EL DORADO — W. Glenn Holmes

was born in El Dorado on October 4, 1939, to Donald E. and Margaret D. Holmes and passed away April 12, 2023, at the Medical Center of South Arkansas.

Glenn served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1961, attaining the rank of Sp/5. During this time he was stationed in Germany and worked as a cryptologist.

He worked his way up through the rank at the El Dorado Water Utilities to the position of General Manager of the water and wastewater departments.

The El Dorado Water and Sewer Commission recognized his many years of dedication and experience in 1987 when they appointed him to the highest position in the utility. As General Manager he developed, planned and directed the day-to-day operational activities and support services of the utility. He served as the principal advisor to the Commission in developing long range plans for the water and wastewater departments with the goal of providing safe drinking water and adequately treating the City’s wastewater and to the El Dorado City Council on Utility matters. He planned and executed improvements and modifications to the water and wastewater systems. He supervised 49 employees which make up the water distribution water treatment, sewer collection, sewer treatment, customer service and administration divisions.

As operations manager from 1984 to 1987, he assumed supervisory and managerial responsibilities over field operations. His duties included planning and directing the improvements, modernization and replacement of water and sewer systems in order to assure reliable systems with growth capability.

During his 40 years of service, Glenn learned the water and wastewater business with hands on experience. He joined the El Dorado Water Utilities in 1961 as a meter reader in the customer service department and soon moved on to the water treatment plant as an operator, then to water plant foreman in 1966, and on to plant superintendent in 1971. In 1979, he became the superintendent of water and wastewater treatment operations. This was a new position in the utility, which gave Glenn responsibility for overseeing construction and start-up operations for two innovative wastewater treatment plants as well as supervising the operation of maintenance of water treatment plants and pumping stations. These wastewater treatment plants were the first in the United States to use dissolved air flotation to treat municipal wastewater.

Glenn earned his Class A Water Supply Operators License in 1965 and his Class IV Wastewater Treatments Operators License in 1983.

Glenn Holmes was a dedicated leader in the water and wastewater industry. He distinguished himself on local, district, state and regional levels. Among the honors he received were the 1992 Arkansas Water Manager of the Year Award presented by the Arkansas Water and Wastewater Managers Association, the 1989 William B. Hatfield Award presented by the Arkansas Water Pollution Control Association, the the 1988 Arkansas Wastewater Manager of the Year Award presented by the Arkansas Water Works and Pollution Control Association.

During the 40 years of association with the water and wastewater industry, Glenn was an active member and served in various offices of district, state and regional professional organizations.

He was a member of the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, the Southwest Section of AWWA, Arkansas Water Works and Water Environment Association, the Southwest District of AWW&WEA, and the Arkansas Water and Wastewater Managers Association. In 1993 he served as Chairman for the Arkansas Water Works and Water Environment Association after serving four years on the board. In 1990 he was Chair of the Arkansas Water and Wastewater Managers Association after serving six years on the Board. He also served as Chair of the Southwest District of AWW&WEA. Glenn served as the Arkansas Trustee for the Southwest Section of AWWA in 1989. In 1984-1990, he served on the Arkansas Wastewater Licensing Committee. In 1996, he was appointed for a six-year term on the Arkansas Water Advisory Operator Licensing Committee.

He was a member of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, the El Dorado Rotary Club, and the City of El Dorado Planning Commission. He served as ex-officio member on the Board of Directors of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce and the El Dorado Planning Commission. He served as sergeant at arms of the El Dorado Rotary Club. Glenn was also involved in the Union County Defense organization as a radiological defense officer.

He was actively involved with his church, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church of El Dorado. He volunteered his time and effort on behalf of the Interfaith Health Clinic which was started by his church and four other downtown churches in El Dorado.

He enjoyed deer hunting, reading and working with his personal computer.

Preceding in death are his parents; two brothers, Wallace Holmes and Donald “Mickey” Holmes; one sister, Virginia Holmes Ables; and a daughter, Linda Holmes of Palm Desert, Calif.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Donna Taylor Holmes; one son, Robert “R.D” Holmes of El Dorado; two daughters, Tammy Michael (Calvin) of El Dorado and Carla Shaw of Andover, N.Y.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Young’s Funeral Directors.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.