Page 3 - Texas811

from the desk of
Chris Stovall
This year we celebrate our 40-year anniversary. Texas811 was founded in 1984. A lot has changed since 1984. The average home price was $97,000, today it is $412,000. A ticket to see a movie was $3.36, today that will run you about $14. According to one source, approximately 40,000 people had a cell phone in 1984, it would cost between $1,900 and $4,100 to install in
a car, $39 per month plus 50 cents per minute between 7am and 7pm. A computer cost anywhere from $1,800 to $2,500 in 1984. I was able to use computers at school, but I didn’t buy my first computer until the late 1990s. I had to take out a loan for $2,000 to get it...adjusted for inflation, that is about $6,000 today.
There is one thing that has not changed since 1984, and that is the mission of Texas811. To facilitate damage prevention, promote public safety and protect the environment through stakeholder education and communication. Our 40-year anniversary is a good time to reflect on the importance of 811. Our mission is an essential part of Texas infrastructure, a key part of safe economic growth, and vital to the safety of all Texans. What this industry does has always been and remains a BIG DEAL! We have 500 billion dollars being pumped into the economy specifically for infrastructure and that will fuel growth for years to come. Without the crucial service of 811, it just doesn’t happen in a safe and timely manner.
I look forward to celebrating 40 years of keeping Texas safe with all of you throughout this year. We have several things planned to mark this milestone. It will be a year of looking back and reflection, but as always with an eye to the future and the next 40 years.
Chris Stovall
President and CEO
2024, Issue 1
Texas811 • 1