as Secretary.
OMPA is governed by its 11-member Board of Directors, who are elected by representatives of the members. The board is comprised of elected officials, city managers and others who are involved in the operating or governing of their electric systems. Board members serve staggered three-year terms, with one-third of them coming up for election each year.
