President
Kenneth Thornton Jr. was born in Smithfield, North Carolina, and has lived in Kelly since 1970. He has served on the Four County EMC Board of Directors since 2008 and was elected Vice President in 2021 and President in October 2025. He has earned his Director Gold Certification through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
Kenneth attended Campbell University for two years before beginning his 48-year career at International Paper, where he retired as a Mechanical Precision Maintenance Master Trainer. He is also a volunteer firefighter with the Kelly Volunteer Fire Department.
Kenneth and his wife, Cathy, have been married since 1976 and have two children and six grandchildren. They attend Centerville Baptist Church. In his spare time, Kenneth enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, and gardening.