The William D. Hatfield Award recognizes outstanding treatment plant operators. It was established by the Water Pollution Control Federation of 1946, and now honors each year exceptional operators of wastewater treatment works throughout the world.
This award is named appropriately for William D. Hatfield, 19th president of the WPCF and the long time "operator" of the Decatur, Illinois, Sanitary District Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Kansas Water Environment Association may now name an outstanding Kansas operator to be honored with this award every year.
| Past Recipients of the Prestigious Award | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Clint Gregor | 1991 | John Gavin |
| 2010 | Bill Johnson | 1990 | Bob Sample |
| 2009 | Joe Foster | 1989 | James Tush |
| 2008 | Jim Larkin | 1988 | Bruce Fortner |
| 2007 | Richard Cook | 1987 | Mike Younger |
| 2006 | David Harper | 1986 | Raymond Stillwell |
| 2005 | Mike Wagner | 1985 | Harry Zielke |
| 2004 | Mark Eisenbarth | 1984 | Max Rhodd |
| 2003 | Eddie Andrews | 1983 | Alan Shineman |
| 2002 | David Schmidgt | 1981 | Thomas E. McMahon |
| 2001 | Ben Looney | 1980 | Duane Morgan |
| 2000 | Steve Gorszczyk | 1978 | Doyle Webster |
| 1999 | Randy Storrer | 1977 | Myron Cailteaux |
| 1998 | Alice Ballard | 1975 | James Bills |
| 1997 | Steve Kubler | 1972 | Don Vaughn |
| 1996 | Steve Leiker | 1969 | Irl E. Wall, Jr. |
| 1995 | John Booton | 1966 | John Glidewell, Jr. |
| 1994 | Wayne Nelson | 1964 | Wilbur K. Moffat |
| 1993 | Jerry Davies | 1961 | Victor W. Pickering |
| 1992 | Millie Reed | 1958 | Lyle Cunningham |
| 1991 | John Gavin | ||
