Historical Notes

This 2010 update of historical notes on the origin, development and nature of our "WRD Retirees" is directed primarily to new members.

Although the need for such an organization may have been felt by others, it was forcibly urged by George H. Taylor, former Regional Engineer (GW) in Nebraska during a visit with George E. Ferguson in the mid 1960's. Recently retired, Taylor found himself isolated to a distressing degree from news of both his former colleagues and his agency. Inquiries to other retirees revealed that this problem was not unique.

In the spring of 1973, Joe Wells, Ken Love, and George Ferguson--then all retired--met with Chief Hydrologist Roy Hendricks and some of his staff to determine the degree to which the Survey and the Water Resources Division might give support to a retiree organization. Roy gave this assurance and named Joe Cragwall, then Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Operations, as his liaison with the planned organization.

Under the leadership of an eight person Work Group (retirees available in the Washington, D.C. area) a Nation-wide canvas was made of the roughly 200 fellow retirees whose addresses were known. The response was gratifying and the requested "dollar bill" (to defray initial costs) filled the coffers. (Don Corbett emphasized his words of enthusiasm with checks totaling $75).

The initial work group evolved into an Interim Work Group consisting of John Adamson, Andy (I.E.) Anderson, Walt Durum, George Ferguson (Chairman and untitled Newsletter compiler), Art Frazier, Warren Hastings, Stan Lord, Ken Love, Charlie Morgan, Roy Oltman, Trigg Twichell, and Joe Wells. This Work Group guided the activity from 1973 to 1975. Its Secretary, Charlie Morgan, deserves recognition for his time and achievements during the interim period.

Newsletter No. 1, mailed in the fall of 1973, was a two-page issue. The initial directory of 221 was followed by another in November 1974 with nearly 300 listings. A Constitution and By Laws were developed by Walt Durum and approved by the membership. A recodification and updating of the Constitution was adopted in 1992; other minor changes have subsequently been adopted. In 1974 and at the suggestion of Joe Cragwall, who succeeded Roy Hendricks as Chief Hydrologist, interested active personnel of WRD were welcomed as Affiliate Members.

Since 1976 a slate of elected National and Regional Officers are elected biennially. Roy Hendricks was WRD Retirees' first President, then Warren Daniels, Walt Durum, Milt Hackett, Joe Cragwall, Jerry Meyer, Bob Beall, Hal Langford, Porter Ward, Tom Buchanan, Don Thomas, Bill Mann, Bob Schoen, Tom Yorke, Jim Blakey, Jim Biesecker, Dick Engberg, and now Herb Freiberger. Vice Presidents are not listed as most were elected President for the next biennium. Mary Jo Baedecker is the current Vice President. Ruth Malone served as the initial Secretary, Bob Beall served in that key position from 1980 to 1997, processing incoming mail and maintaining the organization files. Bill Boning and Al Condes shared Secretarial duties for 1998-99, and Bill is the current Secretary. In 1978, Sumner Heidel succeeded Tommy Thomasson as Treasurer, serving through 1997. In 1998 Jack Pickering became Treasurer, succeeded by Celso Puente in 2006. Archivist was Porter Ward 1991-2004; Dick Engberg 2005-2007, current Archivist is Charles Nethaway assisted by Bob Beall.

After serving as Newsletter compiler, writer and editor since its inception, George Ferguson found a successor in Porter Ward who became Editor in 1987. He was succeeded by Bill Schneider in 1991; Jim Biesecker became editor in 1998, assisted by Sandy Mitrani ('98-2001) and by Dotty Woods beginning in 2001. Regional Editors are Eileen Smith, Vivian Olcott, Merilee Bennett and John Klein. The Newsletter remains the vital communications tool for WRD Retirees and has grown to a 24-page document that is also available online at WRD Retirees.org. Art Beetem served as principal author of the annual Directory for many years, relinquishing that task to Tom Yorke in 2006. Tom is assisted by Bill Boning and Al Condes. Many members, widows and widowers also have given support through special contributions to the organization. Although not solicited nor expected, these monies have resulted in adequate financial reserves. (The IRS has advised that our dues and contributions are not tax deductible.)

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www.wrdretirees.org contact: wrdretirees@usgs.gov