Often when an employee retires after years of dedicated service in the private or public sector, he is honored by colleagues in some fashion. This was, in fact, the case with Edward D. Hozza Sr., who retired Jan. 15 from Northampton Borough Municipal Authority Board of Directors.

The fashion in which Hozza was honored is grand. The board’s meeting room is now named after him in honor of his 50 years of service. A large glass pane at the meeting room is etched in large bold, frosted lettering - NBMA, the Edward D. Hozza Sr. Board Meeting Room. He also received a plaque in honor of his time spent with the authority.

“In his five decades, Mr. Hozza has always promoted training and education for all levels of the authority’s employees, including plant operators certificates and CFL licenses of vehicle operators,” said Steve Kerbacher, NBMA general manager.

Hozza is credited with planning for the future and guiding the authority through major capital improvements. Most importantly, he is credited for his work in the planning and construction of the state-of-the-art water treatment plant in North Whitehall Township.

In addition to serving as NBMA board chairman, he served on the Pennsylvania Municipal Authority Association Board of Directors from 2004 to 2009.

The NBMA service area includes the boroughs of Northampton and North Catasauqua and Allen Township in Northampton County and the borough of Coplay, Whitehall Township and North Whitehall Township in Lehigh County.