By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11

Foundation Trustee, Ray Cox, PE, North Carolina State '89, has been recognized with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) most distinguished awards. Recipients of the Geroge Warren Fuller Award are determined by the Fuller Award committee in each section and bestowed upon candidates who’ve provided outstanding leadership or made a significant contribution toward the advancement of the water works practice within the Association and/or their section. In the North Carolina section, that dedicated individual was Ray Cox. During the 2022 North Carolina One Water Conference in Charlotte, Cox was awarded the customary plaque and pin that comes with the George Warren Fuller Award and honored in front of his peers.

For the last seven years Cox has served as Vice President of Marketing for Highfill Infrastructure Engineering, but his tenure with the company began in October of 2005 when he assumed the position of Vice President—holding that role for over 17 years. Highfill is self-described as a principle-centered engineering consulting firm specializing in community and municipal water infrastructure engineering, with the belief that water is our most precious resource. Cox and the Highfill team work to better the lives of citizens throughout North and South Carolina, and place public welfare over personal gains. Despite the immensity of his career accomplishments, Cox is most proud of his family. When asked, what personal accomplishment brings you the most pride or joy, Cox responded, “I feel great joy when someone compliments my wife and me on the maturity and behavior of our teenage son and daughter after observing them interacting with others outside of our presence.”