CUMMING — A former member of the Sawnee EMC board of directors was recently honored by the Georgia Cooperative Council.

Frank Coker will receive the 2016 Distinguished Cooperator Award on March 7 during the council’s annual meeting at the Georgia Farm Bureau in Macon.

Coker, a lifelong resident of the Birmingham community in neighboring Cherokee County, served on the board for the Cumming-based electric services company for 45 years before retiring in September.

“Sawnee EMC is honored that Mr. Coker has been chosen to receive this prestigious award. He has dedicated over four decades of service to our cooperative,” said Michael Goodroe, Sawnee EMC president and chief executive officer.

The Georgia Cooperative Council promotes all types of cooperative associations throughout Georgia, including members from the Farm Credit System, farm supply co-ops, rural telephone cooperatives and electric cooperatives, as well as state and federal officials.

The council designates the award to someone who has had “a history of supporting Georgia cooperatives, thereby contributing to their continued success.”

Coker served as director of District 1 in Birmingham, according to Cindy Badgett, a spokeswoman for Sawnee EMC.

Sawnee EMC provides electricity to more than 166,000 members in seven counties throughout north Georgia.

Coker was also a successful farmer and land developer for many years and was “instrumental in leading the cooperative through some of the most challenging and successful period of its history,” Badgett said.

She said he is also well known in his community for his past involvement in youth athletics, banking and service as a church deacon for more than 40 years.