Sewerage & Water Board Of New Orleans Community & Intergovernmental Relations Department 625 St. Joseph Street, Room B-47 New Orleans, Louisiana 70165 504-585-2175
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 21, 2004
Special Ceremonies Honor Henry A. Dillon Jr. For 25 Years Of Service on Sewerage & Water Board

Henry A. Dillon Jr. was honored today by the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans for outstanding service as a member and president pro tem of the Board for the past 25 years.

Past and present Board members, elected officials, S&WB employees, colleagues, family and friends attended special ceremonies at Gallier Hall, which featured proclamations from the Board, Mayor's Office and the New Orleans City Council.

S&WB employees presented the honoree with a table using the well-known Crescent Meter Cover as the table top. The Board's Machine Shop fabricated the gift.

City Chief Adminstrative Officer Charles Rice, representing Mayor C. Ray Nagin, said, "Mr. Dillon's contributions to the Board for the past 25 years are immeasurable. His leadership, experience and dedication have greatly helped the Board better serve the citizens of New Orleans. He has chaired every Board committee and is the longest serving member in the Board's history."

During the ceremonies, S&WB General Superintendent G. Joseph Sullivan unveiled a special photograph of Dillon to be displayed in a place of honor at the Engineering Building on South Claiborne Avenue.

Dillon has served under four mayors, having been first appointed to the Board by Mayor Dutch Morial in August of 1979 and re-appointed over the years by Mayors Sidney Barthelemy and Marc Morial.

S&WB Executive Director Marcia St. Martin said, "Mr. Dillon has helped the Board accomplish so much during his tenure. His leadership and support have helped us improve and expand services and provide the citizens of New Orleans with the highest quality water, wastewater and drainage services."

A resolution approved by the Board Wednesday cited Dillon's many contributions to the S&WB's massive infrastructure expansion and repair program. It credits him with being the catalyst for the reorganization of the Networks Division field operations by gaining support from the Board to finance a study which led to a total revamp of the department.

He is also cited for helping bring stability and reliability to the employee pension fund and always presenting employees views and needs to the Board's attention.

Dillon was recognized for providing constant leadership and continuity to the Board and unifying its members in times of seemingly non- compromising debate and discussion.

Dillon, director of human resources management at the University of New Orleans, had a distinguished 20-year career as a logistics officer with the U.S. Army and served in Germany, France, Korea and Vietnam. He is married and the father of seven children.