The George Warren Fuller award is the highest honor a section can bestow upon a member. This award was created in honor of George Warren Fuller because of his outstanding and immense contributions to the profession and to the water industry.

The recipients of the George Warren Fuller award are selected by individual sections of the Association, from among their own members. This selection is presumed to recognize publicly the contribution toward the advancement of water works practice which the individual has made within the particular section which designates him or her for the award.

The terms and conditions for the Award include:
    • The candidate must have offered services above and beyond those expected of the member's normal        responsibilities. This performance must be outstanding and extraordinary
    • Must be a member of AWWA.
    • Selected by a committee of five former Fuller Awardees

This year's recipient, Marilyn Jean Gambold, was born in Indianapolis. She grew up on the Northeast side of Indianapolis, and graduated from Arsenal Technical High School. Upon graduation she took some Business Courses, married, and became the proud parent of 3 children.

In 1969 Marilyn moved to Brown County, Indiana. At Brown County, she worked at the Helmsburg School, as the Attendance Officer. In 1973 she went to work for a small southern Indiana water company, called Southern Brown Co., where she performed the duties of billing and office clerk. During her spare time, many, many hours were dedicated to a group then known as the Rural Water Association of Indiana. This work was on a volunteer basis.

During this volunteer time the Indiana State Board of Health mandated that all water systems must have licensed operators. This opened up extensive training requirements and opportunities. Small regional meetings were begun around the state and some small grants became available from the State of Indiana as well as the National Rural Water Association.

An office for the Rural Water Association of Indiana was run from Marilyn's home for many years thereafter. Eventually an office was opened in the Salt Creek Plaza in Nashville, In. in 1979. Later the office was moved to Bean Blossom.