Every year, National Lineworker Appreciation Day recognizes the frontline workers who safely build, maintain and restore the electric grid, often working long hours in challenging conditions to keep the lights on.
This year, one of those lineworkers will represent Entergy Texas on the national stage.
Journeyman lineman Byron Allison, who is based in Calvert, was selected to represent the company during the Edison Electric Institute’s National Lineworker Appreciation Day reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. He will join lineworkers from electric companies across the country to celebrate the profession and the critical role lineworkers play in serving their communities.
For Allison, though, the recognition comes back to one thing: helping customers.
“Somebody’s lights are out. Somebody’s air conditioner is off. Somebody’s food is melting in the freezer,” Allison said. “My team and I are always ready to go help them get their lights back on.”
That customer-first mindset is one reason Charles McGhee, senior manager of Region Distribution Operations – West Region, nominated Allison.
“Byron leads by example,” McGhee said. “He puts safety first, supports his teammates and never hesitates to step up when our customers need him. He’s exactly the kind of person we want representing Entergy Texas.”
Allison’s path to becoming a lineworker wasn’t a traditional one. After graduating from Sam Houston State University with a degree in agricultural engineering technology and a minor in construction management, he joined Entergy as a distribution designer. But he wanted a career that would keep him outdoors, working with his hands and serving customers directly.
In 2019, Allison took a pay cut to start over as a helper. He completed Entergy’s lineworker training program, advanced through the apprenticeship and eventually became a journeyman lineman.
“I love what I do,” Allison said. “Every job is a little different, and there’s always a new problem to solve.”
After transferring to Calvert in 2021, Allison found the kind of community he wanted to serve. Working in a rural area close to home means he recognizes many of the customers affected by outages and understands how important restoring power is for the people who live there.
Whether responding after Hurricane Beryl in Southeast Texas or assisting with storm restoration in Florida through mutual assistance, Allison says the mission never changes: safely restore power as quickly as possible for the people who need it.
He’s equally proud of the crew he works with every day. In addition to serving customers across the region, Allison and his teammates compete in Entergy Texas’ annual Lineworker Rodeo. Over the past four years, they’ve earned first-place finishes in multiple team events, qualifying to compete at the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Kansas City. After competing there last year, Allison and his teammates will return later this year to test their skills alongside some of the world’s best lineworkers in events that emphasize safety, precision and teamwork.
Pictured: Byron Allison competes in the Entergy Texas’ lineworker rodeo earlier this year.
“We have a good time every day, take care of our business and go home,” Allison said.
For McGhee, those qualities are what make Allison stand out.
“Byron represents the very best of our lineworkers,” McGhee said. “He’s humble, hardworking and committed to doing the job the right way every single day. We’re proud to see him recognized on the national stage.”
As Allison joins fellow lineworkers in Washington, D.C., he will represent the thousands of lineworkers who safely serve customers every day, often in difficult conditions and around the clock following major storms.
