Texas Groundwater Association
1st Quarter - Spring 2025
Fountainhead
IN THIS ISSUE
> Convention Photos
> Meet the new TGWA
President, Division Chairs
> Making water
wells part of Texas
infrastructure talks
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 1
Submit stories, photos, and news to tdavis@tgwa.org
Inside this Issue
13
16
Top of the Rig
Lubbock in
the Rearview
Mirror
All About
Austin
Well Worth It
The new TGWA
Division Chairs
share updates
Review of the 2025
Annual Convention
What’s going on with
groundwater during
the Texas legislative
session
As Texas grows,
water wells must
be part of state
infrastructure talks
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 2
A MESSAGE FROM THE TGWA PRESIDENT
Chris Lange, TGWA President
TGWA Members and Friends,
I want to start by expressing
my heartfelt gratitude for the
incredible turnout at our 2025
convention.
Seeing so many passionate
professionals gathered togeth-
er is truly inspiring, and it reaf-
firms the strength and unity of
our association.
It is an immense honor to
have been elected as the presi-
dent of the Texas Groundwater
Association for the next two
years. This position holds spe-
cial significance for me, as
TGWA has been woven in-
to the fabric of my family for
decades.
Following in my dad’s foot-
steps, who once served as
TGWA president, makes this
opportunity even sweeter. His
leadership and dedication to
our industry have always been
a guiding light for me.
The energy within our associ-
ation is palpable, and I am gen-
uinely excited about what we
can achieve together. It is my
primary mission to build upon
this momentum in the coming
years, fostering a community
that is innovative, inclusive,
and forward-thinking.
I encourage each of you to
continue showing up, invit-
ing others, and focusing on the
good we can do collectively.
As we embrace the future,
let us remember the words of
Charles Darwin: “It is not the
strongest of the species that
survive, nor the most intelli-
gent, but the one most respon-
sive to change.” Together, we
can evolve and adapt, ensur-
ing our association thrives for
generations to come.
Thank you once again for
your support and enthusiasm.
I am looking forward to work-
ing alongside each of you to
make the TGWA even stronger.
Chris
Association Staff
Bobby Bazan, Executive Director
Theresa Davis, Communications & Outreach Director
Front Cover:
A custom guitar is displayed at the 2025 TGWA Scholarship
Foundation Auction. Theresa Davis / TGWA
Opposite Page:
Josh Barrett (Russell Drilling, Nacogdoches) accepts the
TGWA President’s Award from John Julian as TGWA
Executive Director Bobby Bazan hosts the Member Awards
Luncheon in Lubbock on January 30. Theresa Davis /
TGWA
Back Cover:
TGWA Annual Convention attendees are greeted in the
Lubbock Memorial Civic Center by a balloon display (donat-
ed by Winsupply of Lubbock). Theresa Davis / TGWA
Official Publication of the
Texas Groundwater Association
401 N Main St, Suite 114
Bryan, Texas 77803
Phone: 512-472-7437
www.tgwa.org
Chris Lange, President
Joshua Barrett, Secretary
John Julian, Immediate Past President
TGWA Officers
Contractors & Drillers Division
2026
J. Clark Abel
Jeff Brien
Josh Barrett
Dennis Kern
Chris Lange
William McPike
Alex Neely
2027
Pete Brien
Dale Felder
John Julian
Billy Ray Lange
Mike Pyburn
Roger Russell
Robert Wagstaff
Shaun Grell
2028
Jaythan Browning
Patrick Casarez
Ezequiel Cervantes
Brad Davis
Terry Lowe
Don McElroy
Bill Stoner
David Dennett
Dustin Raper
Glenn Riske
Manufacturers & Suppliers Division
2026
Justin Brisnahan
Robert Dilldine
Ruben Reyna
Vickie Ross
Jimmy Vela
2027
Weston Mitchell
Lacee Nivens
Eli Rodriguez
Jacob Strunk
Todd Armstrong
2028
Rodney Ball
Robert “Bob” Hill
Jim Jackson
Jason Yonce
Joe Riker
Ground Water Science Division
2026
Kelley Cochran
Mike Miller
Stefan Stamoulis
John Waugh
2027
CJ Bennett
Billy Gamblin
Chase Crane
2028
Amy Bush
Lynn Smith
Michael Redman
Building up the TGWA community
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 3
top of the rIg
Perspectives of Division Chairs
Dear TGWA Members and Friends,
I am honored to introduce my-
self as the newly-elected Chair of the
Contractors and Drillers Division of the
Texas Groundwater Association.
As a fifth-generation water well con-
tractor and a proud graduate of Texas
A&M, I have been deeply involved in
this industry for many years. It was a
privilege to step into this role at our an-
nual convention in Lubbock this past
January, and I look forward to serving
alongside such a dedicated group of
professionals.
First and foremost, I want to extend
my gratitude to everyone who attended
the convention — vendors, contractors,
members, and hopefully many future
members of TGWA.
Your participation, engagement, and
commitment to our industry are what
make this organization strong. Whether
it was through networking, education-
al sessions, or simply sharing experi-
ences, the convention was a testament
to the passion and expertise within our
community.
As we move forward this year, I am
excited to work with you all to support
and strengthen our industry. Together,
we can continue to promote the respon-
sible management and use of ground-
water resources in Texas.
I encourage everyone to stay involved,
share insights, and help us grow as an
organization.
Thank you again for your support —
I look forward to connecting with many
of you in the months ahead!
Eager to serve
Jaythan
Browning
C&D Chair
Millican Well Service
The annual TGWA convention is a
great way to start the year. The annual
convention allows our members the op-
portunity to earn needed credit hours
with many different class options, exhib-
itors are given the opportunity to mar-
ket their products in the exhibit hall, and
most importantly, we are afforded the
opportunity to collaborate on new ideas.
It had been several years since the
convention was held in Lubbock, and
I believe many would agree this year’s
show was a success. I know that the as-
sociation has received feedback from
many of you, and we greatly appreciate
your input.
Although we saw many of the same
faces as years past, we did have several
first-time attendees and exhibitors. We
had a sold-out exhibit hall and well-at-
tended events. I personally was able to
network with several new people and
found that to be beneficial.
Closing out with Casino Night was a
nice way to socialize and finish out the
week! We all owe a huge thank you to
all those involved in the planning and
execution of this year’s show, as they
worked extra hard while facing new
challenges.
Next year’s Convention will be back
in San Marcos, and I can assure you the
convention committee is already hard at
work to make sure it is a huge success.
We look forward to seeing you there.
See you next year in San Marcos
Jason Yonce
M&S Chair
DJC Sales Company
Greetings water world! The TGWA
convention in Lubbock at the end of
January was a huge success.
I loved the Lubbock location and
the new women’s division and casi-
no night events! If you missed it this
year, you need to mark your calen-
dars for next year’s convention in
San Marcos.
The next things we’re looking for-
ward to are the Groundwater Science
Division hosting the Geoscience
Seminar on May 2 in Brenham, fol-
lowed by the quarterly TGWA board
meeting in College Station on May 3.
Y’all plan to come see us, especially
if you need P.G. or drillers continu-
ing education hours.
All eight hours will be geoscience
focused on the aquifers of southeast
Texas and the Gulf Coast region, and
we’re working on getting a few ap-
proved as driller CEUs.
Keep the Port Aransas Family
Weekend in July on your radar, too
— the last week or so the weather has
reminded us that summer is coming.
That weekend has quickly turned
into my family’s favorite, so come on
down and let us beat you in the fish-
ing tournament!
In the meantime, keep your rigs
running plumb and your data clean!
Exciting events in the TGWA water world
Amy Bush
GWS Chair
RMBJ Geo, Inc.
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 4
Theresa Davis, TGWA
Hundreds of exhibitors, attendees, and
groundwater professionals from across
North America gathered in Lubbock,
Texas, in January for the TGWA 2025
Annual Convention.
The
TGWA
Manufacturers
&
Suppliers, Ground Water Science, and
Contractors & Drillers Divisions each
hosted meetings during the Convention
and welcomed new and returning board
members (see Page 12).
Attendees settled in for CE Classes on
Wednesday and Thursday that covered
a wide variety of topics, from running a
successful groundwater business to the
basics of water well design.
The Exhibit Hall at the Lubbock
Memorial Civic Center buzzed with ac-
tivity on Wednesday afternoon for the
annual Trade Show.
Wednesday evening was the annual
TGWA Scholarship Foundation Auction.
This event benefits financial scholarships
for the next generation of groundwater
industry professionals.
Heads up — the scholarship applica-
tion window opens April 15 this year!
The TGWA Member Awards Luncheon
was hosted on Thursday, January 30.
Sterling Hose, Reel
& Supply displays
their products in the
Convention Exhibit
Hall on January 29 in
Lubbock. THERESA
DAVIS | TGWA
See LUBBOCK, page 7
Looking back at Lubbock
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 4
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 5
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 6
AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRIAL
MUNICIPAL
RESIDENTIAL
WE’RE IN THE YES BUSINESS
WE KNOW WORKING ON WATER WELLS
ISN’T JUST TOUGH - IT’S VITAL.
We deliver solutions designed to
keep you ahead of the curve.
LUBBOCK, TX | 806.368.8867
GARDEN CITY, KS | 620.275.4107
SIMMONSPUMP.COM
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 7
LUBBOCK , from page 4
This annual event is an opportunity for outstanding
TGWA members to be recognized by their peers for their
work in the industry and with the Association.
Josh Barrett (Russell Drilling, Nacogdoches, TX) re-
ceived the TGWA President’s Award from outgoing
President John Julian.
Jason Wheeler (Wheeler Drilling, Odessa, TX) re-
ceived the Owen F. Jensen Award, which recognizes the
“Contractor of the Year.”
Joe Riker (Simmons Pump & Supply, Lubbock, TX) re-
ceived the Wesley Young Award, which recognizes the
M&S Member of the Year.
The Joe Vickers Award for Groundwater Science
Person of the Year was presented to Ray Brady (RMBJ
Geo, Inc., Floydada, TX)
Richard Rodgers (Rodgers Well Service, Plainview, TX)
was presented with the Gary D. Grant Award, which
recognizes an employee or associate of a drilling firm
for exceptional performance to his/her employees and
TGWA.
The Robert J. Neely Award was presented to Abraham
Herrera (Canadian Water Well, Canadian, TX). This
award recognizes an employee or associate of a pump
installer contractor for exceptional performance to his/
her employees and TGWA.
Justin Brisnahan (Baroid Industrial Drilling Products,
Houston, TX) received the Mark Campbell Excellence in
Training Award.
The TGWA Women’s Division presented the LaVoyce
Gaulden Outstanding Woman Award to Amy Bush
(RMBJ Geo, Inc., Floydada, TX).
Honorary Life Member Awards were presented to:
• Bill & Penny Lange (Lange Drilling Company,
Rowena, Texas)
• Tommy Ford (Preferred Pump, Lubbock)
• Steve Gray (Preferred Pump, Amarillo)
TGWA hosted its annual Membership and Board
Meeting on Thursday afternoon. (see Page 12).
The Annual Convention closed out with a Casino
Night on Thursday at the MCM Eleganté Hotel. This
event was a big celebration, with live music, food and
drinks, Casino games, and prizes.
We’re already gearing up for next year’s TGWA
Convention, which will be hosted in San Marcos, Texas,
at the Embassy Suites by Hilton from January 27-30,
2026.
Do you have feedback on this year’s Convention? Visit
tgwa.org/annual_convention or check your email for a
survey link.
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 8
1- Attendees visit with exhibitors during the Trade Show /
Meet & Greet at the 2025 TGWA Annual Convention in
Lubbock on Jan. 29.
2 - Bob Hill (Flowserve) announces giveaway winners at the
TGWA Casino Night presented by SIMMONS and SIMFLO
on Jan. 30.
3 - David Smith (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service)
teaches a Continuing Education class about pump basics.
4 - Robert Dilldine (Austin Pump & Supply) displays a custom
swing at the 2025 TGWA Scholarship Foundation Auction.
5 - John Julian (Canadian Water Well) presents Bill Lange
and Penny Lange (not pictured) of Lange Drilling Company
with an Honorary Life Member Award.
PHOTOS BY THERESA DAVIS | TGWA
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 9
THE 2025 AUCTION IN LUBBOCK RAISED
MORE THAN $47,000 FOR THE TGWA
SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION,
AND THE 2025 GUN RAFFLE RAISED
MORE THAN $17,000!
Thank you!
Mark Durham
Austin Pump & Supply
Worldwide Drilling Resources
Winsupply of Lubbock
Felder Water Well
Simmons Pump & Supply
Rick Talor
Malone Well Service
281 Equipment
Canadian Water Well
Rex McFadden Co
Dimmitt Well Service
Van Schmuck
Russell Drilling Co
Kelly & Terry Suire
Stanley and Carol Martin
Dennis & Patti Kern
Advanced Water Well Technology
Pete Brien
Dawn and Jerry Hatley
Bob Hill
Kevin Hamm
Brian Conyers
Alloy Machine Works
Lange Drilling Co
Connor Akins
Amy Bush
Logan Messerly
Jason Yonce
Logan Groves
Terry Warren
Tyler Kline
auction
& gun raffle
Buyers