From warehouse to manager, Shepherd retires after 40 years of service

Josh McNutt, from left and Fred Shepherd relax at the counter at American Electric in McCook. Shepherd is retiring after more than 40 years with the company and McNutt will take over as the new manager.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

Lorri Sughroue

McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. – Fred Shepherd has seen a lot of changes over the years in the electrical industry. Now, after 43 years, he’s taking the plunge and retiring from American Electric McCook, marking the end of a career that began when he was 25 years old.

He’s already put it off for three years now. “I was going to retire when I was 65 and my boss talked me out of it. He said, Oh, come on, stay another year. And they gave me four weeks of paid vacation on top of the vacation I already had, plus a raise. So I stayed.”

Shepherd first started in the electrical industry at Crescent Electric, formerly on West B Street, staying there for six years. When American Electric first moved to McCook, into the former Budig Motor Company building, Shepherd was hired to work in the warehouse, where he was responsible for organizing freight, pulling customer orders, and managing various other tasks. At the time, the company was small, with only four employees. By 1986, he and his family relocated the company to Pueblo, Colo., where he managed large job quotes, bringing in $3.5 million in business in just a few months.

However, Shepherd later found himself back in McCook after his boss convinced him to return as a manager. Although it was hard to leave Colorado, Shepherd said he was glad to return to McCook, where he grew up. “It was definitely the right move,” he said.

Over the years, Shepherd saw many changes in the industry, including the rise of LED lighting and the advent of computers. What once was done by hand – from writing tickets to managing inventory – was revolutionized with technology, making operations more efficient. Inventory that used to take weeks could now be done in a matter of days.

But with technology came new challenges. “It’s been a big plus for sure, but when it goes down, we’re just stuck,” he said. Other changes he noted were the increased regulations in the electrical field.

A big eruption in business came in 2020 when the COVID pandemic hit and supply shortages started happening, the after-effects from that still being felt today. “It’s still not completely straightened out, there are still some delays,” he said. “Some stuff that we used to get in a couple weeks takes months.”

Through it all, Shepherd said the best part of the job has always been the people – both his co-workers and customers. Through the decades, there have been hundreds of friendships with contractors and clients and that’s what he’ll miss the most, he admitted. “The people that I work with and the customers, they’re more than just customers. They’re friends.”

As for the future, Shepherd and his wife, Pam, who retired a year ago, plan to travel, play golf, and enjoy time on their motorcycles. Shepherd joked that he may still come down to the office for the free coffee.

Stepping into his position will be Josh McNutt, a 20-year veteran of the company. When asked what words of wisdom Shepherd could pass onto McNutt, Shepherd emphasized leadership and patience. “If somebody is doing something wrong or there’s a problem, it’s probably because they don’t understand it, or they don’t know,” he said. “So I don’t criticize, I teach them how to do it right.”

McNutt had his own parting words about Shepherd. “He can be ornery sometimes, but he made it fun to come into work every day,” he said.

A retirement party for Shepherd is planned for Saturday, March 22, from 12-4 p.m., at the McCook Eagles Club.