By Staff
special to The Star
April 24, 2002
Guynell Duncan of Preston was recently honored with the Howard K. Williford Award the top honor given by the Mississippi Water and Pollution Control Operator's Association.
Duncan received the award at the association's 32nd annual meeting in Biloxi on April 12.
The Howard K. Williford Award is given each year to an association member who displays "outstanding dedication to the association."
The award is named in honor of professor Howard K. Williford, who helped professionalize the water and wastewater industry. Former recipient Linda Morgan presented the award to Duncan.
The Mississippi Water and Pollution Control Operator's Association represents more than 1,750 certified water and wastewater operators in Mississippi.
Duncan has worked with the Northwest Kemper Water Association since 1976; she has been the operator/manager since 1983.
The water association serves more than 4,500 customers in Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, Noxubee and Winston Counties.
Duncan, a University of Mississippi graduate, earned a master's degree in physical science. She's a former school teacher, and worked for a time with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Duncan won the Jim McDonald Water Supply Operator of the Year in 1994. She was named to the Who's Who of Environmentalists in 1991 and the Who's Who Registry of Business Leaders in 1993.
She served as the operator association's representative to the Governor's Task Force on Drinking Water and Wastewater and to the Mississippi Department of Health's Task Force on Operator Training and Certification.
She also served on the Kemper County Task Force for Economic Development. She has served as the operator's association District 4 president, vice-president and reporter.