George Humphreys

George Ellis "Punk" Humphreys Sr. was supervisor of water production for the city of Pensacola for over 35 years. A veteran of World War II and a member of the 421st Night Fighter Squadron, he began his career in the water/wastewater field in 1956 when he was employed by the city of Pensacola as a water operator. He was promoted to water production supervisor in 1976, and five years later he joined other city water and sewer employees in transferring to the Escambia County Utilities Authority, where he worked in the same capacity until retiring in 1991.

Humphreys was past president and a lifetime member of the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association and also a member of the Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers. He was secretary-treasurer of the FWPCOA from 1976-1982, making him the longest-serving secretary-treasurer in the history of the association.

On April 24, 2003, the Escambia County Utilities Authority dedicated the George E. Humphreys Water Treatment Facility in his honor. The facility supplies 2.8 million gallons of water each day to residents in the central and eastern parts of the county.

George died July 30, 2003 at the age of 80 at his home in Pensacola. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marie Cooper Humphreys; five children, Brenda Hill, Georgann Elliott, and Mark Humphreys Sr., all of Pensacola, George E. Humphreys Jr. of Denham Springs, La., and Mike Humphreys Sr. of Duluth, Ga.; 11 grandchildren; brothers Lucius S. and William L. Humphreys; sisters Anna Thomson, Nettie Patroni, Barbara McPike, and Lily Grover; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.