James L. Cook

DE GROOTE, MECHAM, COOK

Posted By: Jon L. Cook (email)
Date: 5/27/2015 at 16:45:21

On April 19, 2002, Jim Cook passed away quietly at his home near Gainesville, Georgia. He had retired as Regional Hydrologist, Southeastern Region in 1994. Throughout his 37-year career with WRD, Jim was considered one of the finest leaders and most productive mamagers of people ever to serve. Born March 3rd 1930, Crawford, NE, Jim served in both the Army and Air Force before settling into an education in engineering. In Iowa City, with help from the GI Bill, part-time work with WRD, and his wife Joan, he earned a BS in Hydraulic Engineering from th State Universiy of Iowa in 1957. Upon graduation, he was honored to receive the prestigious F.M. Dawson Award as the Uniaversity's Outstanding Engineering. Later, his assignment to WRD'S Fort Dodge office provided further opportunity to hone his engineering skills. There his leadeship skils and interest in flood hydrology first emerged. Active in the ASCE, he became a Director and later, Secretary of the Iowa Secion. Active in the Iowa Engineerig Society (NSPE), he was appointed to their Board of Directors.

In 1963, Jim's fine technical and people skills brought him reassignment to the Menlo Park, California Subdistrict as Office Engineer. While there, he successfully directed operations related to the December 1964 floods in northern California, considered the area's most severe, historic floods. Later, he participated with an Ad Hoc WRD Committee to develop the first standards and procedures for processing digital stremflow data. His landmark manual, Processing and Computation of Digital Data, was widely distributd and used throughout WRD Districts. In 1966, consistent with his ability to relate to other and also represent the best for WRD, he was elected President of the San Jose Section, American Society of Civil Engineers. In 1968, Jim was apponted to a natinal committee that recommended and developed guidelines for a national training program covering the many WRD technical specialties. Since its implementin in Lakewood, Colorado, over 30 years ago, the program has succeeded in trainng over 1,000 employees a year with an array of over 50 course offerings. Much later, he implmented a similar program in the Southeast Region to focus on the unique hydrologicl of that region. Its early succes induced all the WRD Regions to follow.

After serving briefly as the Chief of th Garden Grove, California Subdistrict, Jim was selected as Indiana's new District Chief in 1970. Early on he recognized a need for better communication between a myriad of water-resources organizations throught the State. In 1973, the Indiana District was among the first to organize and host a multi-agency conference to identify current and future State and local water issues. That conference became the model for similar State water conferences throught the entire country. Later, addressing water supply concerns in the Indianapolis area, his outstanding testimony before a Senate Appropriations Committee secured substantial funding for a comprehensive study of groung water in that metropolitan area. Appropriations Committee secured substantial funding for a comprehensive study of ground water in that metropolitan area. During Jim's 6-year term in Indiana, his skill in expanding WRD's presence and diversity there tripled the District budget and more than doubled the technical stff. Still provinding positive visibility for USGS, he was elected President of the Indiana Council of Federal Agerncies (February) for 1973-74

In 1980, he was selected as Southeast Regionl Hydrologist. Jim helped foster major growth an diversity throughout the Region. Soon Jim began to addres a personal concern for shortfall of women in technical positions throughout WRD. His leadership for active recruitment and reassignment of technically based women became a standard practice throughout WRD-SR. By the late 80's, the Southeast Region was a leader in the Nation in number of women in technology. In one District alone, females represented over 20% of the technical staff. During his tenure, two wommen hydrologist from the Southeast Region became the first to be selected for Senior Executive Service positions in WRD. Whenever he visited his Districts, Jim was especially generous in nuring his people. As a long-term member of WRD's Human Resources Committee, it was clear that, no matter where they met, young hydrologists from th host District's staff often approace Jim to thank him for his generous mentoring. Throughout his entie career, Jim's great gift for working with and caring for others fostered harmony an excellence. His wife, Joan, tells, us that he always glowed with pride when talking about "his" people. During his career with WRD, Jim was honored with several awards, including the U.S. Department of the Interior Meritorious Service
Award (1988). A loving husband and father, this dear man is survived by his wife Joan; sons-James and Jonathn; daughters-Joan Cynthia, Jean Marie, and Julie Lea; and 16 grandchildren.

Sister's Jean Marie & Win Beer, June Lea & James Glaser, Jane Nelle & Robert De La Hunt, Joan Mae & Maris Doster, Judith Ann & David O'Leary Brothers: Jerry & Earlene, Jon & Helen Cook, Jackson & Mary Cook