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Carl Carroll of Independence Named 2005 Winner of the KRWA Rural Water Association Conger Award

The Kansas Rural Water Association (KRWA) has awarded its 2005 Conger Award to Carl Carroll, KRWA board member from Independence, Kansas. The presentation was made at the Association’s awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 28 during KRWA’s 39th Annual Conference and Exhibition held at the Century II Conference Center in Wichita. Carroll retired from KRWA’s board of directors at the conclusion of the conference, ending 18-years of board service for the organization, serving from 1988 to 2006.

“It has been a very rewarding experience to serve as a small part of such a giving organization with such great goals of helping people,” Carroll said. “KRWA’s efforts in providing education and assistance for utilities to better serve customers as well as to serve as a resource for legislators, state and federal agencies is indeed a worthy cause.” Carl Carroll lives with his wife of 56 years, Lila, in Independence. They have a son, daughter and three grandchildren.

Caroll became a director of the Montgomery Rural Water District 2 board in 1974, later serving as board chair. In the early 80s he was appointed as RWD 2 representative to the planning committee formed to create Public Water Supply District (PWSD) 4, the first of its kind in the state, which started production in 1985. Carroll served as director on the PWSD board and later served as chairman, completing 22 years with that organization. Carl also served as manager/operator of Montgomery RWD 2 for 10 years. He retired in 1991 from his business, D & C Welding and Machine, which he was a partner for 29 years.

The Kansas Rural Water Association was the first rural water organization formed in the United States in 1966. The Association established a new tradition of recognizing long-term dedication to the organization’s goals with the Conger award. The award is named in honor of the first president of the board of directors of Kansas Rural Water, Mr. Carl Conger of Iola, Kansas. Mr. Conger received his award from Governor John Carlin in 1978.