THE BOLTON-CROCKETT-BECK AWARD 

The Bolton-Crockett-Beck Award is presented annually to a worthy individual who has fostered the advancement of the objectives of the Alabama Water and Pollution Control Association (AWPCA) through dedicated service to the association and by outstanding accomplishments in the Water and Pollution Control Industry. The Award created in 1982, is analogous to the Charles W. White Award, which is given annually for dedicated efforts in promoting the Water Supply Industry and Cause of the water works operator in Alabama. 

The Title Bolton-Crockett-Beck Award was selected in honor of the spirit of these three individuals who made outstanding contributions to the field of Water Pollution Control Industry. The Award was first presented to Mr. A. B. Dueitt in 1983.  

Following is a brief history of these three dedicated and outstanding individuals. 

JOHN M. BOLTON was a 1948 graduate of the University of Alabama in Civil Engineering. He continued his study in Purdue University in 1950-1951, receiving a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. Having been associated with the Water Improvement Commission since 1948, Mr. Bolton was appointed Chief Administrative Officer in 1972. Prior to becoming Chief Administrative Office for the Water Improvement Commission, he served as Assistant Director of the Technical Staff with duties including laboratory testing and supervision, full review of proposals and plans for industrial waste treatment facilities, municipal waste treatment activities of the Commission, and planning water quality studies of streams, and efficiency studies of municipal and industrial waste treatment systems, and overall administration of the Commission’s programs. 

Mr. Bolton was a recipient of the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award presented by the Water Pollution Control Federation ( now WEF) , a national professional organization. The award was for “ extraordinary personal service to the Federation and to water pollution control activities in Alabama.” Mr. Bolton died unexpectedly at his home in Montgomery on September 1, 1972 at the age of 47 years. 

JOE L. CROCKETT, JR. was born in Montgomery, Alabama and attended the University of Alabama until 1934 when he joined the State Health Department, performing sanitation and malarial control work. In 1940, Mr. Crockett entered Harvard University where he earned a Master’s Degree in Sanitary Engineering in 1941. He was named Technical Director of the Water Improvement Commission in 1952, and continued in that position until he was named Chief Administrative Officer under the new law. 

ARTHUR N. BECK was a graduate of Alabama Polytechnic Institute (later Auburn University), with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. In 1937, he received a Master’s Degree in Sanitary Engineering from Harvard University. A registered professional engineer in the State of Alabama, Mr. Beck was active in a number of State and National Professional associations. Employed by the Alabama Department of Public Health in 1928, Mr. Beck was named Director and Chief Sanitary Engineer for the Environmental Sanitation Program in 1946, a position he held for 26 years. 

In addition to providing overall guidance and direction to all divisions within the Bureau of Environmental Health, Mr. Beck served by statute, as Chief Sanitary Engineer for the State of Alabama. Technical Secretary to the Alabama Water Improvement Commission, Vice-Chairman and Director of the Alabama Water Well Standards Board, and Secretary of the Water and Wastewater Operators Certification Board.  

As Chief Sanitary Engineer for the State of Alabama and Director of the Bureau of Environmental Health, Mr. Beck led a broad comprehensive attack on pollution problems which led to solution of competing and conflicting program aims and helped to maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony. Mr. Beck retired from the Bureau of Environmental Health, Alabama Department of Public Health in December 1971 after 44 years of Public Health Service.