1946 when the City of Stilwell adopted its charter. The
utility department was set up by the City: “to be operated
for the benefit of the City of Stilwell, and the citizens
providing of water service for fire protection and the
safeguarding of the public health through proper sanitary
facilities. “The original members of the board of directors
were: Otto Alderson, C.J. Carson, Jack Chaffin, Luke
Worley, and C. L. Fletcher. The first meeting was held at
City Hall at 3:30 pm on January 7, 1947. As City Clerk,
John H. Carson, called the meeting to order. C. J.
Carson was elected as Chairman and C. L. Fletcher was
elected as Vice Chairman. At this time Roy Martin and
Dode Gowen were appointed as interim Superintendents
until the hiring of John B. Sanders in February of 1947.
The Stilwell Area Development Authority was founded
on July 18, 1962 as a Trust Indenture of the City of
Stilwell. The City of Stilwell leased the utility operations to
the Stilwell Area Development for 60 years. The SADA
Board consisted of Otto Alderson, C. J. Carson, Dr.
Burdge F. Green, C. L. Fletcher, and Wren Worley. The
General Manager was Mr. John Sanders. Others who
have served as General Managers are: Mr. Page Arnall,
Mr. Larry Eagleton, Mr. John Morgan, Mr. W.S. (Scottie)
Adair, Mr. Hugh Zimmerman, and our current General
Manager is Mr. Mike Doublehead.
Superintendent for
over twenty-two years
