Steve Mosley – A Man of Many Passions

BY MICHAEL REISIG –

Steve Mosley is a man of many passions – he is a successful businessman and a recognized name in the electric co-op industry from Texas to Arkansas, but he is also an avid hunter, a lover of nature, a passionate explorer of American Indian history and artifacts, and an extraordinary photographer, and it is perhaps his understanding in many of the above aspects that makes him such a gifted camera buff.

Mosley was born in Lubbock, Texas and lived there through the seventh grade. His father, the late Walt Mosley, farmed large tracts of land, and on vacations the family often came to Mena. When his father developed an allergy to dust in the late sixties, the family moved to Polk County. He graduated from Mena High School in 1973.

“I went to work for Rich Mountain Electric that summer, then went on to Southern State in Magnolia for a semester or two,” he recalled. “I came back to Mena and became a lineman for Rich Mountain Electric for the next eight and a half years. It was then, in 1980, that I met my wife, Carla, and we were married in 1981.

“We moved to Denton, Texas and I went to work for an electric company there for 13 years, where I became operations manager,” he continued. “From there we moved to Brady, Texas, where I became manager for another electric co-op, and later on to Central Texas and Athens where I eventually became director of public power and alliances for H.D. Supply, a utility company that provided companies with building materials for power lines.  We moved to Mena about four and a half years ago, where my parents lived and where my wife’s family had lived for generations.”

Although Mosley has been a successful businessman all his life, he has allowed himself hobbies that have made his life interesting and more fulfilling. He has been an avid collector of American Indian artifacts (primarily Southeastern U.S.) for most of his life, since he was six years old.

“I’m fascinated by the lifestyle of the American Indians – their ability to survive so efficiently from one day to the next – no grocery stores, no Wal-Mart, no telephones,” Mosley explained. “It was all about family, tribe, and living for today. There were no watches – time was gauged in seasons, and they knew how to live to the fullest every day. When I hunt and fish and I’m out in the woods alone, I visualize how it must have been for them. They had a wonderful respect for Mother Nature, and I have a great appreciation for them. They were good stewards of the land, and the animals they hunted.”

From all of this appreciation for nature came a hobby/occupation: photography, recording life in its natural state.

“For years I took photos of nature for myself, but a few years ago people started telling me I need to share my photographs with others,” Mosley explained. “I started by having some of my photos printed for the house and later for friends. Still later I became involved with the Mena Art Gallery and started participating in shows. I’ve been fortunate to win a few ribbons in that endeavor.”

For those who are interested you can go to Mosley’s website to see his work (www.TheWalkingRock.com).

Mosley is also one of the five commissioners at Mena’s Depot. He and his wife have about  400 Indian artifacts from Polk County displayed there – arrowheads, spear points, nut stones (stones designed to crush nut shells) grind bowls, hide scrapers, and knives. Mosley emulates the lifestyle of the Indians in a modern fashion – hunting, fishing and growing much of his own food, and carrying a powerful respect for Mother Nature. In addition he’s a member of “Master Gardeners.”

“I grew up as a farmer’s kid and it’s in my blood,” he said with a smile. “I love it here in Polk County. It’s a great place to raise your kids, and both my wife and I feel blessed to be able to make our home here.”

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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