Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a non-profit rural electric utility cooperative

Utility cooperative

A utility cooperative is a type of cooperative that is tasked with the delivery of a public utility such as electricity, water or telecommunications to its members...

 headquartered in Hereford, Texas

Hereford, Texas

Hereford is a city in Deaf Smith County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,597 at the 2000 census. It is the only incorporated Hereford in the country. It is the county seat of Deaf Smith County....

. The cooperative was organized in 1936 and is a member of the Golden Spread Electric Cooperative. The cooperative is named for the county where it was founded, which is in turn named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith

Deaf Smith

Erastus "Deaf" Smith was an American frontiersman noted for his part in the Texas Revolution and the army of the Republic of Texas. He fought at the Grass Fight and the Battle of San Jacinto. After the war, Deaf Smith led a company of Texas Rangers.-Biography:Smith was born in Dutchess County, New...

, a partially-deaf

Hearing impairment

-Definition:Deafness is the inability for the ear to interpret certain or all frequencies of sound.-Environmental Situations:Deafness can be caused by environmental situations such as noise, trauma, or other ear defections...

 scout and soldier who served in the Texas Revolution

Texas Revolution

The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...

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Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative serves the Texas counties of Deaf Smith, Castro and Parmer as well as part of Oldham County. The cooperative annually awards two $2000 scholarships to high school seniors in Texas.