A Lifetime of Service: Scott Bradley Retires
by Tanya Marchun, Communication Specialist
GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. - (March 17, 2025) "There’s nothing to say!” That’s what Scott Bradley wants you to think as he prepares for retirement at the end of this month. But after 44 years and more than one million miles accumulated in seven service trucks, there is plenty to say about Scott Bradley and his contributions to Grand Valley Power members and the community. “Once you know Scott, you’ve got a lifelong friend,” said Linda Schroder, GVP’s dispatcher.
Bradley’s course was determined in 1976 when his mother and father signed him up for the Mesa Hotline School. After receiving his journeyman certification and spending eight years as a GVP lineworker, he took the service and line patrolman position, which he has held for 36 years.
His goal has always been simple: Serve others. “I am most proud of the relationships I have built over the years,” he said. “I put myself in the consumers’ shoes and help them out however I can. It’s a 24/7 job. If the phone rings, you go!” Bradley’s wife, Sherry, and their kids, Ryan and Becky, attest to his selflessness. While it is not always easy to be away from family events and activities, the unwavering support of his family has provided a firm foundation and continued encouragement throughout his career.
“In the early days of my career, it was very different,” Bradley recalls. “The work was all done by hand. There were no fancy tools.” Most of the lines in GVP’s service territory have undergone an update during Bradley’s tenure. “I have installed and maintained a lot of the cable since the 1970s,” he said. “Our system is like a vehicle engine. If you don’t maintain it, it’s not going to work properly.” In addition to maintaining electrical power lines, Bradley learned early on in his career to take care of himself both mentally and physically. “Being a lineworker is in your head and your heart,” he said. “You pay attention. At the end of the day, you take care of yourself so you and others can go home.”
At home, Bradley enjoys keeping up his farm, riding motorcycles with Sherry, and volunteering at Fellowship Church. An annual tradition for Bradley is to take a four-to-five-day motorcycle trip with his coworker and friend, GVP Operations Supervisor Mark Shaffer. This year, they are including Bradley’s son and traveling north to explore the Wyoming and Montana region. For some, retirement marks the end of the hustle and bustle of work and the beginning of a leisurely pace. For Bradley, sitting still is not “in the cards.” After retiring at the end of this month, his next adventure begins. He will work for his son, visit his daughter in Montana, and take trips to see family in Tennessee and Texas.