AWRA Presidents In Memoriam

Gerald "Jerry" Sehlke

President Term: 1/1/2009 to 12/31/2009

Gerald “Jerry” Sehlke died on Tuesday, April 12, 2023 after a valiant and successful fight with mantle cell lymphoma and an unbeatable respiratory infection. Jerry spent his final days looking out at his beloved Puget Sound, surrounded by the love of his family near and far. Read more.

C. Mark Dunning

President Term: 1/1/2014 to 12/31/2014

Charles Mark Dunning, 74, husband of Sally Rose (Lamb) Dunning of Palmyra, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, in Marion, VA, while on a wonderful trout fishing trip with his son, John. Read more.

Ari M. Michelsen

President Term: 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010

Ari Montgomery Michelsen, 63, of El Paso passed away on September 28, 2017 after a lengthy illness. Ari was a leader in the field of water resources. He worked for several western universities, most recently as Resident Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center in El Paso. Read more.

N. Earl Spangenberg

President Term: 1/1/1998 to 12/31/1998

Norman “Earl” Spangenberg, age 78, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, died at home Monday morning, September 18, 2017. He served in the United States Air Force from 1962 - 1966. He started the first student chapter of AWRA and guided them to create, market, and sell groundwater models that are used all over the country to help organizations recognize the importance of water and how to protect it. Read more.

Learn about the AWRA N. Earl Spangenberg Outstanding Student Chapter Award.

John R. Wehle

President Term: 1/1/1995 to 12/31/1995

John R. Wehle, a beloved friend, cherished husband and father, and prominent personality in the water-resources management profession, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Read more.

Peter E. Black

President Term: 1/1/1991 to 12/31/1991

Peter E. Black, 82, of Syracuse, NY died peacefully at home on Friday, May 12, 2017. Peter was dearly loved and is survived by his wife, Lida; two brothers, David and Jonathan; and four sons, Steven, Andrew, Douglas and Elliott, and their families. Read more.

Warren Viessman, Jr

President Term: 1/1/1990 to 12/31/1990

Warren "Bud" Viessman, Jr., 79, of Gainesville, Florida passed away on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at his home. Dr. Viessman proudly served his country faithfully in the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. Read more.

Albert Rango

President Term: 1/1/1986 to 12/31/1986

Dr. Albert Rango was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and passed on April 26, 2018 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Dr. Rango held positions with Pennsylvania State University-Meteorology Department; the Hydrological Sciences Branch-National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt MD; and with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, MD  and later in Las Cruces, NM (2001-2018). Read more.

J. Paul Riley

President Term: 1/1/1985 to 12/31/1985

John Paul Riley, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully at Legacy House of Logan with his oldest son David at his side. He was 94. Read more.

Kenneth Bowden

President Term: 1/1/1974 to 12/31/1974

Kenneth Lester Bowden, 78, of DeKalb, Illinois, died Friday, July 12, 2013, at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center, DeKalb. Ken obtained his bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University and master’s from University of Michigan. He was a professor in NIU’s Geography Department for 30 years. Read more.

Phillip E. Greeson

President Term: 1/1/1982 to 12/31/1982

Dr. Phillip E. Greeson of Norcross, GA, formerly of Lexington, KY died on April 21, 2000. He was retired from the USGS, where he served as the Assistant Regional Hydrologist. Read more.

Thad G. McLaughlin

President Term: 1/1/1977 to 12/31/1977

Thad Mclaughlin, a retired U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist, died September 25, 2002, in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 88. Thad made major contributions to the understanding of groundwater resources in Kansas, Colorado, North Dakota, and the Middle East during his long career. Read more.

Reuben J. Johnson

President Term: 1/1/1975 to 12/31/1975

Reuben Joseph Johnson, 100, died peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones on February 21, 2015. He was born in Orland, California on November 29, 1914, the third of eight children of Scandinavian immigrants. Read more.

William Whipple, Jr

President Term: 1/1/1973 to 12/31/1973

William “Bill” Whipple III of Middletown, DE, passed away on Monday, March 22, 2021, at the age of 82. He was a proud graduate of both Princeton University in 1960 and Harvard Law School in 1963. Read more.

Arleigh H. Laycock

President Term: 1/1/1971 to 12/31/1971

Arleigh Howard Laycock of London, Ontario, passed away on Thursday, June 7, 2018, in his 95th year. Beloved husband of 60 years of the late Audrey Jean (Tyrholm) Laycock (d. 2010) and loving father of Deborah Laycock (and James Carson) of Ohio, David Laycock of Roberts Creek, B.C., and James Laycock (and Susan Michelle Millard) of London and St. Thomas. Read more.

A. Ivan Johnson

President Term: 1/1/1972 to 12/31/1972

Born in Madison, Nebraska on June 3, 1919. Married to Betty Lou (deceased) for 62 years. They had three children, 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He passed on August 31, 2011. Read more.

Learn about the AWRA A. Ivan Johnson Award for Young Professionals.

William R. Boggess

President Term: 1/1/1970 to 12/31/1970

William R. (Randy) Boggess died July 18, 2012, at his home in Austin Texas. Randy will be fondly remembered as a friend, colleague and advisor by many of us who spent time at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research from the late 1970s to early 1990s. Read more.

Learn about the AWRA William R. "Randy" Boggess Award.

Edward Silberman

President Term: 1/1/1969 to 12/31/1969

Edward Silberman age 97 of Golden Valley, unexpectedly passed away July 5, 2011. Preceded in death by wife Idell and sister Esther Silberman. Born in Mpls. and raised in Streeter, N.D., Ed had a passion for engineering before he even knew what it was. Read more.

Garald G. Parker, Sr

President Term: 1/1/1968 to 12/31/1968

Garald G. "Jerry" Parker, Sr. (1905–2000) was a hydrologist and is known as the "Father of Florida groundwater hydrology." Parker also named the principal artesian aquifer the Floridan Aquifer. He passed on January 30, 2000 in Sun City Center, Hillsborough, Florida. Read more.