Sikeston - Judge Elon Proffer, died this morning at the Sikeston Hospital following a heart attack at his home near Matthews Wednesday. He was 80 years.
Judge Proffer was instrumental in bringing REA service to Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Stoddard and Cape Counties.
In 1937, when he and a few other men started the drive for REA service, 480 families subscribed to the service, which at that time had 160 miles of electrical lines. There ar now 10,600 families being served by 2,480 miles of electrical lines, James C. Stephenson, office manager of REA, reported.
Judge Proffer has been president of the board of directors of REA in this area since 1937.
Prior to that, he taught at Matthews, and was a New Madrid County judge from 1918-1939, state representative of New Madrid County from 1922-1924, and at one time farmed more than 2,000 acres near Matthews. He retired from farming in 1940 to devote full time to his position with REA.
For the past 14 years he had been president of the Missouri-Arkansas Generating Co-op at Poplar Bluff and for the last five years was vice president of Association Electrical Power Co-op at Springfield.
Judge Proffer was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner and was active in national and state REA meetings.
Born at Burfordsville in 1885, he attended State College. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bertie Proffer; one son, George Proffer; one daughter, Mrs. Lyle (Helen) Byrd and seven grandchildren.
Southeast Missourian

Sikeston - Judge Elon Proffer, died this morning at the Sikeston Hospital following a heart attack at his home near Matthews Wednesday. He was 80 years.
Judge Proffer was instrumental in bringing REA service to Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Stoddard and Cape Counties.
In 1937, when he and a few other men started the drive for REA service, 480 families subscribed to the service, which at that time had 160 miles of electrical lines. There ar now 10,600 families being served by 2,480 miles of electrical lines, James C. Stephenson, office manager of REA, reported.
Judge Proffer has been president of the board of directors of REA in this area since 1937.
Prior to that, he taught at Matthews, and was a New Madrid County judge from 1918-1939, state representative of New Madrid County from 1922-1924, and at one time farmed more than 2,000 acres near Matthews. He retired from farming in 1940 to devote full time to his position with REA.
For the past 14 years he had been president of the Missouri-Arkansas Generating Co-op at Poplar Bluff and for the last five years was vice president of Association Electrical Power Co-op at Springfield.
Judge Proffer was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner and was active in national and state REA meetings.
Born at Burfordsville in 1885, he attended State College. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bertie Proffer; one son, George Proffer; one daughter, Mrs. Lyle (Helen) Byrd and seven grandchildren.
Southeast Missourian