Biographical Sketches of William C. Stripe, Founder, and Benjamin F. Jones, Fifth President, of AWWA

This article contains a biographical overview of the life of William C. Stripe, superintendent of the privately owned water system of Keokuk, Iowa, and known as the “Father of AWWA” for his organization of the first meeting of officials and representatives of the water utility industry, out of which came the formation of the American Water Works Association in 1881. The article also contains a biographical overview of the life of Benjamin Franklin Jones who was an active member of AWWA, presenting papers, serving as a vice‐president and in 1886 as president of AWWA.