KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ― Richard Howorth was sworn in Wednesday, December 16, in Oxford, Miss., to serve a five-year term on the TVA board of directors.

Howorth was nominated for a second term by President Obama and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. His brother, the Honorable Andrew K. Howorth, circuit court judge of the Third Circuit Court District in Mississippi, swore him in at the Lafayette County Courthouse.

“I am honored to be able to continue my service to the people of the Tennessee Valley,” Howorth said. “As one who has had a lifelong interest and stake in the progress of the region, I know that TVA is a vitally important entity, and I look forward to working with the TVA board.”

Director Howorth lives in Oxford, Miss., where he served two terms as mayor of Oxford from 2001 to 2009 and is the founder and owner of Square Books, a leading independent bookstore in Oxford.

During his tenure as mayor, he was chairman of the authority overseeing the Oxford Electric Department. He served eight years as a director and officer of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association, an economic development consortium comprised of utility directors and mayors of cities in 29 counties in the TVA service territory. Howorth is a former chairman of the American Booksellers Association, the nation’s trade association of independent bookstores.

Howorth graduated from the University of Mississippi. His term expires May 18, 2020.

He joins TVA Board Chair Joe Ritch, and members Marilyn Brown, Lynn Evans, Virginia Lodge, Peter Mahurin, Michael McWherter, Eric Satz and Ronald Walter.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving more than 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.