State honor for Bill McCombs

Retired but part-time Monongah Water overseer Bill McCombs, Class of 1969, is one of two water utility operators chosen for this year’s Award. 

Bill McCombs

Bill gets the "large” water utility operator award.

Bill’s wife, Monongah Town Record Patty Steele McCombs, posted:

“CONGRATULATIONS to Bill McCombs, who is the recipient of the Perkins Boynton award this year. The award is presented in West Virginia each year to two active public water utility operators who have distinguished themselves among their peers: one to a “large" water utility operator and one to a “small” water utility operator. Bill received the award in the large water system category. Under his leadership at the water treatment facility he consistently met the EPA filtered water effluent turbidity requirements which is mandated under the LT1ESWTR of <0.30 NTU, at least 90% of the time. He met that requirement 100% of the time in 2013. Also during 2013, he met the more stringent treatment goal recommended by the EPA’s Area Wide Optimization Program of <0.1 NTU, 95% of the time. He met the AWOP goal 100% of the time. A recognition dinner was held a few weeks ago at Canaan Valley, however, Bill was not able to attend. Bill officially retired in January this year. He continues to serve as chief overseeing operator on a part-time basis. Chrisi McCombs Perkins, Wayne Copen, Jaime Jensen Copen, Austin Copen, Greg Perkins and Alyssa Copen are very PROUD of you!!”

Bill McCombs won the Monongah mayoral race a year or so ago when his name was drawn from a hat to break a tie with incumbent Don Harris. But after the state ruled that he couldn’t be both mayor and town water director, Bill resigned as mayor. 

Bill’s wife, Patty, broke the tie that put Greg Vandetta into the mayor’s chair. Vandetta Construction owner Greg is married to Monongahfest president Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973.

Monongah fire chief Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, is Bill McCombs’ brother. Harless is married to Monongah Middle School language arts teacher and children’s book author Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977.