Walton Carter “Doc” Faison, founder of National Driller, died Oct. 20. Faison, of Bonifay, Fla., was 76.

Faison was born Sept. 20, 1936, in Vernon, Fla., to Alonzo and Jewell Faison. According to a September 2000 National Driller article written by Danny Lewis, after Faison spent 17 years in the water well drilling industry, he saw a need for information for well drillers. In 1980, he began publishing the National Drillers Buyer’s Guide. The inaugural 16-page issue debuted at the National Water Well Show in Las Vegas in October of that year, Lewis said.

Former coworkers said one of Faison’s hobbies was photography, and it showed in the pages of his magazine.

“He was always taking pictures at the trade shows and dedicated several pages to these photographs in each issue every month,” said National Driller Sales Assistant Caroline Mims.

“Doc’s formula was simple,” said Advertising Sales Manager Dean Laramore. “Plenty of photos and classified ads.”

Describing Faison as a “country boy made good,” Laramore said he was fixture in the drilling industry, known for his personality and hard work. Faison received the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) Life Member Award in 1989. According to the NGWA, the award is presented to retired members, or members of retirement age, who have contributed a special service to the groundwater industry.

In 1999, BNP Media purchased the National Drillers Buyer’s Guide, and the name was changed to National Driller. Four years later, Faison helped start another industry publication, WorldWide Drilling Resource, based in Bonifay, Fla.

Faison is survived by his wife, Gloria Yvonne Strickland Faison; two sons, Tony (Shawna) and Joel; daughter Cissy; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation was held Oct. 22 at Peel Funeral Home in Bonifay. A memorial was held Oct. 23 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses with interment at New Hope Methodist Church Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 66, Bonifay, FL, 32425.