The Texas Ground Water Association held its 61st Annual Convention & Trade Show Jan. 22-25, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in Lubbock, Texas. Nearly 700 water industry professionals took part in the proceedings, which featured a 112-exhibitor trade show floor and 12 educational seminars that allowed contractors to get their continuing education credits.

New officers were elected to lead the association this year. For the Contractor and Drillers Division, Patrick Casarez (Patrick Water Well, Cleveland) is president; Ray Whisenant Jr. (Texas Hill Country Water Services, Dripping Springs) is president-elect; Dale Felder (Felder Water Well and Pump Service, Angleton) is vice president; and the secretary/treasurer is Ken D. Grant (High Plains Drilling Inc., Abernathy).

The Manufacturers and Suppliers Division will be led by president Ronnie Hensley (Global Pumps), vice president Judy Herndon (Drillmaster International) and secretary Dan Collins (TAM Marketing).

The officers of the Ground Water Science Division remain the same. John Waugh (San Antonio Water System) is president; Steve Musick (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) is vice president; and Rusty Tarver (Geoprojects International Inc.) is secretary.

Congratulations are in order for Jerry Browning (Millican Well Service, Fort Worth), who took home the Contractor of the Year Award, and Don Childers (DJC Sales Co., Irving), who was named Supplier of the Year.

At the always-entertaining auction, convention-goers ponied up a total of $28,000 for the benefit of the association’s education fund. Nice job.

Looking ahead to next year, the convention moves to Galveston. The dates: Jan. 27-29, 2009. 
ND