| (June 19, 2006)--Charleston Water System is mourning the death of its Board Chairman, Mr. Howard F. Burky, a dedicated public servant who was a member of the Board of Commissioners for 22 years.
Mr. Burky died Monday at his Charleston home. He had been recently hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. He was 85.
Mr. Burky was first elected to the five-member Board of Commissioners in 1984, and served as Chairman since 2002. He was active in numerous civic and community organizations, and was known for his energetic and caring demeanor.
"I have never met someone as dedicated to serving the public as Mr. Burky," said Charleston Water CEO John Cook.
"To him, it was simply the right thing to do-a way of giving back to his beloved community and a way of serving his fellow man. He will be deeply missed."
A native of Helvetia, West Virginia, Mr. Burky attended Davis-Elkins College and taught elementary school before moving to Charleston, where he spent 34 years with First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Charleston. He retired from the bank as President in 1985, but remained active on local boards, foundations, and committees. He served on the Charleston County School Board and St. Francis Hospital Board of Directors, in addition to many other community leadership roles.
During his time on the Charleston Water System Board of Commissioners, the utility experienced considerable growth and faced increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. Mr. Burky supported implementing new technology and proactively replacing aging infrastructure to meet regulations and ensure quality water and wastewater services. He was known for his inquisitive mind and keen interest in technical matters such plant processes.
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