NGWA Past President Bill Stoner passed away on May 12. He was 81.
Stoner, who served as NGWA president in 1997, established Stoner Drilling Inc. in 1976 in Corsicana, Texas. At just 14, he began drilling water wells for the family business that would grow and thrive under his leadership. In the late 1970s, the company expanded from solely the water well business in Keene into the oil business in the Navarro County.
The company specialized in support activities for mining, utility system construction, and services related to the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industries. With a focus on heavy construction and well drilling, Stoner Drilling Inc. served clients in the local area for decades.
Stoner began serving on NGWA's Board of Directors in 1990, serving as president in 1997, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his profession and community. He was a member of the Texas Ground Water Association from 1977 through 2025. He served on the Board of Directors, including president in 1986 and 1987.
In 2006, Stoner received NGWA’s Ross L. Oliver Award, which is the Association’s most prestigious award and presented to a member who has made outstanding contributions to the groundwater industry. Stoner received NGWA’s Life Member Award in 2011.
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