Meet Our Board

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mid-South Synergy is governed by an eight member Board of Directors, who is elected for four-year terms. The Board of Directors is the backbone of our cooperative. Mid-South directors are members of Mid-South Synergy, just like you and are knowledgeable of Mid-South Synergy’s operations.

Grimes District: Paul E. Malek and Kenneth McDougald

Madison District: Dennis McWhorter and Marshall Shirley-President

Montgomery District: Russell Watson and Jack Shepherd - Secretary

Walker District: James Morrison – Vice-President and Robert D. Pierce

Grimes District

Paul E. Malek, PE

Education: Navasota High School, Texas A&M University

Occupation: Civil Engineer

Paul received his bachelors degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M in 1980 and is with MBC Management in College Station. Paul and Claire, his wife of 23 years, make Grimes County home along with their six children. Paul and his family attend St. Marys Catholic Church in Navasota. Paul is a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Society of Civil Engineers, Structural Engineering Institute and is a licensed Professional Engineer. In his spare time one of Paul’s favorite hobbies is woodworking with an emphasis in children’s toys.

Kenneth McDougald

Education: Iola High School, Blinn Junior College

Occupation: Owner/Operator of water company and supply business

Kenneth is a 61 year old Army veteran and has served Mid South Synergy as a director for the past 14 years. Kenneth is the owner and operator of the Iola Water Company along with Texas Jet Systems which includes TJ’s Hardware. He is also a cattle rancher and lifelong resident of Grimes County which includes being a 34 year member of Mid South Synergy. Kenneth serves as a deacon at Bedias Baptist Church as well as music director. Kenneth is a member of the Texas Rural Water Association and the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE). Kenneth and wife Artie Blair have been married 39 years and are parents to two sons and grandparents to two granddaughters.

Madison District

Dennis McWhorter

Education: Sam Houston State University

Occupation: Vocational-Agriculture Teacher

Dennis has served Mid South Synergy as a director for the past 19 years and also continues to serve on the board of Brazos Electric Cooperative where he has served for 5 years. Dennis received both masters and bachelors of Science degrees from Sam Houston State University and has served as Vocational-Agriculture teacher at Madisonville High School. Dennis retired in 2002 but has returned to teaching as he now divides his time teaching two classes a day and managing his ranching interests.

Dennis is a past board member of San Miguel Electric Cooperative, past president and director of the Madison County Fair Association, past president of the Sam Houston District and Area IX Teacher Associations and has served as a board member for 30 years with the Madison County Farm Bureau. Dennis is a member and serves as a deacon with the First Baptist Church of Madisonville. He and wife Karen reside in Madison County and have two daughters, April and Leigh Ann.

Marshall Shirley-President

Education: Bachelor of Science, University of Texas at Arlington

Occupation: Communication Information Services Director

A Mid-South member for 19 years, Mr. Shirley has served as Board President for 8 of his 13 years of board tenure. He also represents Mid-South as director for San Miguel Electric Cooperative and chairs the Seven Man Operating committee. Mr. Shirley is the Director of the Communication Information Services department for Montgomery County where he is responsible for communications and information technology service, and supports each of the county departments and elected officials. He has 28 years of broad management, operations and development experience, applying technology to business solutions.

Mr. Shirley is 50 years old and has been married to his wife, Sherrie, for 27 years. They have two children, Cole and Hannah. He and his family live on and work a small ranch in the Ten-Mile Community. He is an active member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Madisonville and serves as Treasurer of the Madison County Fair Association.

Montgomery District

Russell Watson

Education: Sam Houston State University

Occupation: Sr. Operator, Huntsman Corporation

A lifetime resident of Montgomery County, Russell has been married to his wife, Barbara for 37 years. They have two children, Rachel and Jason and four grandchildren. Along with his duties at Huntsman, Mr. Watson is also a real estate broker and cattle rancher. He is a lifetime member of the Montgomery County Fair Association, Montgomery County Association of Realtors, Montgomery Cowboy Fellowship, and is a former Fire Chief for The Montgomery Fire Department where he served for 17 years. Mr. Watson has served on the Mid South Synergy board for 21 years and is a past Vice President and Secretary of the board.

Jack Shepherd - Secretary

Education: Adamson High School, Arlington Junior College, North Texas State University

Occupation: Retired

Jack Shepherd has served Mid South Synergy as a director for 9 years representing the Montgomery area where he and wife Susie have been members of the cooperative for over 25 years. Jack served in accounting and administrative capacities over a 35-year career span within the energy and oilfield services industry for H.P. Matthews, Dresser Industries, Blocker Drilling and Mitchell Energy where he retired in 1991.

For over 20 years, the Shepherd’s and their partners owned and operated the Antique Emporium in Montgomery. He now divides his time portraying Texas legend Sam Houston for historic organizations and events. Jack also stays busy restoring antique automobiles and displays his mini museum of aviation in libraries and museums. Jack and wife Susie have two daughters, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Walker District

James D. Morrison - Vice President

Education: Sam Houston State University

Occupation: General Manager of rural water system

James is a graduate of Sam Houston State University with a bachelors degree in Agricultural Mechanization and is the general manager of Walker County Special Utility District where he has served in that capacity for eighteen years. James is a member of the American Water Works Association, Texas Rural Water Association, Walker County Fair Association and Texas Taxidermy Association and is listed in the Who’s who Environmental Registry. He currently serves as a director and is on the legislative committee for the TRWA representing over 2 million Texans pertaining to water issues. James was appointed by former Governor George W. Bush to the regional task force on water working to insure Texans a readily available supply of water for the next half century. Recently James was appointed as a director to the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation district where he serves as chairman of the management planning committee. James has served as a Mid South director for the past eight years and is our current Vice President. James and wife Phyllis reside in Pine Prairie with their three children. The Morrison family attends North Side Baptist Church. In his spare time, James enjoys hobbies that include; hunting, coastal fishing, collecting shark teeth and general taxidermy.

Robert D. "Danny" Pierce II

Education: Huntsville High School, Sam Houston State University

Occupation: Walker County Judge

Judge Pierce, 63, has resided in Walker County since 1959 and has served as County Judge for the past three years. He has been a Mid-South Synergy member for 33 years and is a member of the Walker County Fair Association, Rotary Club, Texas & Southwestern Cattleraisers Association and American Quarter Horse Association. He served in the SHSU Reserve Officers CORPS for three years. Danny and his wife Cindy Bilnoske Pierce raise cattle and horses and operate a forty-year family-owned business, Heartfield Florist. They have seven children and seven grandchildren.