Building Together: A Father-Son Legacy

A Father’s Influence and a Son’s Path Forward

Dark clouds blanket the sky. Wind sends tree limbs to tap against the window, inviting the storm in.

A pitter-patter begins on the roof, growing steadily as a wall of rain races toward the house. The charcoal sky flashes with lightning and a clap of thunder shakes the house.

Seconds later, the phone rings. Duty calls.

Tasked with alerting his TVA team, L.A. “Ranzie” Standifer quickly contacts his crew members through a party-line telephone system.

A simple message: “Got a case of trouble – come on in!”

Ranzie throws on his boots, grabs his raincoat and gives his wife and three children a quick farewell, then rushes out the door.

Answering the Call

Jim Standifer, Ranzie’s son, remembers that moment – and many others like it – from his childhood.

His dad, who passed away in 1978, began his career as a lineman in 1925 at the Tennessee Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in Chattanooga. After eight successful years, he received a promotion to line foreman.

In 1939, TVA acquired TEPCO and offered Ranzie a lineman position in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Four years later, he received another promotion to line foreman, which he held until his retirement in 1966.

As a TVA line foreman, Ranzie was responsible for a crew of eight based in Cleveland, Tennessee, and a crew of three based in Sweetwater, Tennessee. The close-knit nature of the work fostered strong bonds among the crews and their families.

“The crew was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Jim said. “There was never a complaint about being called out, because they knew that was part of the job.”

The lineworker's world is unpredictable, and things were different in the early 20th century with limited technology.

“He often recalled the challenges of the job, especially during ice storms,” Jim said. “He would climb power poles and use a ball-peen hammer to break ice from the poles.”

Even through the demanding nature of the career, Ranzie enjoyed it. And it left a major impact on Jim.

Inspiring the Next Generation

"TVA has always been an important part of my family’s life,” Jim said. “Dad’s commitment to serving the people of the Tennessee Valley left a lasting impression on me.”

In 1961, after obtaining a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Jim joined the TVA Design Division. He played an important role in the design of fossil and nuclear plants, including serving as the Design Project Manager for Sequoyah and Watts Bar nuclear plants before retiring from TVA in 1990.

Combined, the father-son duo logged 51 years of service at TVA.

Ranzie’s devotion to his career and his service to the region encouraged Jim to follow in his father’s footsteps.

And Jim was also inspired by TVA's work in rural areas.

“My fascination grew even stronger after witnessing the impact it had on rural communities,” Jim said. “I vividly remember the day my uncle’s farm received electricity for the first time, and seeing how dramatically it improved daily life.

“From that point on, I knew I wanted to be part of an organization that had such a positive impact on people’s lives.”

PHOTO AT TOP OF PAGE: TEPCO linemen in 1937. Ranzie Standifer is on the bumper in the center of the photo.