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NCRWA.COM|
Winter 2015
E
THE PERSON BEHIND
THE PLAQUE:
THE STORY OF ALAN
EDWIN DERATT, SR.
By Kelly Coggins, Marketing and
Communications Coordinator, NCRWA
Lowell Gunter, Water Training & Technical
Assistance, NCRWA
feature
very year North Carolina Rural Water
Association recognizes the best of the best.
Like many organizations there are various
coveted awards recognizing dedication,
outstanding
performance,
innovation,
excellent customer service and a consistency
of going above and beyond the call of duty.
Individuals who meet those criteria can be
nominated for the J.A. Younts Award, which
was named after a former President of North
Carolina Rural Water Association and a leader
at Davidson Water, Inc. Another option is to
apply for the Bud Pate Award, named after
the man who became affectionately known as
the North Carolina Rural Water Association
mascot. Then there is the Al DeRatt award. It
too is named after a remarkable leader. Alan
Edwin DeRatt, Sr. was an environmental
chemist at the North Carolina State Board of
Health and a wastewater technician at North
Carolina Rural Water Association. He is
unfortunately no longer with us, but he left
behind a great legacy. It is one of humility
and service.
Alan was very good at his job and he
gradually worked up the ladder to achieve
the American dream. He worked at lagoon
wastewater treatment plants, trickling filter
wastewater treatment plants, and activated
sludge treatment plants. He was a trouble
shooter and took part in several stream
studies. He received awards for his great
work and was known for his great attention
to detail. Alan was also a veteran of the
U.S. Coast Guard in WWII and he taught
Radiological Math and Science at NCSU,
UNC-Chapel Hill, and other colleges. He
worked at the North Carolina Rural Water
Association for three years before retiring
in 1998.
While his resume is quite remarkable, it was
his work in the community that really sets
him apart. He was a member of the First
Baptist Church in Asheboro, North Carolina,
where he served as a Deacon, Sunday school
teacher and Special Education outreach
director. Mark Hall, who is the Associate
Pastor of Youth and Adult Education at
First Baptist Church says, “Alan was one of
the finest men he knew. He touched a lot of
people.” Mr. Hall says the DeRatts would
host parties for those with special needs and
they raised a lot of money for the special
needs community. He says, “nobody spent
out of pocket on others more than Al DeRatt.
There is a special crown in heaven for people
like that.” He went on to describe Alan as a
gentle man but big in stature, at probably 6
foot 4 inches tall. He says, “no one else could
match him.”
Alan and his wife, Elizabeth Stokes DeRatt,
were married for 60 years. They had four
children, two boys and two girls, and many
grandchildren and great grandchildren. Alan
also showed a love for cars and poetry.
I guess the moral to this story is hard work
never goes unrecognized. North Carolina
Rural Water Association is so pleased to not
only remember Al DeRatt’s service to our
organization, but it is also honored to call
him a friend. So what legacy will you leave
behind? Do you have an Al DeRatt in your
life? Nominate them for the award, which
will be handed out at this year’s conference.