Memories of James George Giannopoulos

By Dennis Heiman ~

I came to the State Board in 1975, rescued after a year in the desert (Region 7) by Planning and Research Division chief Michael Campos and assigned to work under James on the completion of the individual Regional Board Water Quality Control Plans (Basin Plans). I spent the next five years working with and learning from James before the urge to move north took me to the Region 5 Redding office. We were a close group in the Basin Plan unit, James, myself, Merry Benard, Peter Lee, Tess Smith.

James was not a stickler for agency policy or protocol, his focus was on important problems and issues and getting them addressed. He expected his staff to approach their work assignments in a professional manner and led by example.

James and I discussed the concept of ‘stream health’ as a more holistic approach to beneficial water use protection/enhancement, as opposed to a single minded focus on numerical standards for individual water quality constituents. In that regard, he was a ‘man before his time’.

I will always remember James as an imaginative and intuitive thinker and not just a supervisor concerned only that the required work got done and on time. He was often a person of few words but they were always meaningful. After leaving the State Board Sacramento office, I was fortunate enough to have another 30 years of what turned out to be a very enjoyable and rewarding career with the Water Board, and I honestly believe much of that is due to the time I spent with James and what I learned from him.

By Bart Christensen ~

I worked for James Giannopoulos for many years at the State Water Resources Control Board.  Many people have wondered what exactly I did there all those years.  James (usually) knew, and always encouraged me to take my assignments to wherever they might lead.

I consider it an honor to have worked for James.  I learned so much from him.  James was an outstanding engineer, leader, communicator, public servant and friend.  He changed my life for the better.  I will never forget him, and I suspect I am not alone. A complete list of the important aspects of James’s character would be a long one, and would differ from other people’s perspective.  My list includes:

•    Wisdom  James always seemed to know what to do, and the most effective way to do it.  James could see both the forest and the trees.

•    Loyalty  James was always loyal to the goals of the State Water Resources Control Board, even if the goals were not always remembered by others, and even if his actions were not always popular.  James was loyal to those who worked for him, and his staff were loyal to him

•    High Standards  James had high personal standards as an engineer and a public servant, and he expected similar standards from the scientists and engineers who worked under his supervision

•    Mentor  James’s character and standards served as a model for those lucky enough to have known him

•    Always Had Your Back   If his staff had done their homework, James always “had their back” when there was push back from the agencies that were challenged by his staff, and upper managers that would have preferred to take an easier, less effective position.

•    Respected  In meetings with Federal, State and local agency representatives, James’s presence always demanded and received respect.

•    Aggressive  James always expected his staff to complete their assignments, regardless of how well their recommendations were received by others, and he had a personal ‘fighting spirit” that encouraged others to follow through with their assignments.

•    Strong Moral Code  James always stood for what was right over what was wrong, and never seemed to waiver in his defense of strong environmental public policy.