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Proctor honored for dedication to Reelsville
Jimmy Proctor was presented with a gift basket and declaration from the State of Indiana in order to show appreciation of his efforts in implementing the Reelsville Water Authority.
REELSVILLE -- The Reelsville Water Authority celebrated 50 years in the community by recognizing one of the men responsible for its inception.
Thursday night, the community came together for the Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser hosted by Krambo's, the Reeslville Water Authority and Hassler Trucking.
Reelsville Water Authority (RWA) Manager Laura Fisher said this was the perfect opportunity to recognize one of its founding members, Jimmy Proctor, because his involvement with the fire department meant he would be in attendance.
Proctor is the last of a group of three men who took to the streets in 1965 going door to door seeking support for the water authority. He said he has seen a lot of changes over the years, from the number of customers served to the way the board functions.
Proctor laughed as he recalled the board's first treasurer, Marshall Montana, taking in the first large chunk of money for the initial 225 memberships and taps into the water line.
"We asked him what he did with the money and he told us, 'Well, I opened my closet, stuffed it in there and shut the door,'" Proctor said, adding it was a different world back then.
Proctor said the idea for the project started 50 years ago, when a concerned citizen came to him questioning the future of the Reelsville school.
"One of the guys who owned a restaurant here, Kenneth Davis, encouraged me to get the project started after Putnam County reorganized schools. Reelsville school didn't have a good water supply. He told me, 'Jimmy, I've got a job for you before Reelsville school closes,'" Proctor explained, adding Davis put him in contact with a state official to get the water supply project rolling.
Proctor, along with the late Clyde Hunter and Earl Hutcheson, started visiting local homes to get the minimum 225 members needed to start the Reelsville Water Authority, as well as hosting Saturday meetings to sign people on.
Each new member had to pay $100 membership fee and $50 to tap into the line. Despite the hard work, the RWA fell short of the minimum by 25 lines. But, that did not stop the small community from finding a way.
"South Putnam School Corporation bought the remaining (25) memberships and tap-ins. We needed that 25 to get the line," Proctor said, noting the school was compensated as residents began tying into the line.
A seven-member water board was put in place in 1966 to include the three founders, Montana, Jim Cook, William Owen and George Friend.
Fisher said on April 24, 1966, the board met with the auditor of the State of Indiana to legalize Reelsville Water Incorporated.
Initially, RWA purchased water from Greencastle to service the 225 members on 25 miles of water line.
RWA board president Phil Butt said the company services 930 water customers along 90 miles of water line with the use of its own water treatment plant, which was put into place in 2004.
Butt said the importance of RWA is apparent, especially with the number of satisfied customers served in the community. He said services continue to expand with the help of its members, who are active in RWA's election of the board and officers.
Even after 50 years, Proctor has continued to be a big part of the RWA's inner workings by serving as the treasurer for 20 years and is still active as an employee.
"Just this week, one of our guys couldn't find a water main on U.S. 40, so he called Jimmy. He found it right away," Fisher said.
Proctor has been a long-standing and dedicated member of the Reelsville community. He was also recognized in 2013 for serving 50 years with the Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department.
"I don't think this (recognition) is necessary. I did what a lot of normal people would do. What I always say about everything I've done is, you know when you're standing in a line and someone asks for volunteers to step forward? Everyone else steps back and there I am still standing there," Proctor added with a laugh.