Jerry Rogers was preparing to give a presentation titled "Early Civil Engineering Education and History" at a morning session of the 150th Annual Conference of the American Society of Civil Engineers when he was surprised with a framed "Resolution" from the ASCE National History & Heritage Committee.
The Resolution thanked Rogers, a civil engineering professor at the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering, for his work with the Annual History conferences, co-editing four volumes outlining Civil Engineering History and Heritage, and serving as National Chair of the History & Heritage Committee.
The ASCE, the oldest professional society of civil engineers in the United States, provides the National History & Heritage Committee with many archived publications, photographs, and opportunities to review engineering projects for National Landmark Nominations.
The first of four volumes, "Civil Engineering History" was published in 1996. "Engineering History & Heritage" was published in 1998, "International Engineering History & Heritage" in 2001 (Houston ASCE Engineering History Congress), and "Environmental & Water Resources History & Heritage" in 2002. These ASCE Engineering History Congresses and Proceedings are available to all students, faculty and practitioners.
Henry Petroski, chair of the ASCE National History & Heritage Committee, presented the resolution to Rogers, who expressed his appreciation for the award.
"I will always cherish your nice statements in the Proclamation," Rogers told the committee, "and I hope to continue assisting the History & Heritage Committee over many years. Your National/International Committee work continues among the most important to the civil engineering profession, during and after the ASCE 150th Anniversary year."
In 2003, the ASCE Education Activities Committee is seeking to add lectures on Engineering History into the civil engineering curriculum through the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
Rogers is now working with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Newcomen Society on a June 24, 2003, Robert Stephenson Symposium: "Historic Railways, Bridges and Water Projects" at ICE - London, followed by a June 25-28 Landmarks Dedication Tour with ASCE president Tom Jackson that will travel from Manchester to North Wales to Edinburgh.