History of Willie Wiredhand
Willie Wiredhand (©NRECA) is the longtime friendly face and spokesplug of rural electric cooperatives nationwide. Adopted in 1951 by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Willie’s last name is one of the original nicknames for rural electric cooperatives: “wiredhand” (because electricity brought to rural America by co-ops in the 1930s and 40s was the never-tiring, always available hired hand to assist the nation’s farmers.) Willie — with his light-socket head, wire body and electrical plug for his bottom and legs — is now considered an icon among many in the pantheon of corporate advertising characters.
Learn more about Willie Wiredhand here.