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Interview with Jerry Rogers, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE

April 2010

Dr. Rogers has taught civil engineering at the University of Houston for more than 40 years and also spent one summer at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Prior to his work with the University of Houston and the USACE, Jerry was an assistant professor at Southern Methodist University and Rutgers University.

A lifetime ASCE member, Rogers served on and chaired more than 200 committees in the areas of engineering history, water resources, flood control, drainage control, environmental issues and engineering education. He was responsible for helping plan eight ASCE National Engineering History symposia and has edited or co-edited eight ASCE publications that provide information for university and K-12 students, faculty, and practitioners on civil engineering history.

During his more than 45-year career in water resources and engineering education, Rogers' research has focused on storm water management, hydrology, urban growth planning, drainage engineering, water distribution and water resource systems. His expertise in these areas has assisted the cities of Pearland, Conroe, Houston and others with planning.

Throughout the nearly four decades he has been involved with ASCE, he has served in roles that include Dallas branch board member, Houston branch president, Texas section president and district director. From 1992-95 he served as national board member and as the national Vice President on the ASCE Executive Committee from 2001-03. This is in addition to efforts to co-edit publications for eight ASCE National Engineering History symposiums and the founding of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute.

In addition to his contributions to AAWRE and EWRI, Rogers has served as President of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) and the Engineers Council of Houston; member of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and Chi Epsilon/Tau Beta Pi. Among his numerous awards, Rogers has received the ASCE Houston Branch's Award of Honor, Houston Engineer of the Year Award, the ASCE Texas Section's History and Heritage Award, Award of Honor and Lifetime Service Award, ASCE's National Wisely Award, AWRA's Icko Iben Award, and ASCE's Excellence in Civil Engineering Education's (ExCEEd) Leadership Award. Jerry was also active in the Houston Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Water Committee, the Texas Water Policy Committee and his local church. Jerry is also an avid basketball and baseball fan. He played college basketball at his alma mater, the University of Arkansas, and was a three year varsity letterman. Dr. Rogers received the ASCE National Distinguished Member (formerly Honorary Member) designation in 2008.

Please share with us on where most of your childhood was spent? What was it like for you growing up there?

JR: I grew up in North Little Rock, Arkansas in a small house near the Missouri Pacific Railroad lines and repair yards. As kids, we built our own baseball field in the railroad yard area and climbed on stored railroad cars.

How early on did you know that you wanted to study civil engineering and what were the key factors in your decision to be a civil engineer?

JR: Since I was pretty good at high school science and mathematics, I knew I wanted to follow my brother in civil engineering.

We know that you attended University of Arkansas on a basketball scholarship. What position did you play and tell us how you enjoyed playing for your school and why you decided to choose civil engineering?

JR: After being all state two years in high school and starting on the Arkansas freshmen team, I was a walk-on sophomore basketball scholarship winner for three years. I played point guard and defended the quickest guard on the other teams. I decided on civil engineering my senior year in high school and followed my CE brother to the University of Arkansas.

Which was greater- your love of basketball or civil engineering at the time?

JR: I was more involved in basketball until I had to have knee surgery in January of my senior year. I knew I needed to focus on civil engineering.

You are one of the founding members of AAWRE- how did you first get involved with the task committee and on the Board?

JR: After we worked together in the Water Resources Planning & Management Division and EWRI, Michael Ports called me and asked that I help serve on the AAWRE Board. I felt I could contribute ideas and service.

What was your personal vision for the AAWRE and its mission? And so far, do you feel the AAWRE has met those goals and expectations that you set out, when you originally signed up for the role?

JR: I wanted AAWRE to help ASCE raise the bar in education and training in the civil engineering profession. AAWRE has exceeded the numbers of certified engineers initially estimated and gone beyond the originally perceived goals and expectations with more training and standards.

What types of services or initiatives would you personally like to see AAWRE pursue?

JR: AAWRE should continue to offer ethics training, support water resources history and heritage sessions and publications, remain active in EWRI and ASCE conferences, and (the AAWRE Diplomates) should continue to be good role models for younger engineers.

What is your personal message to professional engineers out there regarding specialty certification that you feel that they should know or be aware of?

JR: Professional engineers should continue to upgrade their knowledge with life-long learning. Specialty certification is a key component of raising the bar in the civil engineering profession.

The staff here at AAWRE and everyone that knows you personally, all feel that there is no other of equal, that shares more insight and information, when it comes to information and education regarding the history and heritage of civil engineering. We thank you for that. What is it about the history of engineering that you feel so strongly about and deem important for younger students and engineers to know.

JR: I have seen civil engineering students and young engineers get interested and seek more knowledge in the history and heritage of civil engineering. With so many websites and good engineering history publications, these young future leaders already know so much more of the civil engineering profession than I did at a comparable age.

How do you feel about the state of Civil Engineering and the profession as it is today?

JR: With advances in computers, communications, and materials, civil engineering is growing very rapidly with unlimited opportunities in building future societies and re-building our aging infrastructure.

What do you personally feel are the biggest challenges that are on the horizon for the profession in engineering academics?

JR: Many ASCE and civil engineering faculty and practitioners are not aware of the importance of civil engineering history and heritage in future curricula. It is easy to say other areas are more important than civil engineering history and heritage. It takes advanced thinkers and planners to request civil engineering history and heritage in the civil engineering curricula, as the Institution of Civil Engineers (I.C.E.) tried several years ago.

You have been such an active member and advocate for the ASCE History and Heritage Committee. How did you first get involved with the committee and please tell us more on the goals of the committee?

JR: When I was President-Elect of the Texas Section ASCE, I selected civil engineering history and heritage as a goal for the Texas Section of ASCE. I continued to learn new information and expand my horizons in civil engineering history and heritage. ASCE President Luther Graef shared my interest in history and supported my years as Chair of the National ASCE History & Heritage Committee with symposia/publications at several annual ASCE conferences, engineering history workshops with other professional societies, and international history and heritage exchanges.

I have attended at my own expense U.K./I.C.E. Symposia in 1993 Eurotunnel Tour/Thames Tunnel International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark (IHCEL), 2000 Edinburgh Millennium Conference- Edinburgh- Glasgow Canal- IHCEL, 2003 Robert Stephenson- Conway IHCEL and Telford- Menai IHCEL Projects Tour, 2007 Brunel- Bristol IHCEL Projects Tour, 2008 Telford- Scotland IHCELs Projects Tour, and 2009 Glasgow Aqueduct Anniversary. I coordinated the 2001 International Engineering History & Heritage Symposia in Houston.

The ASCE History and Heritage Committee has expanded its involvement under the Chairmanship of Henry Petroski with important contributions and service from all its members and particularly Frank Griggs. Richard Wiltshire is chairing the 75th Anniversary Hoover Dam History Symposium/Tour October 20-22, 2010 at the ASCE Annual Conference at Bally's- Las Vegas.

What advice do you give to your students that are studying to be a Civil Engineer to find success as a professional engineer?

JR: Young civil engineers should become active student members of ASCE and join institutes and committees at the Branch, Section and National levels. Continue your life-long learning through ASCE conferences and meetings.

You have had a distinguished career in academia with the University of Houston and serving in professional committees with ASCE, EWRI, AAWRE, as well as other societies. What are some of the memorable moments and achievements that you received, that stand apart and you are most proud of?

JR: As Faculty Advisor for the University of Houston ASCE Student Chapter for two terms, I was proud of the chapter outstanding awards received and the student leadership which evolved into the active Engineering Alumni Association.

I am proud of the success of the Water Resources Planning and Management Division which I helped found and expand, EWRI, which I helped Conrad Keyes found, and AAWRE which I helped Michael Ports found. My toughest year was 1989-90 when I served as both National President of the American Water Resources Association and President of the Texas Section ASCE.

I am very pleased with the ASCE Press co-edited publications and national symposia in civil engineering history and heritage in 1996- Washington D.C., 1998- Boston, 2001- Houston, 2002- Washington D.C. ASCE 150th Anniversary, 2004- Salt Lake City, 2007- Tampa, 2009- Kansas City, and 2010 Hoover Dam 75th Anniversary- Las Vegas (with Richard Wiltshire as Chair).

We know that you are an avid basketball and baseball fan. What are some of your other personal hobbies and interests?

JR: I used to enjoy oil painting and coin collecting as a youngster. Through ASCE and AWRA, I have developed an interest in U.S. and international travel and historical engineering projects. I enjoyed serving on the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering.

Visiting my grandchildren in Georgetown and west Houston has been stimulating and fun. Our country will be served well by these future leaders.

What are some of your personal goals for the next year?

JR: In addition to attending the Hoover Dam 75th Anniversary History Symposium/Tour October 20-22, 2010, I look forward to assisting the 2013 Texas Section ASCE Centennial in Corpus Christi and Dallas and EWRI/ASCE Sessions for the 2014 Panama Canal Anniversary. I hope to attend as many grandchildren activities as I can, and as long as I can.

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