As Williston looks forward to its new water plant, the city officials of 1958 signed a contract that calls for work to be completed by Dec. 31, 1960 on another new water plant. Williston's long-sought water plant was officially realized after 14 years of planning, negotiating, arguing, and wishful thinking and verbal fireworks. So, I guess nothing much as changed since then.
Alec Rawitscher, president of the city council along with commissioners Carl Albers, Bob Falstad, Les Lohse and Harry England were on hand for the signing the contract officially accepting $1,300,000 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Other headlines for January 1959 included LaVern Neff chosen top Young Man of 1958, John Hegge, Outstanding Young Farmer, and Mike Zine, Boss of the Year (1958). The Service Awards banquet given by the Williston Jaycees (Junior Chamber members) was held in the Gusher Room of the Plainsman Hotel. Guest speaker at the banquet was Seiji Horiuchi of Brighton, Colo., whose main message to an audience of 150 was that the Jaycees' most important function was developing men as leaders. He said North Dakota Jaycees are about the most active group of chapters of any in the five states over which he has jurisdiction.
The Williston Chamber of Commerce achievements for 1958 included working on U.S. Highway 2, securing a Federal Court House, assisting in the development of the new University of North Dakota Extension Center, promoting the Annual Hard Wheat Show, assisting in obtaining air service for the public, holding a Legislative Luncheon during the session, and helping to provide new signage for tourists. These achievements and many others were outlined by W.S. Davidson Jr., local American State Bank President in a talk at the annual Chamber meeting held at the Plainsman Hotel. He also outlined the work ahead for 1959. Fast forward to today, our speaker for this year's annual banquet will be Robert Greg Joseph, Williston High School Class of 1967, whose family was one of our founding retailers for women's wear in Williston.
Robert Joseph serves as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. In this capacity, he is the principal state officer for non and counterproliferation matters, as well as for arms control, arms transfers, regional security and defense relations, and security assistance. Previously, he served as Special Assistant to the President and senior director for Proliferation Strategy, Counterproliferation and Homeland Defense, National Security Council. In this position he was responsible, under the supervision of the National Security Advisor, for developing and coordinating U.S. policies and strategies for preventing and defending against threats to the United States from weapons of mass destruction.
From 1992 until 2001, Dr. Joseph was Professor of National Security Studies and Director/Founder of the Center for Counterproliferation Research at the National Defense University. Prior to that he was U.S. Commissioner to the Standing Consultative Commission and Ambassador to the U.S.-Russian Consultative Commission on Nuclear Testing, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy.
Dr. Joseph received his MA from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from Columbia University. He has held Assistant Professor positions at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tulane University, and Carleton College.
Robert will be speaking about his travels and interesting people he has encountered on his way to the White House, as well as his time he spent in Williston.
Congratulations to our final Monday Night Football Pool winner, Dr. Joe McCann.
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