Dale Henry Twachtmann

Dale Henry Twachtmann Dale H.Twachtmann, longtime water resources, environmental administrator and Consultant passed away peacefully at his home in Lakeland, FL on Sunday, May 17. Born March 22, 1932 in Lowden, Iowa, the son of Henry G. and Milda Butterbrodt Twachtmann, he graduated from Lowden High School. In 1955 he graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in civil engineering and was designated the Distinguished Military Graduate and named the Cadet Colonel. He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Amy as an Army Aviator, flying both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters in support of the Artillery School in Ft. Sill Oklahoma, immediately following the Korean War. Dale will be remembered as one of Florida""s most important figures in the state""s struggle over the last 40 years to find an acceptable balance between the growing demand and use of water and needs of natural systems. He devoted the greater part of his career working in water, public works and environmental management, serving as the first full-time Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the first Administrator of Water Resources and Public Works for the City of Tampa, and the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Regulation for the State of Florida in the administration of Governor Bob Martinez. Later, Dale worked on extensive environmental, solid waste, and water management projects with consulting firms in both the U.S. and overseas: CDM in Tampa, Jamaica and Nepal; Law Environmental in Atlanta; PBS&J (Atkins Engineering) in Tampa and throughout the United States. Dale was a visionary in recognizing how water conservation and reuse would be the next most important and perhaps the last low-cost water supply source for Florida. At the City of Tampa, he led the fight to build the Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant and upon dedication of the facility, he famously drank a glass of treated wastewater to prove the safety of the process. In each of his tenures of work he was the pioneer in the planning and implementation of ideas, project concepts, permitting, state laws and regulations that created the extensive use of reclaimed water that thrives in Florida today. During retirement, Dale was passionate about traveling the world with his wife Gwen and playing golf at his home course, Grasslands Golf and Country Club, with friends and family. Dale was an extraordinary man in his work as well as in his personal life. He went about each day with generosity, wisdom, creativity and sensitivity that only true leaders have. He was an articulate visionary who knew how to extract the best from all who knew him, family, friends, colleagues, and alike. He leaves a very large void in all our hearts and his legacy will remain in the waters of the great State of Florida and beyond. He is survived by his loving wife Gwen of Lakeland, FL; beloved daughters Mary Dale of Tampa, FL, Jeannette of Belleair, FL; former wife and mother of his children, Mary Sidney Twachtmann of Tampa, FL; brother Larry Twachtmann (Joleen) Marion, IA.; his wife""s children, Rebecca Cartwright and family of Jackson MI, Bert Beaman and family of Honolulu HI, and Budd Beaman and family of Ventura, CA. A memorial service will be held Friday, May 22, 2015 at 2 p.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 5225 Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33614. On Sunday, May 31, 2015 a reception and gathering of family and friends will take place from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. at Grasslands Golf and Country Club, 1600 Grasslands Boulevard, Lakeland, FL 33803 In lieu of flowers, Dale requested memorial contributions be made to Morning Star School, Tampa, 210 E. Linebaugh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612. Service: 05/22/2015 St. Lawrence Catholic Church 5225 Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614