Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009 - (Page 62)

BY ROB JOHNSON, NRWA CEO FROM THE CEO Editor’s note: This is the ﬁ fth in a continuing series of articles by NRWA CEO Rob Johnson about the men and women who have been the founders, creators, “movers and shakers” of NRWA from the beginning. Without them, rural water – nationwide – would not be the catalyst or the inﬂuential voice of rural America that we have become. LIKE SO MANY presidents of NRWA, Bill Parnell is best known in our rural water family for what he did after his presidency. Bill was the second president of NRWA and only the second person to serve more than two years in that ofﬁce. Born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas, he managed the Johnson County Rural Water Cooperative in Cleburne for many years, and oversaw its rapid expansion. While there, he was very active with the Texas Rural Water Association and served a term as its president and several years on its board. As the NRWA president, Bill was politically active and worked closely with EPA and then FmHA. After he ended his career at Johnson County, Bill came to work at NRWA and the legend began. Starting ﬁ rst as training director, he soon moved into what was his true calling – the circuit rider manager. Finding a way to merge his Texas cowboy, bull rider personality into a diplomatic project manager full of southern charm was a mix that most of us never quite understood but always loved. Bill was an outdoorsman, enjoying golf, hunting and ﬁ shing, and always looking for a way to weave that into his work. During Bill’s career at NRWA, the number of state circuit riders expanded to over 100 people and the Wastewater Technical Assistance Program was initiated and grew to over 80 people. Bill’s inﬂuence help move the Circuit Riders and Wastewater Techs out of the ditch and into the ofﬁces of utilities. During his time the Circuit Rider program became our most identiﬁ able brand name. All of us who worked with Bill saw his ornery side, and our lives were just a little more exciting every day anticipating what Bill was up to next. Bill seemed to enjoy demonstrating the Mexican proverb, “It is not enough for a man to learn how to ride; he must learn how to fall.” A mule more ornery than he in the San Juan Mountains taught Bill several valuable lessons in humility. Bill Parnell has served our Rural Water family most of his life and with distinction as a water system manager, state association president and NRWA president. He was once my boss and then became my co-worker. Wherever he was, life was just a little brighter and lot more exciting. His retirement from NRWA in 2006 brought people together from several facets of his long career. God only made one Bill Parnell, and we love him! Finding a way to merge his Texas cowboy, bull rider personality into a diplomatic project manager full of southern charm was a mix that most of us never quite understood but always loved. 62 • First Quarter 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009 Contents From the President Question & Answer: Water Conservation in the Home Avoiding the Humpty Dumpty Approach to Data Backup From the CEO What the Future Holds Asset Management for Small Communities Understanding Your Surface Water Source: The Rivers Hydraulic Models Expeditionary Water Packaging System Graces Delta The Rural Water Rally in April Training in Hawaii Regulatory Update Rural Water Releases Report on Water Infrastructure Projects and Economic Stimulus Legislation Throwing My Loop Advertisers.com Index to Advertisers

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009

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