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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 17, 1997
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 1-7850 88-0085720
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
5241 Spring Mountain Road
Post Office Box 98510
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8510
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (702) 876-7237
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Item 5. Other Events
See the following press release dated September 17, 1997, announcing the
retirement of Kenny C. Guinn as a director and chairman of the Southwest Gas
Corporation Board of Directors and the appointment of Thomas Y. Hartley as
chairman.
Guinn Retires as Southwest Gas Board Chairman; Hartley Appointed
LAS VEGAS -- Kenny C. Guinn today announced his retirement as a director and
chairman of Southwest Gas Corporation's Board of Directors. Guinn said the
announcement is tied to his decision to seek political office in Nevada.
Guinn's association with Southwest Gas dates back to 1981, when he was
selected to serve on the company's board of directors. Since then, he has
been involved in the company's operations. He was appointed president and
chief operating officer in 1987, chairman and chief executive officer in 1988,
and upon his retirement as an employee of the company in 1993, was elected
chairman of the board of directors.
Following Guinn's retirement announcement, the board of directors appointed
Thomas Y. Hartley as chairman. Hartley, 64, has been a company director since
1991. He is a graduate of Ohio University and was employed by Deloitte
Haskins and Sells (now Deloitte & Touche) for almost 30 years prior to his
retirement as a managing partner in charge of the Las Vegas, Reno, Phoenix and
Tucson offices. He is actively involved in numerous business and civic
activities throughout southern Nevada. He is a past chairman of the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation and the Nevada Development
Authority, and past president of the Las Vegas Founders Club, the Las Vegas
Founders Golf Foundation, and the Boulder Dam Area Council of the Boy Scouts
of America. He is also a director of Rio Hotel and Casino, Inc. and Sierra
Health Services, Inc.
Following his appointment, Hartley praised his predecessor's contributions to
the company. "Kenny Guinn's service to Southwest Gas in management and on the
board of directors has been invaluable. He has helped guide the company
through a period of unprecedented growth and change, and has done so with
remarkably good judgment and common sense. We wish him well as he pursues
another exciting new challenge."
Hartley's appointment continues the board's practice of electing independent
directors to serve as the chairman of the board.
"An outside chairman provides a valuable independent perspective to the
board," said President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O. Maffie. "Tom
Hartley brings to the table not only an extensive knowledge of Southwest Gas
but a wealth of experience and expertise in other business environments.
Those attributes will serve Southwest Gas and its shareholders well as the
company faces the challenges of a rapidly changing, increasingly competitive
natural gas industry."
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Southwest Gas provides natural gas service to approximately 1.1 million
customers in Arizona, Nevada and California. Its service territory
encompasses some of the fastest-growing areas of the nation.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
/s/ Edward A. Janov
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Date: September 17, 1997 Edward A. Janov
Vice President/Controller and
Chief Accounting Officer
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