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CEE Honors Four New Academy Members
By
Esmeralda Fisher
John Odis Cobb, P.E., RPLS (BSCE '71, MSCE '79)
Cobb
Billy M. Cooke, P.E. (BSCE '78)
Cooke
D. Wayne Klotz, P.E. (MSCE '76)
Klotz
Jimmie Schindewolf, P.E.,R.P.L.S.
Schindewolf

The Academy of Distinguished Civil and Environmental Engineers welcomed four new members at the second annual Induction and Award Ceremony this month. Hosted by the UH Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the celebration honored John Odis Cobb, Billy M. Cooke, D. Wayne Klotz, and Jimmie Schindewolf for their dedicated advancement of the profession, field and the university.

John Odis Cobb, P.E., RPLS (BSCE '71, MSCE '79) is a member of the Board of Directors of Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc., a civil engineering and land survey company he co-founded in 1980. Throughout his career, Mr. Cobb has provided surveying and civil engineering services for public and private sector projects, including engineering services for private utility company projects and developer projects. He has been a civil engineering consultant to local city and county governments for the preparation of plans for waste water lines, water lines, paving, storm sewer and utility coordination projects. Mr. Cobb has served as a board member and president of Houston Engineering & Scientific Society (HESS), board member of Houston Council of Engineering Companies (HCEC), and board member of Professional Engineers in Private Practice (PEPP). He currently serves as a member of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Board, as a member of the Engineering Dean’s Leadership Board and as a director on the Engineering Alumni Board.

Billy M. Cooke, P.E. (BSCE '78) is the executive vice president for Klotz Associates, Inc. Mr. Cooke is responsible for the overall organization of the firm as well as growth, recruiting, staff development and training. During his 20-year tenure with Klotz Associates, he has worked on projects involving paving and drainage, flood control, water and wastewater, transportation, airports, traffic and construction management. Prior to joining Klotz Associates, Mr. Cooke worked for 12 years for a major consulting engineering firm as a civil engineer and project manager on a broad spectrum of public and private sector projects. He is the recipient of several awards, including the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award, the State Young Engineer of the Year Award, the TSPE San Jacinto Chapter Young Engineer of the Year Award, and the Distinguished Young Engineering Alumnus Award.

D. Wayne Klotz, P.E. (MSCE '76) is president of Klotz Associates, Inc. He is a licensed professional engineer in Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Klotz currently serves on the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure Board of Directors, and the Industry Leaders Council. In 2011, Mr. Klotz was appointed by the mayor of Houston to the Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors and serves as Board President. He was also Co-Chair for Public Works on Mayor Parker’s Transition Committee and has served on the Community Resilience Task Force for the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Klotz served as National President of ASCE in '08-09. He started the Klotz Associates Endowed Scholarship in Civil Engineering at both universities. Among his awards are the 2011 Texas Engineer of the Year Award, 2011 Houston Engineer of the Year Award, the ASCE National 2005 Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award and the 2004 Texas A&M Distinguished Graduate of the Department of Civil Engineering.

Jimmie Schindewolf, P.E.,R.P.L.S., received his BSCE in 1967. Mr. Schindewolf is general manager of the North Harris County Regional Water Authority. Prior to joining the Water Authority, he was the Owner's Representative for Reliant Stadium and Minute Maid Park. Mr. Schindewolf spent the majority of the 1990s as Mayor Bob Lanier's Chief of Staff and Director of Public Works and Engineering. He co-founded and was president of Beyer-Schindewolf Construction from 1983 to 1992. Mr. Schindewolf served as Director of Public Works for the City under Mayors Fred Hofheinz, Jim McConn and Kathy Whitmire. He accepted awards as a National Top-Ten Public Works Official and the Houston-area TSPE Engineer of the Year. He received the U of H Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 1992. A Scholarship bears his name at the School of Engineering. The Klein School District dedicated Schindewolf Intermediate in 2002. Mr. Schindewolf resides in the Klein-area with his wife Carrie.

The Academy of Distinguished Civil and Environmental Engineers is dedicated to recognizing outstanding alumni who bring honor to the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Houston and have sustained distinguished contributions to the profession, field, the university, or society at large. Academy members represent an elite group of alums who have achieved greatness all starting with the same set of tools obtained at UH.

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