The Cross Section, Volume 26, Number 6, June 1980 Page: 2
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Page 2 June, 1980 THE CROSS SECTION
- l
THE CROSS SECTION 5
THE CROSS SECTION (USPS 564-920)A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE HIGH
PLAINS UNDERGROUND WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT NO. 1
2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405
Telephone 762-0181
PATRICIA BRUNO, Editor
Second Class Postase Paid at Lubbock, Texas
District Office at Lubbock
A. Wayne Wyatt _ Manager
Don Smith _______ Assistant Manager
Don McReynolds -___. Chief, Technical Division
Tony Schertz Chief, Support Division
Clifford Thompson ---- Chief, Permit Division
Kenneth Carver _-__- Chief, Agricultural Division
Patricia Bruno __ Information-Education Director
Butch Bates _____- Chief, Field Support Team
Obbie Goolsby ----- Chief, Permit Support Team
Dan Seale __- ____-Engineer Technician
Keith Whitworth Draftsman
Dwight Adams --- Agricultural Economist
Mrs. Norma Fite .___------ Bookkeeper-Librarian
Miss Kathy Redeker __----. Head Secretary
Miss Pennye Newberry __---- -----------Clerk-Typist
Mrs. Roxanne York ----------- Receptionist
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Precinct 1
(CROSBY, LUBBOCK and LYNN COUNTIES)
James P. Mitchell, President ----------- Wolfforth
Precinct 2
(COCHRAN, HOCKLEY and LAMB COUNTIES)
Mack Hicks ---- --------------- Levelland
Precinct 3
(BAILEY, CASTRO and PARMER COUNTIES)
A. W. Gober _ ------ -------------- Farwell
Precinct 4
(ARMSTRONG, DEAF SMITH, POTTER and
RANDALL COUNTIES)
Jim Conkwright, Secy.-Treas. -- ---- Hereford
Precinct 5
(FLOYD and HALE COUNTIES)
Malvin A. Jarboe, Vice President ----- Floydada
COUNTY COMMITTEEMEN
Armstrong County
Carroll Rogers, Secretary
Wayside, Texas
Guy Watson, 1981 ____ _ ---.-.. Wayside
Bill Heisler, 1981 Wayside
M. L. McGehee, 1981 . - .-. Wayside
James Bible, 1983 ._Wayside
James Stockett, 1983 _________--------------- Wayside
Bailey County
Doris Wedel, Secretary
H&R Block, 224 W. 2nd, Muleshoe
Eugene Shaw, 1981 --------------Rt. 2, Muleshoe
David Stovall, 1981 --------------Rt. 2, Muleshoe
Ernest Ramm, 1981 - --------------Rt. 2, Muleshoe
D. J.Cox, 1983 _---- ------ --_.--_------ Enochs
Marshall Head, 1983 -------------Muleshoe
Castro County
Garnett Holland, Secretary
City Hall, 120 Jones St., DimmittNALLEY LAMB L ALE FLOYD
COe MOCcaEY LUeeOCK CROSBY
TERRY LYIIN 4ARZA
WRAT CONSERVATION DISTNICT No. 1
Hale County
J. B. Mayo, Secretary
Mayo Ins., 1617 Main, Petersburg
Gaylord Groce, 1982 --__-- Box 314, Petersburg
Bill John Hegi, 1982 _------_ Route 2, Petersburg
Harold W. Newton, 1984 Box 191, Petersburg
Jim Byrd, 1984 ------_--- Route 1, Petersburg
Ray Porter, 1984 -__--------- Box 193, Petersburg
Hockley County
Jim Montgomery, Secretary
609 Austin Street, Levelland
J. E. Wade, 1982 -._..---_ Route 2, Littlefield
Jack Earl French, 1982, Rt. 3, Box 125, Levelland
W. C. McKee, 1984 ___ ____ Box 514, Sundown
Leon Young, 1984 _.-___._ Route 1, Ropesville
Robert Phillips, 1984 . 218. Redwood, Levelland
Lamb County
Robert Richards, Secretary
402 Phelps Avenue, Littlefield
Billy J. Langford, 1982 -- _____ Box 381, Olton
Edward Fisher, 1982 _---- _-- Box 67, Sudan
P. A. Washington, 1984 ___ Box 124, Springlake
Jack Stubblefield, 1984 -------- Box 397, Spade
Larry Lockwood, 1984 ---- Star Rt. 2, Littlefield
Lubbock County
Clifford Thompson, Secretary
2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock
Owen Gilbreath, 1982 ___ 3302 23rd St., Lubbock
Clifford Hilbers, 1982 --- Route 1, Box 14, Idalou
Don Bell, 1984 ___----------- Box 114, Wolfforth
Ronald Schilling, 1984 -- ______ Route 1, Slaton
Granville Igo, 1984 -__. 1304 8th St., ShallowaterMcFARLAND. . . continued from page 1
The High Plains Underground Water
Conservation District No. 1 was the
first water district of its type in the
United States. Tom recalls that he and
the Board, in writing the original rules
and regulations of the District and in
organizing its work plan, had nothing
they could use as a pattern and had
to originate virtually everything they
did.
Tom credits the Water District's
accomplishments while he was Man-
ager primarily to having Board mem-
bers who were super people dedicated
to the principles of water conservation
and to a good staff of highly dedicated
people.
During Tom's 18 year tenure as
Manager, the District accomplished
many things. Tom's pet projects in-
cluded an educational program which
began with a newsletter and evolved
into this publication, The Cross Sec-
tion. It included an educational comic
book, Chief Running Water's Story of
High Plains Water, which has been
republished several times and is cur-
rently used in the public school sys-
tems. Tom made hundreds of presen-
tations to civic clubs, farm groups and
as a matter of fact, to anyone who
would listen to his story on the need
to conserve water.
Protecting the quality of ground
water was also tremendously impor-
tant to Tom. He led the fight in Texas
to persuade the Railroad Commission
to pass a state-wide order to stop the
disposal into unlined surface pits of
the salt water produced with oil be-
cause it was contaminating the under-
ground aquifer.
In recent years Tom has privately
expressed his displeasure at the con-duct of the long-haired, white tennis-
shoed environmentalists who, he says,
"often appear at public meetings to
protect, generally armed with few facts
but with a tremendous amount of
emotion to protest the action of we
older citizens in destroying the envi-
ronment. Tom says it's difficult not to
resent these types after having worked
hard most of his life along side many
other dedicated people to preserve the
environment. "We did our homework;
we knew what we were talking about."
He admits to using emotional pleas,
but he claims that was generally after
all the facts were laid on the table.
it was Tom who directed the Water
District's involvement in the Shurbet
case against the Internal Revenue Ser-
vice to obtain a cost-in-water income
tax dqpletion allowance for landowners
who use ground water in the business
of irrigation farming. He believes that
the millions of dollars this action has
saved local taxpayers is not the most
important result of the case. Rather
the most important thing has been its
forcing the landowner to look at his
"water bank balance" each year to see
how much he used and how much he
has left. This, Tom believes, has re-
sulted in selling conservation to those
who can truly do something to make
it happen.
Tom's work in the water industry
also extended to the national level. He
contributed much to the betterment of
water and mankind in his 29 year
career. We at the Water District thank
him for his contributions and wish him
much happiness in his retirement. Tom
said he is going to spend a great deal
of time fishing, traveling and writing.
He still believes that God does not
count those days spent fishing against
your alloted time on earth.Jackie Clark, 1981 _---- Rt. 1, Box 33, Dimmitt
W. A. Baldridge, 1981 .--- 608 W. Grant, Dimmitt
Frank Wise, 1981 ------ Rt. 4, Box 10, Dimmitt
George Elder, 1983 --------------- Dimmitt
Floyd Schulte, 1983 ------_--_-- --- Dimmitt
Cochran County
W. M. Butler, Jr., Secretary
Western Abstract Co., 108 N. Main Ave., Morton
Keith Kennedy, 1982 -----. Star Route 2, Morton
Robert Yeary, 1982 ---- Route 2, Box 66, Morton
Hershel M. Tanner, 1984, Route 2, Box 36, Morton
Richard Greer, 1984 Star Rt. 1, Box 4, Morton
Donnie B. Simpson, 1984, 292 SW 3rd St., Morton
Crosby County
Clifford Thompson, Secretary
2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock
Mike Carlisle, 1982 --- Route 1, Box 274, Lorenzo
Alvin C. Morrison, 1982-------________Box 6, Lorenzo
Tommy McCallister, 1984 ___ 209 N. Van Buren.
Lorenzo
Edward S. Smith, 1984 ____- 102 N. Van Buren
Lorenzo
Pat Yoakum, 1984 -_----_--- Box 146, Lorenzo
Deaf Smith County
B. F. Cain, Secretary
County Courthouse, 2nd Floor, Hereford
James E. Higgins, 1981 ---- 200 Star St., Hereford
Garland Solomon, 1981 __ 303 Sunset Dr., Hereford
Tom Robinson, 1981 -... 211 Cherokee Dr., Hereford
Bill Cleavinger, 1983 . _.__------- Wildorado
W. L. Davis, Jr., 1983 ..Hereford
Floyd County
Verna Lynne Stewart, Secretary
Floyd Co. Abstract, 215 W. California, Floydada
Charles Huffman, 1982 .---_ Route 1, Lockney
Gilbert L. Fawver, 1982 ----- Route 4, Floydada
C. O. Lyles, 1984 -___---- Route 4, Floydada
Cecil Jackson, 1984 ___--- . Route 3, Floydada
D. R. Sanders, 1984 ____. Star Route, FloydadaLynn County
Clifford Thompson, Secretary
2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock
Gary Houchin, 1982 ----------- Box 54, Wilson
Freddie Kieth, 1982 ------- Box 283, New Home
Leland Zant, 1984 ________- Route 1, Wilson
David R. Wied, 1984 --------- Box 68, Wilson
Wendell Morrow, 1984 .-------- Route 1, Wilson
Farmer County
Pat Kunselman, Secretary
City Hall, 323 North Street, Bovina
Troy Christian, 1981 - ----------_ Rt. 1, Farwell
Dalton Caffey, 1981 ---.-. P.O. Box 488, Friona
Ronald Elliott, 1981 -.-------- Rt. 3, Muleshoe
Floyd Reeve, 1983 .--------------a....
Ralph R omin g, 1983 ------------------- _-------B ov ina
Potter County
Jim Line, 1981 ---_--_.-------_ Box 87, Bushland
Albert Nichols, 1981 ---- Rt. 1, Box 491, Amarillo
Weldon Rea, 1981 -___---------------------- Bushland
Sam Line, 1983 --------------------------- Bushland
Mark Menke, 1983 ----- Rt. 1, Box 476, Amarillo
Randall County
Mrs. Louise Tompkins, Secretary
Farm Bureau, 1714 Fifth Ave., Canyon
Harry LeGrand, 1981 --- 4700 S. Bowie, Amarillo
Jack Brandt, 1981 _____Rt. 1, Box 280, Canyon
Johnny Sluder, 1981 ------ Box 56, Bushland
Bill Dugan, 1983 ------ -------------------- Happy
Roger B. Gist, III, 1983 ----------------------- HappyNOTICE: Information regarding times and places of the monthly County Committee meeting can be
secured from the respective County Secretaries.
Applications for well permits can be secured at the address shown below the respective
County Secretary's name, except for Potter County; in this county contact Jim Line.I knew Tom McFarland only casually before the water depletion testimony was
being prepared. I testified about the lowering water table on an irrigation well near
Lubbock. Soon after that Tom asked me to consider running for director of High
Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1. He told me I was knowl-
edgeable about water problems and that I was needed. Tom could be very persuasive,
and thus I spent several years on the board of directors and met an interesting and
dedicated group of people who dealt with one of our most vital resources.
And dedicated they must be! Most water people quietly supply water or water-
related services to the public at minimal cost. There is no room for big deals and
razzle-dazzle. Nobody is going to get rich or famous furnishing water services to a
public which takes water for granted as a sort of right to life. But water is much
too precious to be taken for granted.
Water people, the professional ones, usually Mtart off either in public relations
or in technology, and eventually they seem to blend into a third type, dedicated to
the gospel of intelligent water use. Among these people Tom McFarland stood tall.
He was innovative, imaginative, forceful, and he stood by his principles. Here was
a new David challenging Goliath! He took on the United States Internal Revenue
Service with the depletion case, a move which shocked most mortals. One doesn't
disturb the IRS in its citadel! On a more regional basis he tackled the Texas Railroad
Commission for continuing to allow open-pit disposal of oilfield brines, a practice
which increasingly was causing lawsuits over contamination of fresh water aquifers.
The TRC should have moved sooner to limit the practice, but it dallied while the
HPUWCD #1 slapped a ban on the practice within its jurisdiction. The TRC
reacted with disbelief followed by outrage at the thought of a peanut agency usurping
its authority. At a subsequent hearing in Austin an oil company lawyer browbeat
a technical witness with the question, "Are you daring to imply that the Texas
Railroad Commission has been derelict in its duty"?
The witness hesitated. He was a working consultant whose business could have
been harmed by a hasty answer. But from the back of the room came the answer
from Tom McFarland's backers: "Yes"!
Soon after that the TRC instituted a statewide ban on open-pit disposal of
oilfield brines where water sands could be damaged.
Tom's life has been no bed of roses. One of the roughest times was in a prison
coal mine near Hiroshima at the end of World War II. All of us who have admired
Tom over the years are hoping for his happy retirement. No one could deserve it
more.
Russell BeanPage 2
T HE CR O SS S EC T IO N
June, 1980
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High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 (Tex.). The Cross Section, Volume 26, Number 6, June 1980, periodical, June 1980; Lubbock, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1533063/m1/2/?q=%22~1~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.