TGWA President's Award - Josh Barrett (Russell Drilling, Nacogdoches, TX)
Owen F. Jensen Award - Jason Wheeler (Wheeler Drilling, Odessa, TX)
Wesley Young Award - Joe Riker (Simmons Pump & Supply, Lubbock, TX)
Joe Vickers Award - Ray Brady (RMBJ Geo, Inc., Floydada, TX)
Gary D. Grant Award - Richard Rodgers (Rodgers Well Service, Plainview, TX)
Robert J. Neely Award - Abraham Herrera (Canadian Water Well, Canadian, TX)
Mark Campbell Excellence in Training Award - Justin Brisnahan (Baroid Industrial Drilling Products, Houston, TX)
Honorary Life Member Award - Bill & Penny Lange, Tommy Ford, Steve Gray
LaVoyce Gaulden Outstanding Woman Award - Amy Bush (RMBJ Geo, Inc., Floydada, TX)
Each year the Texas Groundwater Association recognizes individual members who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and have contributed to growth of the water well industry in Texas.
The following awards are presented:
Owen F. Jensen Award recognizes the "Contractor of the Year"
Wesley Young Award recognizes the "M&S Member of the Year"
Joe Vickers Award recognizes the "Groundwater Science Person of the Year"
Gary D. Grant Award recognizes an employee or associate of a drilling firm for exceptional performance to his/her employees and TGWA.
Robert J. Neely Award recognizes an employee or associate of a pump installer contractor for exceptional performance to his/her employees and TGWA.
Mark Campbell Excellence in Training Award recognizes an individual for his/her contributions to the industry through training.
Honorary Life Member Award recognizes a deserving individual who has had a positive impact on the industry and TGWA.
Past Awardees * indicates awards presented posthumously Owen F. Jensen Award 2024 Frank Glass 2023Chris Lange 2022 Terry Lowe 2021 Roger Russell 2020 Dale Felder 2019 John Julian 2018 *Jason Cadwallader 2017 Mike Pyburn 2016 William McKinley, Sr. 2015 John Harvey Ebert, Jr. 2014 John Taylor 2013 Lonnie Ball 2012 Ross D. Smart 2011 Edmund J. Friedel, Jr. 2010 Patrick Lange 2009 Randy Roberts 2008 Jerry L. Browning 2007 *Jim Bob Neely 2006 Patrick Casarez 2005 G. Pete Brien 2004 Charlie Waller 2003 Rusty Gilmore 2002 James R. “Jim” Taylor 2001 *Allen E. Johnson 2000 Bill C. Stoner 1999 Raymond Whisenant, Jr. 1998 Travis Russell 1997 Charlie Waller 1996 J. Clark Abel 1995 *Leo Fleming 1994 *A.C. “Ace’ England 1993 William ‘Bill” Lange 1992 *Robert Bob Neely 1991 Tucker D. Rudder 1990 John Pyburn 1988 *Gary Grant 1987 J. W. “Bub” Richardson 1986 Tommy Bussell 1985 John Weisinger 1984 *C. M. “Son” Stoner 1983 Leeland Lawson 1982 *Ken Watson 1981 Frank Grimes 1980 *Kenneth Millican 1979 B. J. “Billy” Swinehart 1978 R. B. “Dick” Holton 1977 Joe Dalton 1976 Byron D. Boucher 1975 E. C. Stone 1974 *Justin Smart 1973 Cecil Gaulden 1972 Ralph Scott 1971 *Taylor Virdell, Sr. 1970 *Robert “Bob” Sheegog 1969 *Taylor Virdell, Sr. 1968 *Owen Jensen, Jr. 1967 W. D. “Dub” Jones
Wesley Young Award 2023 Gulf Coast Pump & Supply 2022 Rodney Ball 2021 Ray Bedair 2020 Jim Jackson 2019 Richard Brice 2018 Robert Lasater 2017 Robert “Bob” Hill 2016 Jerry Hatley 2015 Steve Gray 2014 Carl Ward 2013 Ryan Arnett 2012 Steve Doggett 2011 Judy Herndon & Robert D. “Bob” Trees 2010 Tres Buchek 2009 Ronnie Hensley 2008 Don Childers 2007 Dan Gardner 2006 Gary Oliver 2005 Joe Dobry 2004 Jimmy Vela 2003 Doug Dearing 2002 *Jerry Weir 2001 Randy Lyne 2000 Mark Durham 1999 Matt Beasley & David Bludau 1998 Eddie Linnartz 1997 Steve Herndon 1996 Simmons Pump Corporation (R. H. “Raymond Pickering) 1995 APSCO 1994 *Buck Lively 1993 *Casey Myers 1992 *Everett Chase 1991 Frank Canon 1990 Tom Sterzing 1989 Gary Morrow 1988 *Guy Fugate 1987 Becky Sterzing-Allen 1986 *Ken Howard 1985 Murphy Beverly 1984 Tommy Patton 1983 Lee Raudebaugh 1978 “Tiny” Gilstrap 1977 Bill Rawlings 1971 *R. J. Gilmore
Joe Vickers Award 2024 Bill Stein 2023 Kelley Cochran 2020Steven Bond
Gary D. Grant Award 2024 Martin D. Lingle, Jr. 2023 Daniel Murga 2022 Leroy Barrett 2021 Jeff Brien 2020 Eric Branch 2019 Dale Ball 2018 Roger Russell 2017 G. Pete Brien 2016 R. Chad Hillis 2015 Steve Bond 2014 Christopher Lange 2013 Carlos Gorostiza
Robert J. Neely Award 2024 Dean Hansen 2023 Earl Gill 2022 Ezequiel Cervantes 2021 Wendell Goss 2020 Jaythan Browning 2019 Justin Abel 2018 Alex Neely 2017 William “Bill” Lange 2016 Dale Ball 2015 Bill Klemt 2014 R. Chad Hillis, John Julian 2013 Daniel Kutscher
Mark Campbell Excellence in Training Award 2024 Jimmy Vela 2023 Josh Cummings 2022 Jesse Zwiebel 2021 Adeline Fox 2020 Darol Hayse 2019 Jerry & Dawn Hatley 2018 Robert “Bob” Hill 2017 Steve Doggett 2016 Mike Melancon 2015 Adam Foster 2014 Kris Jackson 2013 Jerry Weir
Honorary Life Member Award 2024 Steve Musick (GWS), Jerry Browning (C&D), Gary Oliver, Joe Chapman 2023 *Mark Collins (M&S), Mike O’Day, Paul Rhodes, Stacey Allison Steinbach 2022 Judy Burkett, Travis Russell, Jim Taylor, John Taylor 2020 Steve Mahler, Ross Smart (C&D), Dean Robbins (TGWA) 2019 Rusty Gilmore (C&D) 2018 G. Pete Brien (C&D), Mike Melancon (M&S) 2017 Don McElroy (C&D) 2016 Ronnie Hensley (M&S), Mo Rainey, Robert “Bob’ Trees 2015 *Elmer “Skip” Cook (M&S), Veronica ‘Ronnie” Jones 2014 Jerry Barnett, *Ralph Cadwallader (C&D), Gene Pettey 2013 *Earl Hildebrandt 2012 *James O. Siegert 2011 Charlie Waller (C&D), *Walter “Bud” Kern (C&D) 2010 John Buchek (M&S), Don Childers (M&S), Mark Durham (M&S), George Ozuna (GWS), Lynn Wright (GWS) 2009 John Ashworth (GWS), Morris Besley (M&S), Joe Dobry (M&S), *Allen Johnson (C&D), *Charles “Charlie” Raymond (C&D) 2008 Leroy Goodson, *Homer L. Lowe (C&D), *Harvey J. Ebert, Sr. (C&D), John W. Collins (M&S), Randy Lyne (M&S) 2007 Raymond Felder (C&D), Gene E. Blaylock (M&S) 2006 John Pyburn (C&D), Bill Klemt (GWS), 2005 C. Alan Berkebile (GWS), Bill Stoner (C&D), Tom Sterzing (M&S) 2004 Jay A. Pierce, John Weisinger, George Secor, Bob Ball, *Doug Dearing 2003 Billy Green (C&D), *Gary D. Grant (C&D) 2002 *Casey Myers (M&S), Dan Parris (M&S), Steve Wiley (M&S), Ted Small (M&S) 2000 Robert L. “Bob” Bluntzer (GWS), *Rebecca Sterzing (C&D) 1999 *Leo Fleming (C&D), *Elmer “Skip” Cook (M&S), Jim O’Connor (C&D) 1998 Tommy C. Bussell (C&D) 1997 Ken Howard (M&S), *Ken Watson (M&S) 1996Marvin L. “Marv’ Klug (GWS), B. J. Swinehart (C&D), *Everett Chase (M&S) Before 1996:*A. E. Fawcett, *Guy Fugate, *R. J. Gilmore, Frank Grimes, *Richard B. Holton, *Owen F. Jensen, J., *Don M. McKinley, *Robert J. Neely, *Justin F. Smart, *C. T. Sterzing, Joe J. Vickers, *Taylor Virdell, Sr.
President's Award 2024Robert “Bob” Hill 2023Amy Bush, RMJ Geo, Inc. 2022Van Schmuck, Pumps of Houston 2021Sarah Kirkle, TGWA & Charlie Waller, Uvalde Pump Service 2020Dean Robbins, TGWA 2019Stacey Steinbach, Texas Groundwater Association & Adeline Fox, Texas Ground Water Association, Austin, TX 2018TGWA Women’s Division 2017Mike Pyburn, Almeda Water Well, Manvel 2016Dale Felder, Felder Drilling Company, Angleton 2015Billy Ray Lange, Lange Drilling Company & John Julian, Canadian Water Well 2014Kim Ford, High Plains Drilling, Inc., & Patrick Casarez, Patrick Water Well 2013Bobette Neely Naylor, Neely Water Well & David Rumbelow, Texas Pumps & Controls, LLC 2012Robert Wagstaff, R. L. Wagstaff Company & William “Bill” Corey, Pentair Water, Delavan, WI 2011Leroy Goodson, TGWA 2010Patrick & Shirley Casarez, Patrick Water Well & Randy Pfeifer, Franklin Electric 2009Veronica “Ronnie” Jones, Worldwide Drilling Resource, Bonifay, FL & Ray Bedair, Pumps of Houston 2008Lisa Henley, TGWA 2007Karin Malone, Malone Well Service