By Tracy Sanders, Publisher
For 70 years, the Woodruff-Roebuck Water District has delivered one of life’s most essential resources to residents and businesses across western Spartanburg County.
On Tuesday, district employees, commissioners, retirees, community partners, and guests gathered to celebrate the utility’s 70th anniversary, reflecting on its history while looking ahead to a future shaped by growth and continued service.
Board Chairman Niles Brown said the occasion was an opportunity to recognize the people who have made the district’s success possible.
“Today is a special day, the 70th anniversary we’re celebrating,” Brown said. “Y’all represent the past, the present, and the future. Y’all represent our friends, our family, our employees, everything that made this thing work together.”
Brown noted that the district’s founders would likely be amazed by how much the utility has grown over the past seven decades.
“The people who set this thing up in the beginning, if they could only see us now, if they could see where we’ve come from and where we are now, they wouldn’t believe it,” Brown said. “And they would not believe where we’re headed because we are growing more and more and more every day.”
The celebration highlighted both the district’s history and its ongoing commitment to serving a rapidly growing region. Western Spartanburg County has experienced significant residential and commercial growth in recent years, placing increased demands on infrastructure and public utilities.
J. Derek Scott, PE, with Garver, reflected on the district’s role in supporting that growth.
“For 70 years, the Woodruff-Roebuck Water District has been quietly and faithfully providing water to homes, schools, churches, and businesses in our community,” Scott said. “Water is life, and without it, no community can flourish.”
Scott emphasized that while water systems must continue evolving to meet future demands, the district’s foundation remains rooted in service.
“The water system will always need to grow with the cities and the towns and with changing technology to provide the cleanest, safest drinking water,” Scott said. “But as Western Spartanburg County continues to grow, I pray we never forget the values that have defined us for generations—hard work, service, and a deep love for our neighbors.”
“The good news for the District is that the Board of Commissioners, General Manager, and staff remain committed to these principles and to building a system made to serve future generations.”
General Manager Kermit Johnson used the event to recognize employees, retirees, former commissioners, and community partners whose contributions have shaped the district over the years.
“I care about what they do. I do care,” Johnson said of the district’s employees. “As Derek talked about getting up in the middle of the night, all the things that they do that nobody sees or that nobody understands… I care about it, and I care about them.”
Johnson also honored several individuals whose dedication left a lasting mark on the district’s history.
Among those recognized was Patsy Taylor, who served 47 years as an employee and three years as a commissioner.
“Fifty years, nobody does that anymore,” Johnson said while presenting a commemorative plaque to Taylor’s family. “Her name just kept popping up, popping up, popping up” throughout the district’s historical records.
During the presentation, Chairman Niles Brown, Vice Chairman Gary Kirkland, Commissioner Scott Dickard, and the family of late Commissioner Horace Jones were recognized for their service to the district. Jones, who passed away earlier this year, was remembered for his contributions to the organization and the community.
The district also honored the memory of Commissioner Horace Jones, who passed away earlier this year, and longtime attorney Lawrence E. Flynn Jr., whose legal counsel guided the district through numerous challenges over the years.
Historical displays showcased decades of newspaper clippings, photographs, and milestones documenting the district’s growth from a small rural water system into a modern utility serving thousands of customers.
Johnson encouraged attendees to spend time reviewing the exhibits.
“Look at the history,” he said. “It’s got history, timelines… it’s very interesting.”
As the celebration concluded, the message was clear: while much has changed since the district’s founding 70 years ago, its mission remains the same.
From the employees responding to emergencies in the middle of the night to the commissioners planning for future growth, the Woodruff-Roebuck Water District continues to focus on providing safe, reliable water service to the communities it serves — a responsibility that leaders say will remain at the heart of the district for generations to come.
