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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Joe Foster | 1990 | Bob Sample |
| 2008 | Jim Larkin | 1989 | James Tush |
| 2007 | Richard Cook | 1988 | Bruce Fortner |
| 2006 | David Harper | 1987 | Mike Younger |
| 2005 | Mike Wagner | 1986 | Raymond Stillwell |
| 2004 | Mark Eisenbarth | 1985 | Harry Zielke |
| 2003 | Eddie Andrews | 1984 | Max Rhodd |
| 2002 | David Schmidgt | 1983 | Alan Shineman |
| 2001 | Ben Looney | 1981 | Thomas E. McMahon |
| 2000 | Steve Gorszczyk | 1980 | Duane Morgan |
| 1999 | Randy Storrer | 1978 | Doyle Webster |
| 1998 | Alice Ballard | 1977 | Myron Cailteaux |
| 1997 | Steve Kubler | 1975 | James Bills |
| 1996 | Steve Leiker | 1972 | Don Vaughn |
| 1995 | John Booton | 1969 | Irl E. Wall, Jr. |
| 1994 | Wayne Nelson | 1966 | John Glidewell, Jr. |
| 1993 | Jerry Davies | 1964 | Wilbur K. Moffat |
| 1992 | Millie Reed | 1961 | Victor W. Pickering |
| 1991 | John Gavin | 1958 | Lyle Cunningham |
