Bob Cox
Bob Cox

Bob Cox, Louisiana

Bob Cox was highly active in the association throughout the 1980s and early 90s. During this time frame, he also served as   director of the Floodplain Management Program in Louisiana (September 1981 to June 1992.).

Here he reflects on some of his key accomplishments:

  • Chair of the ASFPM Coastal Committee (1984-1985)
  • Secretary of the ASFPM (1985-1987)
  • Vice Chair of the ASFPM (1987-1989)
  • Chair of the ASFPM (1989-1991)
  • Vice Chair of the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association (LFPMA)
  • Director of the first LFPMA state conference.
  • Director of the 1985 ASFPM Conference in New Orleans, LA.

Events and contributions I made to the ASFPM in the above capacity are as follows;

  • I was one of the founders of the LFPMA which turned out to be one of the first two state floodplain management associations established (Arizona being the first).
  • I was on the ASFPM Board of Directors and instrumental in getting the chapter membership status instituted.
  • I was one of the founders and original member of the ASFPM Administrative Council

In 1984, I made the proposal to the ASFPM to host the 1985 conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.  I then got the support for the conference from our state association and my state agency and we hosted the 1985 ASFPM annual conference there.  I served as the conference director and the significance of my role in those events are as follows:

  • This conference proved that the ASFPM conference could be held in a major U.S. city.  Prior to this the conference was held in mid-sized cities; (Portland, Maine in 1984, Sacramento, California in 1983, and Madison, Wisconsin in 1982). 
  • Prior to the 1985 conference, very little profit-if any- was realized from the conference registration. Using the conference registration model that I set up, the 1985 conference produced a profit of a little over $10,000 for the ASFPM.  From then on and using that model, the ASFPM realized enough revenue from its annual technical conference to be considered as one of its revenue producers for its annual budget.
  • At the conclusion of that conference I wrote the technical manual that was then used by the ASFPM for hosting future technical conferences.  This manual remained in use until eventually the conference attendance got so big that the manual in original form was no longer applicable.