The Lifetime Membership Award is given to those individuals who are or have been active within the industry, have rendered exemplary service to the association, and whose knowledge and accomplishments in the field of water quality entitle them to special recognition.

Nominations for WQA Leadership Awards are now open. Click on the link below to nominate someone for this or another award through Oct. 15. 

Nominate Someone for the Lifetime Membership Award

Previous Winners

1974 - Wilbur K. Hess
1978 - Riley O. Ostby
1979 - Robert L. Moody
1980 - Gerald T. Shannon, Gerald Shannon
1981 - Willard B. Neal, Neals Water Cond. Service, Inc.
1982 - Jerome R. Peterson
1983 - Donald M. Porth
1984 - G. Keith Funk, Sr. 
1985 - Ray E. Cross
1986 - William J. Van Allen
1987 - George H. Klumb
1988 - Douglas R. Oberhamer, Culligan Water Conditioning
1989 - Walter J. Polens
1990 - Lucius Cole, P.E.
1991 - Wes McGowan
1992 - Don E. Akre
1993 - Donald A. Mahlstedt
1994 - Gilbert Boerner
1995 - Donn R. Dresselhuys
1996 - Andrew J. Fleckenstein, Fleck Family Foundation
1997 - Joanne W. Grace
1998 - Bill Peltier
1998 - A. Eugene Burton, A. Eugene Burton
1999 - William C. Prior, Tangent Company LLC
2000 - Mel Entingh
2001 - John M. Scott (Posthumously - Lifetime Achievement)
2001 - F. Stuart Mitchell
2002 - Duane D. Nowlin, Ph.D., Duane D. Nowlin - Consultant
2003 - Robert Morley
2004 - Curtis O. Abendroth, Abendroth Water Conditioning, Inc.
2005 - Edward J. Fierko, EJF Associates
2005 - J. Downing Johnson
2006 - I. Donald Rosuck, Rosuck Management Services
2007 - Sharon Peterson, Water Conditioning & Purification Magazine (WC&P Intl.)
2008 - J. Christopher Layton, Chris Layton Water Consulting
2009 - Robert B. Ruhstorfer, II, RS Water Holdings LLC dba Culligan of Houston
2010 - Michael Gottlieb, ResinTech, Inc.
2011 - Peter S. Cartwright, PE, Cartwright Consulting Company
2012 - Douglas C. Haring, Clack Corporation
2013 - Regu P. Regunathan, Ph.D., ReguNathan & Associates
2014 - Robert Slovak, AROMAN Incorporated
2015 - W. Gordon Miller, Cleanwater Corporation Of America dba Culligan Water Cond.
2016 - Michael Mecca, Performance Water Products
2017 - Arvind S. Patil, PhD, Ricura Water Technology, LLC
2018 - Frank A. Brigano, PhD, Marmon Water Inc.
2019 - Vincent M. Kent, Abendroth Water Conditioning, Inc.
2020 - Richard A. Mest, Master Water Conditioning Corp.