Summer 2022

NSPE Today
IN MEMORIAM: Thomas Hixson, P.E., F.NSPE, and Donald Weinert, P.E., F.NSPE

Thomas Hixson, P.E., F.NSPE

HIXSON

NSPE Past President Thomas “Dudley” Hixson, P.E., F.NSPE, passed away on May 10, 2022, at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, Reba Jo Hixson; a brother, Henry Lee Hixson; a son, Michael Donovan Hixson; and several grandchildren and great grand- children. A memorial service was held in Alexandria, Louisiana, on May 23.

Hixson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1938. He graduated from Eau Claire High School in Columbia, South Carolina, and received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina. He also served his nation in the US Air Force Reserves prior to taking a position with the US Forest Service.

Hixson’s professional career path led him to join a consulting firm in 1973 where he would later become principal owner and vice president of Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson Inc. in Alexandria, Louisiana. He actively worked at the firm for 30 years. The firm was a recipient of NSPE’s Professional Engineers in Private Practice Professional Development Award.

As NSPE president 1993-1994, Hixson supported NSPE’s efforts to find more ways to educate the public about the importance of the professional engineer. In 1993, the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary added “professional engineer” under its “PE” entry in the 10th edition thanks to a letter writing campaign by members and state society leaders. NSPE also began calls for mandatory continuing professional competency for PEs in 1994 as a measure to ensure that licensed engineers are equipped to protect the public health, safety, and welfare throughout their careers. Under his lead- ership, the Society focused on new goals to highlight professional ethics, engineer licensing and enforcement, engineering education’s role in the licensure process, promotion of technical perspectives in government decisions, enhancement of the engineering workplace, and other impacts to professional practice.

Following retirement from the consulting firm, Hixson participated in several proj- ects for the Alexandria International Airport.

In honor of NSPE’s 75th anniversary, Hixson wrote the following presidential reflection: NSPE has provided to me an invaluable association with fellow engineering professionals. There were many times during my tenure as president of NSPE that I posed the question, “Where else might you turn for the professional nurture that we all need?” There was not, and still is not, anywhere else After retirement, Weinert began a second career as executive director for NSPE. During his tenure, he helped to launch and foster the growth of the NSPE Political Action Committee, the Federal Engineer of the Year Award, NICET, NAFE, and MATHCOUNTS. He also served on the MATHCOUNTS Board of Directors for nearly 20 years. He formed the National Advisory Committee for Engineering Exploring program for the Boy Scouts of America. He also served as president and a board member of the Junior Engineering Technical Society, which promoted math and science for high school students. for an engineer to frequently nourish his or her professional interests. NSPE has been, and still is the only answer to that question.

Donald Weinert, P.E., F.NSPE

WEINERT

Past NSPE Executive Director Donald Weinert, P.E., F.NSPE, passed away on May 10, 2022, at the age of 91 in Ashburn, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Suzie; five children; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Weinert served as the Society’s execu- tive director from 1978 to 1995 and played a key role in establishing the MATHCOUNTS program, a national program for middle schoolers encouraging skill and fun with math.

Weinert was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1930. He graduated from the US Military Academy in West Point’s Class of 1952 and later earned a master’s degree in engineering from Purdue University in 1957. The Korean War and Vietnam War veteran served in many capacities during his 26 years of service in the Army Corps of Engineers including being assigned to the Army Office of Assistant Vice Chief of Staff in the Pentagon, serving as a district engineer in Little Rock, Arkansas, and serving as a special assistant to the chief of engineers in the District of Columbia. During his active-duty service, he was recognized with several accolades including three Legion of Merit and two Bronze Star awards and medals for his service in Korea and the Republic of Vietnam.

After retirement, Weinert began a second career as executive director for NSPE. During his tenure, he helped to launch and foster the growth of the NSPE Political Action Committee, the Federal Engineer of the Year Award, NICET, NAFE, and MATHCOUNTS. He also served on the MATHCOUNTS Board of Directors for nearly 20 years. He formed the National Advisory Committee for Engineering Exploring program for the Boy Scouts of America. He also served as president and a board member of the Junior Engineering Technical Society, which promoted math and science for high school students.