[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       WES BANNISTER RECOGNITION

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                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER-

                            of california--

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues the following press release, which tells the 
story of Wes Bannister, who succumbed to cancer earlier this month. As 
the first Vice President of the Orange County Water District, he 
advised me on water issues for many years, and gave me his personal 
direction. He was a leader in the community and the state, and he will 
be missed. I know firsthand that his contributions will be enjoyed by 
Orange Countians for generations to come.

                  Water Industry Loses a Great Leader


 The Orange County Water District Board and Staff Mourns the Untimely 
          Loss of First Vice President, Director Wes Bannister

       Fountain Valley, CA (Dec. 11, 2009).--In the late hours of 
     December 10, 2009, the water world and Orange County lost an 
     important trailblazer and public servant, Wesley ``Wes'' 
     Mastin Bannister lost his battle with cancer. Wes Bannister 
     was elected to the Orange County Water District (OCWD) Board 
     of Directors in 1991 representing Division 6, which includes 
     Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and parts of Westminster. 
     He was re-elected to four consecutive four-year terms in 
     1996, 2001, 2004 and 2008. He was elected in 2007 and 2008 by 
     his fellow board members to serve as the District's 1st Vice 
     President.
       ``The Board and staff of the Orange County Water District 
     have lost an incredible leader who lived and breathed 
     water,'' stated OCWD Board President Stephen R. Sheldon. 
     ``Those who had the privilege of working with Wes know that 
     he had the tenacity to get to the core of critical issues and 
     drive and inspire others to do what was right and 
     economically sound. He stood true to his principles and 
     convictions, like no other person. We are truly sorry for his 
     family's great loss.''
       During his tenure as a Board Member, the District 
     celebrated many important achievements including the building 
     and operation of the Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) System, 
     the largest water purification project of its kind in the 
     world, and a state-of-the-art Advanced Water Quality 
     Assurance Laboratory.
       In addition to serving on the OCWD Board, in 1993 Director 
     Bannister was appointed Director to the Metropolitan Water 
     District of Southern California (MWD) representing the 
     Municipal Water District of Orange County. In 2004, Director 
     Bannister was elected as Chair of the MWD Board of Directors, 
     for which he served until October 31, 2006.
       ``Wes was a principled leader and committed advocate for 
     Orange County and its water interests who also worked 
     faithfully to address the water challenges facing the entire 
     southern California region,'' said Wayne Clark, President of 
     the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC). ``We 
     were honored to have had Wes represent MWDOC as one of our 
     appointed representatives to the Metropolitan Water District 
     of Southern California and we are going to miss our good 
     friend.''
       Director Bannister devoted over 23 years to serving the 
     communities of Orange County. He served on the Huntington 
     Beach City Council from 1986 to 1990, including as Mayor in 
     1989. ``I had the distinct honor of serving with Wes on the 
     City Council'', stated Assemblyman Jim Silva (R-Huntington 
     Beach). ``If it weren't for his encouragement and support, I 
     would not be serving in the Assembly today. Wes was 
     invaluable to me and many of my colleagues when it came to 
     solving state water issues. He was a mentor and a true friend 
     who genuinely cared about the people in his community and 
     gave of his time and energy to making a difference.''
       Director Bannister was also the Republican nominee for 
     California Insurance Commissioner in 1990 and was nominated 
     to the Electoral College by President Bush in that same year. 
     He also served on the West Orange County Board from 1986 to 
     1990 and on the Orange County Sanitation District Board of 
     Directors, District 11, from 1988 to 1990.
       In 1986, Director Bannister was appointed by the Governor 
     to the California FAIR Plan Board of Governors and continued 
     to serve on this Board until his untimely death. Since 1993, 
     Director Bannister had represented OCWD on the Board of 
     Directors of the Association of California Water Agencies 
     Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA-JPIA). While serving, 
     the Board elected him to the Governing Committee and to serve 
     two years as its Vice President. Following his two-year term, 
     the Board elected him President in 2005 for a three-year 
     term.
       Active in local affairs, Director Bannister served on the 
     boards of the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA, as Charter 
     President of the Huntington Beach Sunrise Rotary Club and as 
     an advisor to the Huntington Beach Search and Rescue Post 
     536.
       Director Bannister was born in Houston, Texas in 1936. He 
     and his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Rogers Bannister were 
     married at Fort Sill in Oklahoma in 1959 where he was 
     stationed and recently celebrated their 50th wedding 
     anniversary. Director Bannister and his wife Betty have lived 
     in Huntington Beach since 1969. Together, the Bannisters 
     welcomed three children Catherine (Cathy) Ann, Alice (Lisa) 
     Elizabeth and Douglas (Doug) Mastin.
       In addition to devoting much of his time to serving the 
     communities of Orange County, Director Bannister founded 
     Bannister and Associates Insurance Agency in 1974, from which 
     he retired in 2003. The family business continues to flourish 
     under the leadership of his two surviving children Alice 
     (Lisa) Elizabeth Bannister and Douglas (Doug) Mastin 
     Bannister. Director Bannister is also survived by two 
     grandchildren Kaitlyn Michelle and Brent Douglas.

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