Stanley “Stan” Howard Griffis Jr. passed away on November 4, 2025, at the age of 87. Griffis served in the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division following the Korean War before earning a degree in geology from Louisiana Tech University in 1964.
In 1973, Griffis founded Griffis Drilling Specialists in Alachua, Florida, providing water solutions to residents across north-central Florida for more than 50 years. He was among the first three individuals to earn the Master Groundwater Contractor (MGWC) designation when NGWA established the program in 1982.
During the Cold War, Griffis represented the United States’ groundwater industry on a NGWA goodwill trip to Moscow, where he discussed well construction practices with delegates from the USSR. He was also active in several professional organizations, including the Florida Ground Water Association, North Central Florida Water Well Association, and the Florida Water Quality Association. He will be remembered for his contributions to the groundwater industry and his dedication to his family and community.
Griffis’ son, Mike, earned the MGWC designation in 2026, making them — according to NGWA — the only known father-son pair to both achieve the distinction.