A Monument to Power

May 1, 2025

Linemen are the backbone of our cooperative, ensuring that our members’ homes, schools, and businesses are energized with reliable power. Their job requires extensive skill, continuous training, and unwavering dedication to serving our members. Despite the challenges they may face, linemen are always ready, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions.

On April 14, North Carolina’s Lineworker Appreciation Day, we honored our linemen for their hard work and commitment. A bronze sculpture was unveiled replicating a lineman in action as a tribute to their dedication. “The Lineman” sculpture symbolizes the sacrifices they make every day, their resilience, expertise, and the critical role they play in our daily lives.

Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Andress emphasized, “Our linemen do more than maintain power lines—they
keep our communities powered. This sculpture is our way to say thank you for their hard work and ensure their sacrifice is never overlooked.”

About “The Lineman” Sculpture

“The Lineman” sculpture was created by local sculptor Stephen H. Smith. Union Power commissioned this remarkable piece of art to honor our linemen’s dedication to the co-op.

“It’s a privilege to have been chosen to sculpt a lineman. Linemen are unsung heroes who serve with a commitment to bettering our lives,” said Smith. “I hope viewers of this art will take something personal away from it and form their own perspective of the sculpture.”

Smith has a true passion when it comes to art. One of his most celebrated works is the “Wright Brothers First Flight Centennial Memorial” in Kill Devil Hills, NC. He is also well-known for his ability to capture figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Franklin, and Maya Angelou.

All of his sculptures, including “The Lineman,” have been created with a lost-wax casting technique known as cire perdue. This Labor-intensive technique involves creating a detailed wax model, encasing it in a heat-resistant material, and then melted away. This results in a cavity filled perfectly with molten bronze, with detail as fine as a fingerprint. Once cooled and solidified, the mold is broken and will reveal a sculpture.

For over 6,000 years, civilizations have chosen to honor their most significant heroes in bronze, a medium that will remain timeless. Because of this, we chose to honor our heroes in bronze.