Who is Abel Wolman? (Based on an article written by Dr. Howard
Rosen, which appeared in the October 1989 issue of the APWA
Reporter.) With the 50-year mark as the traditional retirement
goal, a career spanning 73 years is almost unheard of. That is,
unless you're talking about Abel Wolman. (1892-1989) Although
you may never have heard his name before, Wolman's work has had
an impact on millions of people. Wolman was born, lived and died
in Baltimore, Maryland. His career began in 1915 and ended with
his death in 1989. He was a graduate of Johns Hopkins University
with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1915.
His first full-time job after graduation was as an Assistant
Engineer with the Maryland Department of Public Health, a
position he held until 1922. During those years, at the age of
26, Wolman perfected the formula for the chlorination of urban
water supplies. In cooperation with chemist Linn H. Enslow,
Wolman took what was an empirical practice that was just
beginning and gave it a rigo