NTMWD honors general manager

Northeast Texas Municipal Water District honored Walt Sears, Jr. for his 25 years as general manager, with a retirement dinner in Hughes Springs, Texas on Thursday, November 3, George Otstott, NETMWD President said.

Sears gave “25 years of outstanding service to the citizens of Northeast Texas and the district,” Otstott said.

Sears joined the district as general manager in 1998 having previously served as the attorney for the district, according to Otstott. In that time the district increased its assets from $19 million to $44 million.

“The quality, reliability, and supply of water in the Northeast Texas area was brought to levels unheard of before his tenure,” Otstott said. “The Board and the citizens we serve will always remember the unique contributions, accomplishments and selfless service Walt brought to us. He will be sorely missed and we wish Walt and his lovely wife Kris the happiest and most enjoyable years of retirement.” Sears currently serves as president of Texas Water Conservation Association (TWCA), the senior statewide water organization of Texas; Otstott said Sears is also the Texas Vice President of the Red River Valley Association (RRVA), which is the four-state authority over the Red River. NETMWD supplies over one billion gallons of drinking water annually, according to reports.

The district also supplies 220,000 customers in 8 counties in the Cypress River Valley of East Texas from its Lake O’ the Pines reservoir near Jefferson, Texas, in addition to providing environmental protection and recreation throughout the Cypress River Basin.