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Memories of Tim - Living Out Loud... "I always looked forward to seeing and talking to Tim again at the next gathering, whether it was an NBMA meeting, a workshop, a reunion, - whatever it was. As you may know, Tim and I were in the same Clackamas High Class of ’64. We would often swap stories of mutual friends and times in high school, (and fishing stories of course), whenever we got together. I often regret not knowing Tim as well then as I came to know him later – definitely my loss. It’s been since seeing Tim again as an NBMA member that I really got to know him and appreciate what a great person he was. It was Tim standing up and volunteering to fill the empty PI& ME Committee chair many Biofests ago that convinced me that I too should/could get more involved with the NBMA. Tim also influenced me to attend more short schools, biosolids workshops, field days, etc. Thank you, Tim, you were a great leader and motivator. The more personal side of Tim that I remember is how he made others around him feel special. My wife and I were able to spend some time together with Tim over the last few years and he always made her feel special. In her presence, he would always say, “Roy, she’s the best thing that ever happened to you”. His kind heart, humor, and sincere personality will be greatly missed by both of us."
"Tim continually greeted me with "Hey there young fella!". He was a "people person" with an unending enthusiasm for biosolids and land application. As such, he truly benefited the "biosolids believers" community. I will miss him."
"At last year's Biofest, Tim and I spent a week one afternoon in the parking lot of Campbell's Resort. We were waiting for a tow truck driver- not the tow truck, but the driver. Tim had locked his keys in his truck and there was no help to be found locally.
“Tim had a natural ability to network and boost camaraderie. He embodied the spirit of the NBMA in his dedication to continuing education and improving biosolids management, and most of all in his willingness to jump in and lead – whether chairing a committee, joining the Board, organizing a field trip, or presiding over the association. I will miss Tim’s enthusiasm as well as his down-to-earth sense of humor and extra-large laugh.”
“Like nearly everyone else writing here, I liked Tim almost from the
moment I met him. He was so open, warm, and as I learned over time,
completely honest. With Tim there were no secret agendas, what you saw
-- and heard! -- was what you got. Tim was my vice president during my
“I was co-chair of what was the Public Information/Members Education Committee from June 2000 through March 2005. Tim was co-chair with Roy Carlson before I joined the committee and it was the three of us until he brought in Bob Watson to replace him in July 2002.
"Above all else, Tim was a great friend! He never hesitated to extend himself to help out those with whom he came into contact along the way. I read all the shared memories and was constantly saying, yeah, that was Tim. He was dedicated to not only doing all he could to contribute to the biosolids profession, but he was committed to being a help to those coming along behind him. These folks will not even know what they are missing.
"Wow, where can I start and what can I say? I worked with Tim for 12 years hauling biosolids and I believe I can speak for most Water Environment Services employees, he’ll be greatly missed. As he made NBMA part of his family and touched many of your hearts as a sincere and caring human, he was also a big part of our family at WES leaving a great legacy behind.
“Tim was always concerned and nervous about his annual president's presentation at Biofest. He just wanted to make it perfect. The first couple of times he "read" the script that Maile prepared and every time afterward he told me he felt awkward and uncomfortable. Annually I told him to -"be yourself and tell the annual story" and talk about what the NBMA meant to him and the biosolids profession. He threw away the "script" and sure did a great job at Biofest 2007 being the Tim that we all knew and loved.
“Tim Killingbeck was my friend. I suspect very many people can say that. He had an earthy sense of humor that transcended casual and not so casual differences in background and education. He was fiercely dedicated to the protection of the environment and the efficient and professional use of rate payer funds. His dedication to the advancement of biosolids management in particular was best expressed in his role as coordinator of the biosolids segment of the Clackamas short school. This outstanding educational effort demonstrated Tim’s commitment to pass on state of the art knowledge to practitioners across the Northwest.
“Tim was one-in-a-million…and even in a crowd of a million, you would know where Tim was! His commitment, enthusiasm, and passion were always fully on display. He was fun loving, loud, boisterous, and loved life; an honest and not so subtle guy, what you saw was what you got from him… and we loved With Tim’s departure, we are left with some colorful and distinct memories: dedicated, knowledgeable, always ready to share his skills with others, always ready to share his opinion, and always ready with a laugh; of a loyal person who was both kind and thoughtful, and whose deeds were many; of a dear colleague whose infectious enthusiasm engulfed us all; of a man, who as his life shortened so quickly and dramatically, showed amazing courage while bravely facing his future.
“During Tim’s tenure with the NBMA, he and I frequently carpooled to meetings and field days, often in his infamous “red rocket”. Those treks allowed me to get to know Tim. We learned we had much in common (born the same year, reared in the Pacific NW, started grade school in rural Clackamas County Oregon schools and graduated from Portland area high schools in the same year, etc.) before we discovered biosolids. Although our lives took different twists following high school, our paths converged under the biosolids umbrella. I first met Tim in the late 1980s at a Clackamas Community College Operators short school where I attempted to unveil drab underpinnings of DEQ rules and guidelines, a subject undoubtedly perceived mundane to most attendees, during a short school presentation. Tim stood out enthusiastically in the group; donning his characteristic warm smile while effusing with witty commentary. He was eager to learn and courageous enough to raise several questions in behalf of the audience.
"Some of my fondest memories were of spending time in the field with Tim outside of Wasco. After a day of evaluating land application and storage sites Tim would treat himself to a six egg omelet at Bob's Texas T-Bone & Frosty's in Rufus, Oregon. I will miss Tim's spirit and humor.”
“If there was one thing Tim wasn’t, it was quiet. People could hear him coming a mile away and when we needed the room’s attentive ear, he was there to summon the masses. During his first Presidential speech to the membership at our 2006 Annual Biosolids Management Conference, I told him just to relax and know that his friends were among the crowd. Before he got started he said, “Maile said that I should relax because I was amongst friends, so if you’re my friend, please raise your hand.” You could hear people snickering and only a few raised their hands. He said, “Oh thanks a lot,” and let out his signature Killingbeck laugh. His speech went great and I was so proud of him in that moment. While you could almost always count on Tim to not be politically correct, he was a straight talker and we appreciated his genuine personality. He knew how to break the ice and say what others may have been thinking but didn’t have the guts to say. While quiet composure and political correctness were examples of what Tim wasn’t, what he was is equally notable – a fearless leader, a father, a grandpa, an unforgettable friend and a force to be reckoned with.”
“My first telephone call on my first day at the NBMA was from Tim and, even before saying hello or introducing himself, he told me a joke. It made my day and was very much appreciated. Thanks Tim for making me laugh and for such a wonderful welcome.”
“I liked Tim immediately from the very first NBMA meeting we attended together. He was eager to work with his biosolids colleagues and keen to tackle any issue. He was ready to admit that he wasn’t an expert on every aspect of biosolids, but he usually had a opinion anyway! And those opinions made sense. When he became president of NBMA, he was nervous about his new leadership role, but we all supported him as he grew into our unforgettable Prez. In turn, he encouraged others to do more, to be more. Every time I said “I can’t,” he would counter all my excuses (loudly) and tell me why I could.
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him for that. 
One amusing, but awkward and potentially disastrous moment in my travels with Tim occurred with he, Jim Fleming and I returned from a reclamation field day in Sechelt, BC in November 2004. The long commute to and from the meeting location resulted in a wee hours of the morning departure and a late night border crossing from BC to the US. In his haste to leave home around 2:30 AM, to get to the meeting on time, Tim had forgotten to bring a birth certificate or some other form of essential ID acceptable to border patrol officials. After Jim and I had provided identification, Tim was asked for verification of his residency by a seemingly officious border patrol agent who interrogated Jim and I on under what circumstances and how long we knew Tim and if we would vouch for his citizenship and character. Fortunately, after considering the commentary offered Jim and I, the border patrolman’s admonishment on proper ID, he allowed us through. Jim and I unabatedly teased Tim about our courageous rescue of him from the border patrol seizure for several minutes before he smilingly, offered to let us out along the highway to fetch alternative means of transportation home.