The Vern Haverstick Groundwater Hero Award - This award was created to showcase ground water protection activities by the unsung, yet heroic, efforts of community residents. William Crawford retired president/CEO of Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) has been selected to receive the 2003 award.
Crawford encouraged extensive MLGW involvement with water organizations and lobbied local government officials to form Shelby County's Groundwater Quality Control Board (GWQCB). The GWQCB established regulations to protect the area's water supply and brought together representatives from MLGW, local government, local citizens and other water experts. The GWQCB serves as a model in the state of Tennessee and the Mid-South region as an institutional method to involve all stakeholders in ground water issues. Crawford also helped develop a strategic plan for the board and led the GWQCB to establish a wellhead protection plan that requires the review of all planned development in the county to ensure the safety of the water supply.