by Clarence W. Thomas, Jr.
MGI Contributor
If one wants to understand what is possible professionally, a conversation with Gary McCoy, Water Treatment Plant Superintendent for the City of East Point, Georgia, offers a powerful lesson.
McCoy’s career began humbly in his hometown of Emerson, Georgia, where at just nineteen years old he worked as a janitor at the city’s water facility. But his ambition extended far beyond custodial duties.
Observing the operation—and admittedly, the paychecks—of others sparked a realization that management offered greater opportunity. “I asked for the opportunity to become an operator and treat the water people were drinking,” McCoy recalled candidly. “Being nosey and looking at other people’s pay checks led to me deciding that I didn’t want to do that particular job for the rest of my life.”
Forty-five years later, McCoy can confidently say that decision changed his life. After rising through the ranks at the City of Cartersville for twenty-two years, he spent the next twenty-two years with the Macon Water Authority. Although he retired in 2024, his passion for the water industry drew him back just nineteen months later as the head of plant operations for the City of East Point. His connection to water, it seems, is inseparable. “I’m honored to be a part of protecting our most precious resource,” McCoy said.
During his tenure at MWA, McCoy left an indelible mark. In 2003, he helped start a new MWA plant, and six years later Macon’s water was named the Best Tasting Water in the Country. McCoy is humble about the achievement, crediting teamwork while acknowledging the significance. “To help the Macon Water Authority receive national recognition is very special to me,” he said.
McCoy brings that same intentional excellence to his role as a manager in East Point and to his professional leadership statewide. He currently serves as President of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP), a nonprofit organization focused on educating and supporting professionals and the public in managing, protecting, and improving Georgia’s water resources. GAWP is the largest water organization of its kind in the state and the second largest in the nation.
Like the plant he oversees, McCoy dedicates significant time and energy to ensuring the organization is a place of excellence and inclusion for both current and aspiring water professionals. Through his platform, “Rise Up Stronger Together,” he emphasizes that formal college education is not the only path to success. “I didn’t attend college, but I’m highly successful because of desire, creativity, and motivation to excel,” McCoy explained. “I want to empower others so they can take their seat at the table and become a force in this industry. You’ll never get laid off because people need water. It’s a vital necessity.”
McCoy does not shy away from discussing his experience as a Black water professional. Instead, he proudly uses his journey, marked by challenges and perseverance, as inspiration for communities of color, women, and other underrepresented groups. His commitment to diversity and inclusion earned him the Georgia Section of the American Water Works Association’s first-ever Champion of Diversity Award. “Now I say I love the color of water,” McCoy said. “Receiving this award and being named GAWP’S president are among my proudest professional moments.”
When McCoy eventually retires for good, he hopes his legacy will reflect empathy and respect. He believes it is more important to be respected as a leader than feared, and he emphasizes accountability without punishing honest mistakes. Accessibility and humility, he says, are how he wants to be remembered.
Until then, McCoy remains committed to building that legacy in East Point—focused on what he describes as saving lives every single day through the provision of clean, safe drinking water. “This industry has provided me with a great life,” he reflected. “I really don’t know what I’d be doing otherwise. And if you’re fortunate enough to get into it, don’t forget to throw the rope back and pull someone else up.”
