The organization meeting of the Louisiana Conference on Water Supply and Sewerage was held in New Orleans, Louisiana in April of 1938 with the FIRST Short Course planned for Baton Rouge, LA at Louisiana State University during July of 1938. Information of record shows that the hotels were Bailey's Tourist Inn, lstrouma Hotel, and the Heidelburg of Louisiana. Registration for the Short Course was to be a "whopping" $2.00. Seventy-Five Registered, of which forty were Charter Members of the Conference.

 According to George H. West of Lake Charles, who prepared a ten year report on the progress of the Conference and Short Course, the concept was the "Brain Child" of John H. O'Neill, then Director of the Engineering Division of the Louisiana State Board of Health. Many of today’s water and wastewater people remember Mr. O'Neill and how he continued to be a moving force in adequate training for operators and managers.

 We have a great deal of respect for the "Trail Blazers" who founded our Conference and express our gratitude for their diligent efforts. We also salute these leaders that followed.