Remembering Gary Hobson

It is with deep sadness that I share some difficult news. As some of you may know, CBS Co-Founder and Chairman, Gary Hobson, was recently diagnosed with cancer, and after a brief but very courageous battle with the disease, he passed away on August 22, 2025 at the age of 81. Gary passed peacefully, surrounded by his family and loved ones. 

Words cannot fully capture the profound impact Gary had on our organization and the entire electric cooperative community. His loss is felt deeply by all of us, as he was not only an inspiring leader, but also a friend and mentor to so many of us. With more than six decades of service in the electric cooperative industry, Gary embodied the values of integrity, dedication, and compassion.

Throughout his career, Gary’s leadership style emphasized collaboration, transparency, and selfless service to member-owners. After serving as General Manager at multiple electric cooperatives in Oklahoma, he joined CADP in 1980, where he initiated a cultural transformation, removing executive barriers and embedding himself directly within the organization. He guided CADP through significant technological shifts and helped deliver innovative advancements to cooperatives nationwide. Gary was instrumental in founding the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), serving as its first Board President and further broadening access to telecommunications for rural cooperatives. After guiding the formation of NISC in 2000 and leading the newly merged organization through its critical early years, Gary retired in 2002 — but he never stopped serving cooperatives. He continued to support the sector through executive recruiting with NRECA and most recently as Chairman of Cooperative Building Solutions, where he worked with over 200 electric cooperatives across the country.

Gary’s legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to the cooperative principles, his generous spirit of service, and the enduring impact he made on the rural electric cooperative community.

His vision and leadership have been foundational to our company, and his influence will continue to guide us. Our leadership team is fully committed to ensuring stability and continuity throughout the organization during this period of grief and transition. We will honor Gary’s memory as we move forward, both in how we serve our clients and how we treat one another.

We encourage everyone to keep Gary’s family in their thoughts and prayers. 

Tim Masa
President
Cooperative Building Solutions