Thorndyke named manager of Cross Generating Station
October 17, 2011
MONCKS CORNER, SC – October 17, 2011 – Dickie Thorndyke has been named the next manager of Cross Generating Station, Santee Cooper’s largest generating facility, the state-owned electric and water utility announced today. Thorndyke will replace Levon Strickland, a 32-year Santee Cooper veteran who will be retiring at the end of this year.
Thorndyke is currently the manager of Santee Cooper’s Rainey Generating Station, located in northwestern Anderson County, a position he took on in 2000. He has been with Santee Cooper for 26 years.
The 50-year-old Thorndyke, a native of Southport, N.C., holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from N.C. State University. He also has a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Wesleyan University.
“Dickie has a wealth of generating station experience and institutional knowledge, having served as plant engineer at Grainger Generating Station and supervisor of mechanical maintenance at both Grainger and Winyah stations before moving to Rainey,” said Phil Pierce, senior vice president of generation. “I am confident he will serve with distinction as he embarks on this new chapter in his career at Santee Cooper.”
Strickland joined Santee Cooper in 1978 and has been the plant manager at Cross Station since 1997 and as superintendent of maintenance at Winyah before that. He has also served as supervisor of mechanical and electrical maintenance.
“Levon has been a committed and faithful employee of Santee Cooper for over three decades and we wish him the best upon his retirement,” Pierce said.
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility, and the state’s largest power producer. The ultimate source of electricity for 2 million South Carolinians, Santee Cooper is dedicated to being the state’s leading resource for improving the quality of life for the people of South Carolina. For more information, visit www.santeecooper.com.
