"If we only had dependable phone service." This statement was heard many times in the early 1950's by many. Until this time, a small magneto company, either family owned or a stock company was serving each community with each subscriber having a share of stock. In many cases it was not the fault of the company that service had become inadequate; but simply matter obsolescence, no means of financing improvements, and increased demand by customers.
The need for a modern system was realized by many, but it seemed everyone was willing to let the other one do whatever was necessary to get the job done. In 1949, The Rural Electrification Act (REA) was amended to include telephone companies. This enabled the companies to borrow money from the government at a low interest rate to rebuild and make the most modern telephone service available to everyone, regardless of the the geographical location.
Throughout these years Mr. Govan Mills, a rancher in the Lake City exchange, was determined to solve this problem in some way or another. In his search for a solution, he traveled many hundreds of miles, and spent what appeared at the time to be an endless amount of time. He first approached Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and tried to get them to provide phone service to ranchers in the Lake City area. Due to the number of miles involved, he was unable to get this done. After being turned down by them he was not discouraged to the point of giving up, but instead was even more determined. He visited with others who were experiencing somewhat the same problems, and decided that perhaps several of these small companies could be incorporated into one. He was fully aware of the amended REA Act and proceeded to establish how many companies would be interested in such a venture. Again, he was back on the road, and every spare moment of his time was spent meeting with small companies in the South Central part of Kansas. It wasn't until that time he definitely determined the need for such a company.
In March of 1953, the first organized meeting of South Central Telephone Association was held in Sun City, Kansas. On December 16, 1953, agreements for purchase of the following exchanges were executed; Ranchman's Telephone Company, Sharon Telephone Company, Turon Telephone, Iuka0Byers Telephone Company, and Sun City Telephone Company. During the next months a number of town meetings were held for the purpose of informing the people in each of the respective towns about the company, and to sell memberships in the association. In early 1963, the acquisition of the following exchanges in Oklahoma were completed; Amorita telephone Exchange, Byron Mutual Telephone Company, Citizens Telephone Company, and North Union Telephone Company in Burlington.
In February, 1982, the company lost the person who had the original dream of putting together a group of small rural telephone companies so the most modern and best telephone services could be brought to the rural areas of Kansas. Govan Mills had not only served on the board, but was president from the original incorporation in July of 1953, until his death. Mr. Mills had spent a lot of time and effort, and was very proud of the accomplishments of South Central Telephone Association.
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