The Riverbend Water Resources District (RWRD) Board of Directors held a special meeting on Monday, May 1, 2023, to discuss the naming of the future regional water treatment facilities. There was a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors present at Monday’s meeting to officially name the future facilities in honor of Johnny L. Branson. The new proposed Johnny L. Branson Regional Water Treatment Facility would replace the current water treatment facility located on New Boston Road in Texarkana. The new water treatment facility will provide increased treatment capacity over the current treatment plant and is proposed to be constructed on the TexAmericas property near other RWRD existing facilities.
In naming the facilities in honor of Mr. Branson, the RWRD Board took into consideration his lifelong commitment to public service and his leadership and dedication to regional water development. Mr. Branson served as a New Boston City Councilman at Large for 20 years. He also served as Mayor of New Boston for 24 years. He is the 2006 recipient of the New Boston Chamber of Commerce Lloyd Wilson Award for Outstanding Citizen. He is also the inaugural recipient of RWRD’s Regional Leadership Award in 2020.
Fred Milton, RWRD Director, shared, “For over 5 decades, Johnny Branson has served as our Region’s resident “guru” on water and wastewater utilities and infrastructure, and was instrumental in the formation of Riverbend Water Resources District (RWRD). His influence and support to all of our member cities and the RWRD Board of Directors has been that one critical piece of the puzzle, bringing about regional consensus and compromise. We would not be building this infrastructure today without his constant diligence and persistence and are greatly honored to have his name, Johnny L. Branson, represent our District.”
