News Detail

For Starters

5/1/1998

As the new president of ACI International, it seems appropriate for me to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the members of ACI and the readers of Concrete International. Before doing so, however, I wish to acknowledge Past President Richard N. (Dick) White and the excellent work he has done as president, both domestically and abroad. Thanks Dick!

Having been a member of ACI for many years, I have met and worked with some of the approximately 17,000 members of the Institute. There are, however, many other members that I have not had the opportunity to meet and know. This message is intended to introduce myself to those of you I have not had the pleasure of meeting. Those of you who know me need not read further.

A native Californian, born in Bakersfield, I enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 10, 1944, to do my part in the war effort and to take advantage of the Army’s Specialized Training Reserve Program. I was discharged from the Army in 1946 and completed my studies at Oregon State College in 1949. Upon graduating from college, several classmates and I were fortunate to be hired as junior civil engineers by Consolidated Builders, Inc., the general contractor for the construction of Detroit Dam in Oregon. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was the responsible federal agency for the design and construction administration of the project, located on the North Fork Santiam River approximately 35 miles east of Salem, Oregon’s capital.

The Detroit Dam assignment was an excellent one for inexperienced engineering graduates who were eager to work for and to learn from their seasoned supervisors. In addition to being involved in the design of small bridges, cofferdams, diversion tunnels, and other structures needed to support the construction of the dam and its appurtenances, the staff was involved in the design and construction of facilities for the manufacture of aggregates for use in making the concrete for the dam itself. The work was an eye-opener for young engineers who had not been exposed to a major construction project. Suddenly there was more to the world of civil engineering than Cross’ moment distribution and Bernoulli’s equation!

In late 1949 or early 1950, I came across an article in Civil Engineering magazine describing a method of constructing reinforced concrete stated to be superior to contemporary construction methods. It was, of course, prestressed concrete and the structure described in the article was the Walnut Lane Bridge, in Philadelphia, Pa. (In 1945, the prestressing technique was virtually, but not completely, unknown in the United States. The principle had been used in the construction of concrete water tanks.)

The information in the magazine article prompted me (and others) to order textbooks, published in Europe, devoted to prestressed concrete. My interest in prestressed concrete led me to look for employment where more could be learned about this material. This resulted in my accepting employment at the U.S. Naval Civil Engineering Research and Evaluation Laboratory in Port Hueneme, Calif. I joined ACI in 1951 while I was employed at the Navy Laboratory.

In 1952, I accepted a position with the Freyssinet Company at its corporate offices then in New York City. I was named the company’s west coast representative. In this capacity, I assisted other engineers in designing prestressed concrete structures, as well as helping contractors bid for and construct prestressed concrete bridges and buildings. In representing Freyssinet, my territory included the portion of the continental U.S. west of the Mississippi River and all of Canada. Although I was away from home a great deal of the time, I worked on many interesting projects with many capable people. It was a great learning experience for all of us.

Supported by the Freyssinet Company, I began attending ACI conventions shortly after I became a member. I truly enjoyed the conventions, the technical committee work, and the general sessions. ACI membership was smaller in the 1950s and 1960s than it is now and convention attendance was also smaller. Many times at the general sessions, one would find himself sitting at a large round table with the ACI "giants" — the outstanding practitioners in concrete. These were interesting and valuable experiences. Being a young man, I only spoke when spoken to and/or when required to be polite and respectful. I truly preferred to listen to the others and learn what I could from the "masters." Occasionally, one would hear discussions of subjects seemingly of little interest only to find later that you did, indeed, need to know what you had heard.

With respect to ACI committee work, like many other members, I have served on a number of technical as well as administrative committees over the years. I have enjoyed participating in all of them. In my view, ACI’s strength is in its members (young and old), its committees, and the opportunities it offers to meet and learn from the individuals most knowledgeable in concrete and its uses.

As members of ACI, we all need to help increase our membership, strengthen our technical committees, and keep the membership informed of problems and opportunities, new developments, and the like. I urge our members, especially the younger ones, to support ACI by being active in its committees and chapters if possible. They will not regret having done so.

Members who find it difficult or impossible to attend at least one ACI convention each year can and should be involved in the committee process. ACI committee chairmen and staff will supply information regarding how individuals can participate. Everyone benefits from the work of the committees. This is true though some members may not be voting members and may not be able to attend conventions.

Thanks for your vote of confidence!

James R. Libby
President
American Concrete Institute

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